The Benefits of Reading Lord of the Rings by Emily

The Benefits of Reading Lord of the Rings by Emily - February 2015 Scholarship Essay

It is my personal belief that every student should read The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien before they graduate. This book has always been a favorite of high fantasy fans. In fact; it is the basis for most modern fantasy. It completely changed the way that we thought of mythological beings like elves and dwarves, and even gave us a new “type” of character- the Halfling. It has defined modern literature in so many ways- we would not have Harry Potter or Game of Thrones without the influence of The Lord of the Rings. And the movies have defined modern cinema.

The Lord of the Rings also included plenty of modern themes as well. The books deal with themes of war, industrialism and the struggle between good and evil. Tolkien was a solider in the First World War According to his biography on tolkiensociety.com, (n.d) he fought at the Battle of Somme, and eventually succumbed to “trench fever” and was sent back to England, where he spent time in a hospital in Birmingham. Many of his friends were killed during that time, and he eventually began writing down his stories to cope with the loss. The stories take place in the same world as Lord of the Rings (known as Arda) and were published posthumously as “The Book of Lost Tales”. (War, Lost Tales, and Academia). Like most soldiers, he was profoundly affected by the things he had seen in the war, and his writing shows it.

In “The Lord of the Rings”, the wizard (or Istari) Saruman becomes corrupted by Sauron, and begins creating his own breed of orcs- the Uruk-hai. He pillages the countryside of Rohan, corrupts their king and wages war against the free people of Middle Earth. He also destroys parts of the forest of Fangorn, and otherwise industrializes the area. After he is defeated and stripped of his power by Gandalf, he destroys much of The Shire. His corruption of the world is very much a literary counterpart to the industrial revolution, and a warning against it. Tolkien outright stated as much in the foreword for “Lord of the Rings.” Teachers can use this part of the story to teach their students about industrialism, its dangers and explain that many people, especially during Tolkien’s life, saw it as an evil. The industrialization of Middle Earth can help connect students to the industrial revolution, especially since we often feel empathy for book characters when we may struggle to connect with history.

There are actually many lessons that teachers can teach their students through “Lord of the Rings.” From Frodo, we can learn about personal sacrifice. From Samwise, we learn about undying loyalty. From Boromir, we learn how even the great sometimes mess up, and that even after we are gone, we still have an effect on the world.

Young girls can look at Eowyn, the Sheildmaiden of Rohan, and learn that they should follow their dreams- and that sometimes, these dreams change. Eowyn goes from a young lady who has watched her uncle become a shadow of his former self as she is trapped in the clutches of a man who wishes to claim her as his own, to a warrior of Rohan, to someone who dedicates their life to healing others. She goes from a young girl, pinning after the unattainable Aragorn to a woman who has found her true love in Faramir. Eowyn is someone that girls can identify with and aspire to be more like.

This world is heavily inspired by mythology, especially Norse, and by Christianity. It’s thought that Tolkien actually intended “Lord of the Rings” to be a mythology for England, since there was very little native mythology for them. Teachers can use this book to introduce students to mythology beyond the Greek, Roman and Egyptian gods and goddesses. And just like mythology, there is a lot that students can take away from “Lord of the Rings.”

“Lord of the Rings” is a challenging read. For high school seniors, these books would be an excellent way to end their high school careers and prepare for college because they are familiar, fun, interesting, iconic and challenging. While the writing style is difficult, and Tolkien has a tendency to ramble, these stories have become so well known that there are plenty of resources available. I believe that this book will prepare students for college, being difficult but still fun and familiar.

Personally, for me, these books changed my life. When I first read them, I was 9 years old, being bullied and struggling to fit in. My dad read them with me, and instantly, these characters felt like long lost friends. I longed to go to the Shire, or Gondor, to walk in Rivendell, to see the vast treasures of Erebor. I wanted to adventure with Gandalf, have dinner with the hobbits, and read with Bilbo. This world feels so real in a way that many other fantasy books do not, and they absolutely draw the reader in. Because of this world, I became interested in many of my favorite things. I want to write fantasy books because of “Lord of the Rings”. I believe that I am a better person for having read “Lord of the Rings” and I think that other students would benefit from reading them as well.

Works Cited
Biography. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14, 2015, from http://www.tolkiensociety.org/author/biography/