metacognitive reader
J.R.R. Tolkien's book series, The Lord of the Rings, is a series that I've wanted to read for quite some time. I've always enjoyed the movies, watching them more than a few times over the years leading up to this project. So, naturally, when I couldn't find many books that seemed to interest me, Tolkien's series caught my eye. The Hobbit, another book by Tolkien, was actually one of my favorite books of all time since I read it with my dad as a kid. So, this was a big factor in wanting to read this series; seeing as I had really loved The Hobbit and the movies, it only seemed logical. Immediately as I started reading the first book, The Fellowship of the Ring, I found that I wasn't disappointed in the slightest. Where I had previously found the exposition and initial sections of the book to be boring in previous attempts, I suddenly seemed to be loving every minute of reading what some would consider the least exciting parts. Throughout this entire book, Tolkien masterfully crafts a massive world to explore, with rich history and lore. The story starts off in a place known as The Shire, where little folk called "hobbits" live. They're a peaceful, eccentric bunch, who take great joy in nature and the finer things in their lives. Even in such a small area, where only one race of many lives, The Shire feels incredibly open and large. Reading about it gives you a desire to walk the paths in it, talk to people who are mentioned by the wayside or not mentioned at all. My main point is that when reading Tolkien's books, you get the feeling that there is significantly more to the story than just what you're reading about.
Our story starts out with a focus on two hobbits. The first is Bilbo Baggins, the main character from Tolkien's The Hobbit, who is now an old (but not frail) hobbit. He is unique, and doesn't seem to age much. His fellow hobbits testify that "Time wore on, but it seemed to have little effect on Mr. Baggins. At ninety he was much the same as fifty" (Tolkien 27). Mr. Baggins was an infamous hobbit as a result of all the stories and riches he brought home from his adventures detailed in The Hobbit. The next hobbit is Bilbo's eldest cousin, Frodo Baggins. Bilbo adopted him as his own after the death of his parents, and invited Frodo to live with him at his home, Bag End. Interestingly enough, "Bilbo and Frodo happened to have the same birthday, September 22nd" (Tolkien 28), which is where our most interesting story begins. Bilbo was going to turn 111 "eleventy-one" as stated in the book. This was a peculiar age for a hobbit, and definitely foreshadows the peculiar events that come with it, and follow it, for both Bilbo and Frodo. Additionally, the wizard Gandalf is introduced. This is a wise old wizard, who is contracted to bring fireworks to Bilbo's party, and is an old friend of Bilbo's from the days of The Hobbit, and their journey together. Bilbo has grown weary and tired of life as it is, and decides to set out on his last adventure, and leave The Shire. Bilbo certainly does this in quite the extravagant way. During the events of The Hobbit, Bilbo found a strange golden ring, which allowed the wearer to become invisible. Little did Bilbo know, though, how important and dangerous this ring would become. The ring was the ring used by the dark lord Sauron himself, before he was defeated, and it was a symbol of terrible power and dark times. Bilbo uses this ring to make an extravagant escape from his life in The Shire, and leaves the ring and most of his other possessions to Frodo.
Frodo lives on without Bilbo for quite a few years, without ever knowing the true power of the ring. Years later, he is visited by Gandalf, who seems almost panicked when he tells Frodo about the true story of the ring, and why it is so powerful and dangerous. Ultimately, Frodo sets out with his friends Merry and Pippin on a quest to bring the ring to somewhere where it will be safe, and where its fate will be decided. This journey first takes them through Merry's home, on to the village of Bree, where another key character is met. This is the ranger Strider (known later as Aragorn), who becomes their guide and guardian as they make their way toward Rivendell. Despite troubles with Sauron's 9 servants, ancient kings of men known as the "ring wraiths", which ultimately resulted in Frodo sustaining a grave injury, the company makes it to Rivendell, a wonderful city of elves. Here, a council is held with quite a few influential figures in Middle Earth, such as Gandalf, and Lord Elrond. Here, they decide to set out in a company of nine: Frodo, his gardener and friend Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, Strider, Boromir of Gondor, Gimli the dwarf, and Legolas the wood elf. Their journey is to Mount Doom, and it is undoubtedly a dangerous one. The journey takes them through field and forest, as well as over mountains, and even under mountains in the mines of Moria, an ancient home of Gimli's people. It is here where Gandalf falls to an ancient demon called a Balrog, and the company loses it's first member. Continuing on without him, their journey takes them through ancient Elven forests and rivers, to the point where the book ends. Here, the fellowship seems to collapse, as Frodo and Sam make their way on to Mount Doom by themselves, as the others deal with a massive ambush by the orcs, and the quest splits into two different paths.
The Fellowship of the Ring takes you on an amazing journey throughout the entire book. Though some may argue differently if they don't read fast, or aren't accustomed to novels of a length such as this, I absolutely never found that I was bored with the book, or even that the story was dragging on. There is near-constant excitement and action throughout the book, through simple things like Bilbo's party, and the exhilarating sections detailing narrow escapes from ring wraiths and other foes. Even when the book isn't engaging you in some skirmish, or making your heart race, there is an amazing depth to be explored throughout the text. Creative, almost whimsical characters like the elves and Tom Bombadil are often some of the most entertaining parts of the book, despite being considered "slow" by some readers. The moments like these are the ones that spawn one of my favorite parts of the book, the songs and poems found many times each chapter. These little literary works are polished and developed to a point which would require weeks of effort from most people, as a standalone work, which is amazing considering how often they can be found. To illustrate, here is one of my favorites, a song written by Bilbo in Rivendell.
I sit beside the fire and think
of all that I have seen,
of meadow-flowers and butterflies
in summers that have been;
Of yellow leaves and gossamer
in autumns that there were,
with morning mist and silver sun
and wind upon my hair.
I sit beside the fire and think
of how the world will be
when winter comes without a spring
that I shall ever see.
(Tolkien 362)
To finish up this section, I'll share an interesting thing I discovered when reading The Fellowship of the Ring. I really felt like, when I was reading this book, it wasn't anything like a school assignment. It didn't really feel similar to any of the "classic" literary novels that I've read, like 1984 or The Great Gatsby. Rather, it felt just like I was reading an amazing fantasy novel, there just to enjoy at face value, which is generally a positive thing for me. The catch, though, is that Tolkien has actually created what is also a work of great literary merit in addition to just a fantasy novel. In terms of theme, depth, and a meaning to the book "between the lines", if you will, I feel that it can hold it's own among some of the more traditional novels of literary merit. Particularly, Tolkien includes a multitude of symbols throughout the book with various meanings. Some of the more major ones are the rings of power themselves, Frodo's mithril coat, an even something as seemingly simple as the leaf brooches that the company receives as a gift from the wood elves. In conclusion, I don't think I could have had a better time reading such an extensive and masterfully crafted literary work.
Our story starts out with a focus on two hobbits. The first is Bilbo Baggins, the main character from Tolkien's The Hobbit, who is now an old (but not frail) hobbit. He is unique, and doesn't seem to age much. His fellow hobbits testify that "Time wore on, but it seemed to have little effect on Mr. Baggins. At ninety he was much the same as fifty" (Tolkien 27). Mr. Baggins was an infamous hobbit as a result of all the stories and riches he brought home from his adventures detailed in The Hobbit. The next hobbit is Bilbo's eldest cousin, Frodo Baggins. Bilbo adopted him as his own after the death of his parents, and invited Frodo to live with him at his home, Bag End. Interestingly enough, "Bilbo and Frodo happened to have the same birthday, September 22nd" (Tolkien 28), which is where our most interesting story begins. Bilbo was going to turn 111 "eleventy-one" as stated in the book. This was a peculiar age for a hobbit, and definitely foreshadows the peculiar events that come with it, and follow it, for both Bilbo and Frodo. Additionally, the wizard Gandalf is introduced. This is a wise old wizard, who is contracted to bring fireworks to Bilbo's party, and is an old friend of Bilbo's from the days of The Hobbit, and their journey together. Bilbo has grown weary and tired of life as it is, and decides to set out on his last adventure, and leave The Shire. Bilbo certainly does this in quite the extravagant way. During the events of The Hobbit, Bilbo found a strange golden ring, which allowed the wearer to become invisible. Little did Bilbo know, though, how important and dangerous this ring would become. The ring was the ring used by the dark lord Sauron himself, before he was defeated, and it was a symbol of terrible power and dark times. Bilbo uses this ring to make an extravagant escape from his life in The Shire, and leaves the ring and most of his other possessions to Frodo.
Frodo lives on without Bilbo for quite a few years, without ever knowing the true power of the ring. Years later, he is visited by Gandalf, who seems almost panicked when he tells Frodo about the true story of the ring, and why it is so powerful and dangerous. Ultimately, Frodo sets out with his friends Merry and Pippin on a quest to bring the ring to somewhere where it will be safe, and where its fate will be decided. This journey first takes them through Merry's home, on to the village of Bree, where another key character is met. This is the ranger Strider (known later as Aragorn), who becomes their guide and guardian as they make their way toward Rivendell. Despite troubles with Sauron's 9 servants, ancient kings of men known as the "ring wraiths", which ultimately resulted in Frodo sustaining a grave injury, the company makes it to Rivendell, a wonderful city of elves. Here, a council is held with quite a few influential figures in Middle Earth, such as Gandalf, and Lord Elrond. Here, they decide to set out in a company of nine: Frodo, his gardener and friend Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, Strider, Boromir of Gondor, Gimli the dwarf, and Legolas the wood elf. Their journey is to Mount Doom, and it is undoubtedly a dangerous one. The journey takes them through field and forest, as well as over mountains, and even under mountains in the mines of Moria, an ancient home of Gimli's people. It is here where Gandalf falls to an ancient demon called a Balrog, and the company loses it's first member. Continuing on without him, their journey takes them through ancient Elven forests and rivers, to the point where the book ends. Here, the fellowship seems to collapse, as Frodo and Sam make their way on to Mount Doom by themselves, as the others deal with a massive ambush by the orcs, and the quest splits into two different paths.
The Fellowship of the Ring takes you on an amazing journey throughout the entire book. Though some may argue differently if they don't read fast, or aren't accustomed to novels of a length such as this, I absolutely never found that I was bored with the book, or even that the story was dragging on. There is near-constant excitement and action throughout the book, through simple things like Bilbo's party, and the exhilarating sections detailing narrow escapes from ring wraiths and other foes. Even when the book isn't engaging you in some skirmish, or making your heart race, there is an amazing depth to be explored throughout the text. Creative, almost whimsical characters like the elves and Tom Bombadil are often some of the most entertaining parts of the book, despite being considered "slow" by some readers. The moments like these are the ones that spawn one of my favorite parts of the book, the songs and poems found many times each chapter. These little literary works are polished and developed to a point which would require weeks of effort from most people, as a standalone work, which is amazing considering how often they can be found. To illustrate, here is one of my favorites, a song written by Bilbo in Rivendell.
I sit beside the fire and think
of all that I have seen,
of meadow-flowers and butterflies
in summers that have been;
Of yellow leaves and gossamer
in autumns that there were,
with morning mist and silver sun
and wind upon my hair.
I sit beside the fire and think
of how the world will be
when winter comes without a spring
that I shall ever see.
(Tolkien 362)
To finish up this section, I'll share an interesting thing I discovered when reading The Fellowship of the Ring. I really felt like, when I was reading this book, it wasn't anything like a school assignment. It didn't really feel similar to any of the "classic" literary novels that I've read, like 1984 or The Great Gatsby. Rather, it felt just like I was reading an amazing fantasy novel, there just to enjoy at face value, which is generally a positive thing for me. The catch, though, is that Tolkien has actually created what is also a work of great literary merit in addition to just a fantasy novel. In terms of theme, depth, and a meaning to the book "between the lines", if you will, I feel that it can hold it's own among some of the more traditional novels of literary merit. Particularly, Tolkien includes a multitude of symbols throughout the book with various meanings. Some of the more major ones are the rings of power themselves, Frodo's mithril coat, an even something as seemingly simple as the leaf brooches that the company receives as a gift from the wood elves. In conclusion, I don't think I could have had a better time reading such an extensive and masterfully crafted literary work.
Questions
- What was your favorite, or the most interesting aspect of The Shire? As far as the people, land, and customs are concerned. There's definitely a lot to talk about, especially lore-wise!
- What was your thinking like when Strider is first introduced? Did you trust him entirely, right away, or were you skeptical, maybe even beyond when they left Bree?
- What was your favorite song, poem, or similar literary work from the book?
- Do you think the fellowship made the right choice in deciding to go through Moria? Could they have made it if they continued through the mountain, or maybe to the Gap of Rohan?
- As far as you're concerned, who is the "boss" of the fellowship, if there even is one? Could it have been Gandalf, or Aragorn, or even Frodo?
- What was your favorite, or the most interesting aspect of The Shire? As far as the people, land, and customs are concerned. There's definitely a lot to talk about, especially lore-wise!
- What was your thinking like when Strider is first introduced? Did you trust him entirely, right away, or were you skeptical, maybe even beyond when they left Bree?
- What was your favorite song, poem, or similar literary work from the book?
- Do you think the fellowship made the right choice in deciding to go through Moria? Could they have made it if they continued through the mountain, or maybe to the Gap of Rohan?
- As far as you're concerned, who is the "boss" of the fellowship, if there even is one? Could it have been Gandalf, or Aragorn, or even Frodo?
Theme
The amount of unique themes and lessons found in The Fellowship of the Ring, and all the other books, is incredibly high, and literary scholars have debated for years uncovering the "true" themes behind the story. However, as one reads, one particular theme seems to stand out above all the others. Overarchingly, this is the recurring theme of courage. This theme manifests itself in quite a few specific forms. Namely: courage being found in unexpected places, and courage for the sake of your friends. It is definitely interesting how the book generally takes one, usually one word, overarching "theme", and shows it in multiple different ways through multiple different situations. Sometimes, the theme is introduced explicitly in the text, through a comment by a character or in Frodo's thoughts, and other times it isn't quite so evident. Overall, themes are introduced in a variety of ways, and are abundant in the book.
Focusing on the theme of courage, though, is most interesting. As stated in the introduction, the theme seems to manifest itself in quite a few forms, which is why it can't really be narrowed down to a concise, single statement. One of my favorite manifestations of this theme is that courage can be found in the most unexpected people, and is sometimes most potent when this is the case. Throughout the book, Frodo and Sam grow from timid young carefree hobbits into the mature, brave ones they are at the end of the book. Through various consecutive events like the encounter with the barrow-wight, numerous evasions of the ring wraiths, and losing Gandalf in Moria, the hobbits undergo a journey which changes them. Such a grueling journey progressively brings out more and more of the courage which was always within them, and only needed to be provoked. Gandalf comments throughout almost all of Tolkien's LOTR books that he's always surprised by the courage that comes from hobbits, and how unexpected they can really be. Through continuous growth by experiences throughout the book, Frodo and Sam illustrate the theme that courage can be found where it is least expected, and even the people we might consider weak and scared could have courage buried deep within them.
Additionally, Gandalf presents another key theme shown in The Fellowship of the Ring. During the journey through Moria, as previously detailed, Gandalf pays the ultimate sacrifice for the fellowship, and gives up his life to save them so that they may journey on. This proves to be an invaluable sacrifice, and Gandalf's actions in Moria are nearly the sole reason that the quest continued beyond that point. Beyond this, even, more sacrifices are made for the fellowship throughout the book, such as Sam's decision to follow Frodo, and Aragorn's continual devotion and leadership to the company. Overall, Tolkien builds up the theme of courage in fellowship through many various events that transpire, and sacrifices that are made, throughout the book, in which a member of the fellowship displays courage in a dire moment for the good of the group.
Throughout the book, Tolkien presents to the reader multiple broad themes, generally defined by one word, which he expands on throughout the story. This creates a unique approach to theme, in which there are near infinite ways to look at each theme by applying different situations to the understanding of how the theme has been built up throughout the book. You could easily say that either of the themes I listed were the "courage" theme of the book, but the other could be argued for as well, in addition to many more themes regarding courage. These themes are also incredibly easy to discover, because they are so simple and broad at the first glance. To conclude, Tolkien presents an abundance of themes throughout The Fellowship of the Ring, in a simple and intuitive way, such as a conversation or even a song. Then, he builds the story of that theme off into multiple branches throughout the book, using events that the fellowship undergoes as pieces to the figurative theme puzzle.
Focusing on the theme of courage, though, is most interesting. As stated in the introduction, the theme seems to manifest itself in quite a few forms, which is why it can't really be narrowed down to a concise, single statement. One of my favorite manifestations of this theme is that courage can be found in the most unexpected people, and is sometimes most potent when this is the case. Throughout the book, Frodo and Sam grow from timid young carefree hobbits into the mature, brave ones they are at the end of the book. Through various consecutive events like the encounter with the barrow-wight, numerous evasions of the ring wraiths, and losing Gandalf in Moria, the hobbits undergo a journey which changes them. Such a grueling journey progressively brings out more and more of the courage which was always within them, and only needed to be provoked. Gandalf comments throughout almost all of Tolkien's LOTR books that he's always surprised by the courage that comes from hobbits, and how unexpected they can really be. Through continuous growth by experiences throughout the book, Frodo and Sam illustrate the theme that courage can be found where it is least expected, and even the people we might consider weak and scared could have courage buried deep within them.
Additionally, Gandalf presents another key theme shown in The Fellowship of the Ring. During the journey through Moria, as previously detailed, Gandalf pays the ultimate sacrifice for the fellowship, and gives up his life to save them so that they may journey on. This proves to be an invaluable sacrifice, and Gandalf's actions in Moria are nearly the sole reason that the quest continued beyond that point. Beyond this, even, more sacrifices are made for the fellowship throughout the book, such as Sam's decision to follow Frodo, and Aragorn's continual devotion and leadership to the company. Overall, Tolkien builds up the theme of courage in fellowship through many various events that transpire, and sacrifices that are made, throughout the book, in which a member of the fellowship displays courage in a dire moment for the good of the group.
Throughout the book, Tolkien presents to the reader multiple broad themes, generally defined by one word, which he expands on throughout the story. This creates a unique approach to theme, in which there are near infinite ways to look at each theme by applying different situations to the understanding of how the theme has been built up throughout the book. You could easily say that either of the themes I listed were the "courage" theme of the book, but the other could be argued for as well, in addition to many more themes regarding courage. These themes are also incredibly easy to discover, because they are so simple and broad at the first glance. To conclude, Tolkien presents an abundance of themes throughout The Fellowship of the Ring, in a simple and intuitive way, such as a conversation or even a song. Then, he builds the story of that theme off into multiple branches throughout the book, using events that the fellowship undergoes as pieces to the figurative theme puzzle.