The legacy left by JRR Tolkien on fantasy writing and worldbuilding is impressive and extensive. His fantasy writings have left a lasting impact on creative and fantasy writing.
This blog will discuss four areas of Tolkien's legacy. His works, the characters he created, the worlds he built, and the themes and philosophies found in his writings. So come along with me on an adventure where we discover the world and works of JRR Tolkien.
Works
JRR Tolkien is known for his works The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. However, thanks in part, to his son Christopher Tolkien, the worlds of Arda and Middle Earth have been expanded, with the publishing of additional stories. These include The Silmarillion, The Unfinished Tales, The Children of Hurin, The Fall of Gondolin, and many others.
This is not including works not related to Tolkien's world of elves, men, dwarves, and magic rings. Tolkien has also written short stories completed studies of Old English literature. His legacy is not limited to his works within fantasy writing. To ignore his other accomplishments would be to dismiss a part of his passion.
Characters
The creation of characters in JRR Tolkien's work is impressive. There is deep character development, backgrounds, histories, and more, to be found within his written works. Popular characters such as Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield, Gollum, and the wizard Gandalf are just a sampling of the complex characters featured in Tolkien's writings.
With each character, Tolkien adds depth into the story. He weaves the wants of characters into the main storyline so simply. Yet, through each story, Tolkien's characters are complex, they are relatable, and they are driven by something. They are not simply there to be there. What is so impressive about Tolkien's characters, is that they each have a purpose.
Worldbuilding
The sheer amount of content Tolkien created in his fantasy world is astounding. In addition to the creation of elves, lore, and worlds, Tolkien created entire languages. The most fully developed were the languages spoken by the elves, which include Quenyan and Sindarin.
These languages were the bases of Tolkien's worldbuilding, and set the stage for the magical, high fantasy stories that followed. Most well-known is the realm of Middle Earth. However, Tolkien's creations included the entire world called Arda, which included a land called Valinor, which was where the creators of the world lived. Tolkien's attention to detail, and depth in which he created his world is astounding, and is a legacy which has impacted all fantasy writing and worldbuilding since.
Themes and Philosophy
The themes and philosophies found within Tolkien's works are surprisingly relatable to current events. Quotes from within Tolkien's works are quoted in graduation speeches, during difficult times, and cited as inspirational quotes.
Take for example Gandalf's words to Frodo in the Mines of Moria. "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." Such inspirational words drive individuals to be better, to find purpose, or perhaps find peace from fictional worlds.
This also extends to themes of light versus dark, the impact of the small things in our lives, and many more themes Tolkien writes about within his works. The beauty of Tolkien's writing is that his writings leave room for individual interpretation.
The legacy of JRR Tolkien is far reaching and long lasting. Across the world his works are known and well-loved. Join me on a journey to discover, study, and celebrate the legacy of JRR Tolkien. Although this journey will not be unexpected, I do not expect that if you return, you will not be unchanged. So where will I be going first? I'm not sure, but I do know it will be an adventure!
コメント