(TBASF) Lesson Topic 4: The Lord of the Rings
Lesson Topic 4: The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a fantasy novel written by J.R.R. Tolkien between the years of 1937 and 1949. Originally, it began as a sequel to Tolkien's book The Hobbit but developed into a much larger work.
The title of the novel refers to the story's main antagonist, the Dark Lord Sauron, who had in an earlier age created the One Ring to rule the other Rings of Power as the ultimate weapon in his campaign to conquer and rule all of Middle Earth. From quiet beginnings in the Shire, a Hobbit land not unlike the English countryside, the story ranges across northwest Middle Earth, following the course of the War of the Ring through the eyes of its characters, notably the hobbits Frodo Baggins, Samwise "Sam" Gamgee, Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck, and Peregrin "Pippin" Took, but also the hobbits' chief allies and traveling companions: Aragorn, a Human Ranger; Boromir, a man from Gondor; Gimli, a Dwarf warrior; Legolas, an Elven prince; and Gandalf, a Wizard.
You will now read the first chapter from The Lord of the Rings called "A Long Expected Party." Pay close attention to the elements of fantasy. Note the imagined characters and setting and the mystical and supernatural elements.
Chapter 1 "A long Expected Party." Links to an external site.
Once you are finished reading, see if you can answer the following questions:
- Does Tolkien use direct or indirect characterization? How do you know?
- What point of view is the story told from?
- What is the setting?
- Could you find two examples of imagery?
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