The Fellowship of the Ring is a modern day epic. When use in English classes, the term epic is a story “told on a grand scale, with armies, heroes, gods, and the brutal forces of nature depicted over long character arcs and sweeping landscapes” (Ray). While many of the elements of an epic are present in this work of literature, there are some elements of an epic that do not fit. In many ways, The Fellowship of the Ring does not fit the elements of an epic. The different ways the term epic fits and does not fit will be discussed in the next three paragraphs. To start, The Fellowship of the Ring has several different qualities of an epic. To start, the story takes the main characters on a very long, treacherous journey. The story begins in
It will be the contention of this paper that much of Tolkien's unique vision was directly shaped by recurring images in the Catholic culture which shaped JRRT, and which are not shared by non-Catholics generally. The expression of these images in Lord of the Rings will then concern us.
Learning Module Seven - “Human Action” Myth in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Even though, the values of Beowulf and Grendel are similar to the ones that I and my entire generation have grown up learning, both of the epic and movie have qualities that make me unable to come to a conclusion as to which of the works recounts the story of Beowulf and Grendel in a more exceptional way. Therefore, I give the forthcoming generations the responsibility of making that
Throughout history, there have been countless stories, legends, myths, and tales featuring larger-than-life heroes that metaphorically or even physically go to the ends of the earth achieving heroic feats and gathering companions along the way, each playing their own role in the hero's story. Many of these epics have the same plot structure and similar character archetypes that make these stories stand out from the rest, giving them a distinct and unique style. The story The Epic of Gilgamesh translated by N.K. Sandars and the film Mel Gibson's Braveheart are two classic sagas that are alike in many ways such as their similar plots, their general character archetypes, and finally their central theme.
When modern readers think of the term “epic hero”, names such as Superman, Batman, and even real life figures such as LeBron James, AJ McCarron, and countless others instantly come into play. All of them have many similarities; they are all “larger-than-life” heroes who display many epic characteristics such as bravery, might, and supreme confidence. However, each is unique in his/her own way. Diving into the world of ancient literature, and one can find many more great heroes that define the term and provide countless entertaining stories of their journeys and battles throughout the primordial word. Beowulf from the
...Pity 2. Self-sacrifice B. Evil 1. corruption (Gollum) 2. greed (Smaug) II. Characters, Christian and anti-Christian A. Christian 1. Comparing to Christ a. Bilbo b. Gandalf B. Anti-Christian 1. Satan a. Saruman b. The Ring III. Power of the Imagination A. Creates secondary belief B. Escape through imagination
The story of the epic hero is seen in many examples around the world, from one of the most well know cartoon, SpongeBob Squarepants, to the novel The Wizard of Oz written by L. Frank Baum. The Wizard of Oz is later turned into film and a well-known play . It is a fun and interesting story of an epic. In their own way, the novel The Wizard of Oz and The Odyssey are examples of epics. Both stories tell of a strong hero who covers a vast amount of distance to achieve their goal, with Dorothy traveling from the Oz back to her home, Kansas, and Odysseus traveling from Troy back to Ithaca. The Wizard of Oz is the story of the heroic, young girl, Dorothy and her friends on a journey to find the great Wizard of Oz to grant them their wish. In the
In all epics, the author states the theme at the beginning of the story, which begins in media res, or in the middle, at a crucial point. These elements, along with a few others are a little bit harder to find in Star Wars, especially if you’ve only watched the movie. We know that The Odyssey begins with the suitors taking over Odysseus’ home and Athena giving Telemachus advice, which eventually leads to a theme, ‘a boy must become a man’. This is in media res because Odysseus has been gone for years already, which is later clarified by Homer as Odysseus is telling of his journey. In Star Wars, the theme isn’t so obvious, but it is there. Luke is a little bit of a whiner at the beginning of the story, but grows up in a hurry when his family is killed, and he begins his adventure (theme: a boy must become a man). And, especially if you’ve only watched the first movie, it’s a little hard to tell that the story starts in the middle, but it does. Luke is right in the middle of a conflict started years ago by Darth Vader which you’ll later find out is his father. The beginning crucial point is when Princess Leia is captured, and somebody must rescue her. . .Luke. She turns out to be Luke’s twin sister, (but you don’t know that yet) You can see, that in a movie, it’s a little easier to miss things, but if you do have time to talk about it before and after and even perhaps while watching the it, then it would be a little easier to catch all of the important pieces of the elements in an epic. So, as of now, we still can’t really say which story is a better example of an epic. But, as much as I love Star Wars, I’m starting to lean a little bit towards the
Context and Tradition: Published in 1954, The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien is a work of fiction written during the modern literary period. Historically, many things were going on during the time it was published, such as the Korean War, beginning in 1950. Other notable events during this decade include the beginning of the civil rights movement in 1954, when segregation was ruled illegal in the United States, and the beginning of the Space Age with the launch of Sputnik I by the Russians in 1957. An artistic work that The Fellowship of the Ring reminds me of is The Game of Thrones, a high fantasy novel by George R.R. Martin. Both worlds are filled with magical creatures, and concern themselves with an alternate world heavily reliant on magic, as both universes do not have access to the technology available in the real world.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, by J.R.R. Tolkien, is the first book in the fantasy-based trilogy of the Lord of the Rings. The book begins with Bilbo Baggins celebrating his one hundred and eleventh birthday. After his party, he then decides to leave everything behind and join a Fellowship, which has a task of destroying the ruling ring, which will give supreme power to whoever has possession of it.
Beowulf is characterized as an epic hero by possessing qualities in which common mortals lack, battling for the common good, and displaying honor in every act. An epic hero is the central character in an epic, a long narrative poem that recounts the adventures of a legendary hero in pursuit of a goal. According to Jankowski, “Understanding the significance of Beowulf 's acts requires an understanding of the key figures in the epic poem” (1). Epics have been used to preserve values and traditions. They are a rich resource for exploring the history and values of different world cultures. The epic hero character is a larger-than-life figure who is typically of noble birth. An epic hero uses his/her courage, skill, and virtue against
An epic is an extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero. The main characteristics of an epic as a literary genre is that it is a long poem that tells a story, it contains an epic hero, its hero searches for immortality (but doesn't find it physically, only through fame), gods or other supernatural beings are interested and involved, and it delivers an historical message. The Epic of Gilgamesh is classified as an epic because it fits all the characteristics of an epic as a literary genre.
According to most dictionaries, an epic is an extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero. While this is true, the epic Beowulf contains more than those two requirements. This story contains five elements which make it an epic. There is an epic hero, action of an immense scale, an elevated writing style, long speeches meant to inspire or instruct, and also the descent into the underworld.
To be considered and epic, a piece of literature must exhibit quite a few specific, literary techniques. Some of the main criteria points include being a long, narrative poem, having an epic hero, and containing rhythm, alliteration, and imagery. Beowulf can be considered an epic because it contains all of this criteria.
A fantasy is an imaginary world where all things imaginable can be brought to life. J.R.R Tolkien portrayed fantasy through his use of skilled craftsmanship and a vivid imagination, which was presented in each piece of literature he wrote. In Tolkien's two stories The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings we see the theme of fantasy brought to life through three essential elements, heroism, magic and retribution. Heroism is shown through the character's courage and bravery in situations where conflict arises and this enables them to be seen in a new light. Magic is a form of extraordinary power seemingly through a supernatural force; it is used in a combination of combat and mystical items to aid the companions on their journey. Retribution is paid to the evil forces for the wrongs society had to endure while they were allowed to dominate. This system allows opportunity for physical and mental development in the characters and the aspect of fantasy to come to life.