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The Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth For Dummies
Greg Harvey (Author)
9780764541865, Wiley
Paperback / softback, published 10 October 2003
368 pages
23.4 x 18.5 x 2 cm, 0.612 kg
"...a great book...helps readers make sense of the creatures, language, geography and richly-detailed history of Middle earth..." (Shields Gazette, Dec 03) "...a mine of information?a must-have for anyone interested in exploring the epic tales of the four ages of Middle earth..." (Dundee Evening Telegraph and Post, Dec 03)
J.R.R. Tolkien's novels of Middle-earth – The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and The Silmarillian – have become some of the most famous, and most beloved, literary works of the twentieth century. And the Lord of the Rings films by director Peter Jackson have re-ignited interest in Tolkien and his works, as well as introduced his stories to a new generation of fans. Even if you've never read the novels and have only seen the films, you know that the world of Middle-earth is a complicated one. Tolkien took great care in representing this world, from creating new languages to including very particular cultural details that add to the richness of the world's fabric. Many other books have been written about Tolkien and his works, but none have come close to providing the kind of reference needed to comprehend the world of Middle-earth. That's what veteran Dummies author and unabashed Tolkien fan Greg Harvey attempts to do in The Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth For Dummies. As the author says in his introduction to the book, this is not an encyclopedia or quick guide to all the diverse beings, languages, and history that make up Tolkien's Middle-earth. Nor is it a set of plot outlines for the novels. Rather, what you'll find in The Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth For Dummies is a basic guide to some of the possible linguistic and mythological origins of Middle-earth, plus a rudimentary analysis of its many themes and lessons for our world. This book can help enrich your reading (or re-reading) of Tolkien's novels, and it will challenge you to think about the themes inherent in Tolkien's Middle-earth and their implications in your own life. Here's just a sampling of the topics you'll find covered in The Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth For Dummies: So, whether you're reading Tolkien's novels or watching the films for the first time, or you've been a fan for many years and are looking for a new take on Tolkien's works, The Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth For Dummies can help you enhance your reading or viewing experience for years to come.
Foreword xvii Introduction 1 Part I: The Geography of Middle-earth 7 Chapter 1: The Worlds of Middle-earth 9 Chapter 2: The Lands of Middle-earth and Beyond 21 Part II: The Beings of Middle-earth 45 Chapter 3: The Divine Ainur 47 Chapter 4: The Fair Race of Elves 57 Chapter 5: The Mortal Race of Men 73 Chapter 6: The Hardy Race of Dwarves 95 Chapter 7: Those Homespun Hobbits 109 Chapter 8: The Wily Wizards 129 Chapter 9: Beorn, Tom Bombadil, and Treebeard 139 Chapter 10: The Enemy and His Minions 149 Part III: The History of Middle-earth 167 Chapter 11: The Valarian Ages 169 Chapter 12: The First Three Ages and Then Some 177 Part IV: The Languages of Middle-earth 187 Chapter 13: Tolkien and Language 189 Chapter 14: The Tongues of Tolkien 199 Part V: The Themes and Mythology of Middle-earth 211 Chapter 15: The Struggle Between Good and Evil 213 Chapter 16: Immortality and Death 219 Chapter 17: The Heroic Quest 233 Chapter 18: Chivalry and True Love 247 Chapter 19: Fate and Free Will 257 Chapter 20: Faith and Redemption 269 Chapter 21: Ring-related Myths 277 Chapter 22: Ecological Themes 287 Chapter 23: Sex and Gender 293 Part VI: The Part of Tens 301 Chapter 24: Top Ten Battles in the War of the Ring 303 Chapter 25: Top Ten Online Middle-earth Resources 309 Chapter 26: Top Ten Ways The Lord of the Rings Books Differ from the Movies 313 Index 319
Subject Areas: The arts: general issues [AB]
