Who really was the man who wrote the “bible of fantasy” and what about his beautifully designed world of Middle-Earth?
Aim of this work is to present the problem of good and evil in Tolkien's output. His work contributed to a number of fantastic novels, films and computer games in which we can find the motif of darkness and light.
The first part of my work I will dedicate as a whole to the genre of fantasy. I will present a bibliography of the outstanding English philologist and writer. I will explain the importance of the fantasy genre and discuss the origins of his works, and how these books impact on other writers. This chapter will also contain the impact of fantasy on our dreams and what we really obtain while reading fantasy literature.
In the second chapter I will start with Tolkien's biography. Then I am going to characterize the world which Tolkien presented in his works. Every character has to complete a specified mission and some of them are heroes.
I will discuss major characters based on hero's journey, the term coined by Joseph Campbell. Relations between them mirror relations in the real world although distant. Tolkien created in his novels everything from geography, flora and fauna, human and superhuman races to complete histories, beliefs and traditions.
In the third chapter I will analyze two concepts of the world of Middle-Earth that Tolkien has created in his novels, good and evil. They fit in literature's mainstream with universal messages, except that, all of considerations are a part of the fantasy genre convention.
Each of these elements has many meanings in the works of Tolkien and acts as a symbol like the One Ring which will be fully described in my work.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
1. FANTASY AS A GENRE
1.1 DEFINING THE FANTASY GENRE
1.2 DIVISION OF FANTASY SUB-GENRES
1.3 THE ORIGIN OF THE TOLKIEN’S OUTPUT
1.4 IMPACT ON OUR IMAGINATION
2. JOHN RONALD REUEL TOLKIEN AND THE FANTASY WORLD OF MIDDLE-EARTH
2.1 INTRODUCTION
2.2 TOLKIEN’S LIFE
2.3 ELEMENTS OF THE PRESENTED WORLD
2.4 HERO’S JOURNEY - MONOMYTH ON SELECTED CHARACTERS FROM TOLKIEN’S OUTPUT
3. THE PROBLEM OF GOOD AND EVIL
3.1 INTRODUCTION
3.2 THE CASE OF GOLLUM
3.3 ELVES
3.4 DARKNESS AND LIGHT
3.5 THE ONE RING
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary aim of this diploma paper is to analyze the fundamental concepts of good and evil as represented in the literary works of J.R.R. Tolkien. The study examines how these moral categories are shaped within the fantasy genre, specifically within the secondary world of Middle-earth, and evaluates the development of central characters through the lens of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey.
- Exploration of fantasy as a genre and its psychological impact on readers.
- Biographical overview of J.R.R. Tolkien and the creation of Middle-earth.
- Application of the hero’s journey monomyth to key figures like Bilbo Baggins and Frodo Baggins.
- In-depth analysis of the duality of good and evil through characters like Gollum.
- Symbolism of darkness, light, and the corruptive nature of the One Ring.
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3.2 THE CASE OF GOLLUM
Gollum is the most complicated character in Tolkien’s presented world. By analyzing his nature you can find in him features that are neutral, good and evil. He can be placed in good rank because he used to be good as hobbit named Smeagol until he possessed the One Ring. He has no master but himself so he can be placed in neutral rank until he met Frodo. He has the power of the Ring but he has no desires to conquer the world. The only thing he really desire is the Ring. Finally, he can be placed in the evil rank for being an evil creature: full of lies, riddles and mystery with no hesitation to kill somebody when he will get a chance. He has killed before during his life.
Hobbit who lived in the Wilderland, close to River Anduin, with other hobbits. That’s the place where he had the first contact to the One Ring. Smeagol and his friend Deagol went fishing to celebrate the first one birthday. Deagol found ring in the river and said that he will keep this ring for himself. Smeagol was unable to come to terms with loss of such a nice thing so he murdered his friend and took the ring. He knew nothing about the Ring, the power and burden connected with it but he discovered that you can be invisible by putting the Ring on one of your fingers. Hobbits from his village made him go away. The One Ring started the change in Smeagol because of its usage. He left the sun and hide in the Misty Mountains. Turned Smeagol into a monster called Gollum because of noises he was making.
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: This section outlines the research goal of exploring the manifestations of good and evil in Tolkien's works and explains the methodology, including biographical and literary analysis.
1. FANTASY AS A GENRE: This chapter defines the fantasy genre, categorizes its sub-genres, and discusses the importance of Tolkien's output and its impact on the reader's imagination.
2. JOHN RONALD REUEL TOLKIEN AND THE FANTASY WORLD OF MIDDLE-EARTH: This chapter provides a biographical sketch of the author and explores the world-building elements of Middle-earth while applying Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey to the main characters.
3. THE PROBLEM OF GOOD AND EVIL: This chapter analyzes the central moral struggle in Tolkien’s novels, focusing on characters like Gollum, the symbolic usage of light and darkness, and the corruptive role of the One Ring.
Keywords
J.R.R. Tolkien, Middle-earth, Fantasy, Good and Evil, Hero's Journey, Joseph Campbell, The One Ring, Gollum, Frodo Baggins, Bilbo Baggins, Symbolism, Literature, Mythology, Moral struggle, Darkness and Light.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this diploma paper?
The paper primarily focuses on the representation and the struggle between the concepts of good and evil within the fantasy novels of J.R.R. Tolkien.
What are the main thematic fields covered in the study?
The main themes include the definition of the fantasy genre, the biography of J.R.R. Tolkien, the world-building of Middle-earth, character development through the hero's journey, and the symbolism of moral archetypes.
What is the primary research goal or central question?
The goal is to explore how Tolkien conveys universal moral struggles through the specific conventions of high fantasy, particularly through symbols like the One Ring and the evolution of complex characters.
Which scientific methodology does the author employ?
The author uses qualitative literary analysis, supported by bibliographic research, historical context, and the application of Joseph Campbell’s "hero’s journey" (monomyth) as a structured theoretical framework.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the origins of the fantasy genre, the detailed characterization of Middle-earth and its races, a critical assessment of characters based on the hero's journey, and an analysis of the ethical dynamics of good and evil.
Which keywords characterize this paper?
Key terms include Middle-earth, hero's journey, fantasy literature, good vs. evil, moral struggle, and symbolic artifacts like the One Ring.
How does the author define the role of Gollum in the context of good and evil?
Gollum is portrayed as a highly complex character who embodies a mix of neutral, good, and evil traits, serving as a pivotal figure who struggles with his past identity as Smeagol and the corruptive influence of the One Ring.
Why is Samwise Gamgee considered the "true hero" by the author?
The author argues that Sam is the only character who successfully traverses all stages of the hero's journey and manages to return to his ordinary life in the Shire without losing a part of himself or suffering the profound psychological burden borne by Frodo or Bilbo.
- Citar trabajo
- Łukasz Gołąbek (Autor), 2013, Good and Evil in Middle-Earth. The Fantasy World of J. R. R. Tolkien, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/305333
