Pity, power, and Tolkien's ring : to rule the fate of many / Thomas P. Hillman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hillman, Thomas P., author.

Contributor:

Kent State University. Press, publisher.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Tolkien, J. R. R. (John Ronald Reuel), 1892-1973. Lord of the rings.

Tolkien, J. R. R.

Sympathy in literature.

Power (Philosophy) in literature.

Lord of the rings (Tolkien, J. R. R.).

Genre:

Literary criticism

Literary criticism.

Physical Description:

xiii, 306 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Kent, Ohio : The Kent State University Press, [2023]

Summary:

"In this remarkable work of close reading and analysis, Thomas P. Hillman gets to the heart of the tension between pity and the desire for power in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. As the book traces the entangled story of the One Ring and its effects, we come to understand Tolkien's central paradox: while pity is necessary for destroying the Ring, it cannot save the Ring-bearer from the Ring's lies and corruption. In composing The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien explored the power of the Ring and the seeming powerlessness of pity. All the themes his mythology had come to encompass-death and immortality, fate and free will, divine justice and the problem of evil, power and war-took on a new dimension in the journey of Frodo Baggins. Hillman's attention to specific etymologies and patterns of words used in the text, complemented by his judicious use of Tolkien's letters, earlier drafts of the novels, and Tolkien's essays, leads to illuminating and original insights. Instead of turning his interpretation to allegory or apologetics, Hillman demonstrates how the story works metaphorically, allowing Tolkien to embrace both Catholic views and pagan mythology. With this fresh understanding of familiar material, Pity, Power, and Tolkien's Ring will ignite new discussions and deeper appreciation among Tolkien readers and scholars alike"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Bilbo's lie and the ring

Bilbo's pity and the ring

The 1951 Hobbit and "The shadow of the past"

From Bag End to Rivendell

From Rivendell to Amon Hen

From the Emyn Muil to the Dead Marshes

From the Black Gate to Ithilien

From Ithilien to Cirith Ungol

Hobbies in darkness

From the Black Land to the Undying Lands

Pity and power in time.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 289-298) and index.

ISBN:

9781606354711

160635471X

OCLC:

1370000402