15.06.2013 Views

Underground Rivers - University of New Mexico

Underground Rivers - University of New Mexico

Underground Rivers - University of New Mexico

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973)<br />

Chapter 16 -- <strong>Underground</strong> <strong>Rivers</strong> in English Fiction<br />

Tolkien, a pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> philology (the use <strong>of</strong> language in literature) at Oxford, is best remembered<br />

not for his expertise in ancient tongues <strong>of</strong> Northern Europe, but for his fantasy Middle Earth<br />

imagined in meticulous linguistic, geographic and historical detail. It took Tolkien four-volumes to<br />

tell the story.<br />

The Hobbit (1937). The Hobbit Bilbo Baggins joins a company <strong>of</strong> dwarves and the Wizard<br />

Gandalf in a quest to reclaim an old dwarfish kingdom from the dragon Smaug.<br />

The Fellowship <strong>of</strong> the Ring (1954), Part 1 <strong>of</strong> The Lord <strong>of</strong> the Rings. Bilbo's cousin and heir<br />

Frodo Baggins sets out on a quest to rid Middle Earth <strong>of</strong> the One Ring, joined by the Fellowship<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Ring.<br />

The Two Towers (1954), Part 2 <strong>of</strong> The Lord <strong>of</strong> the Rings. The Fellowship is split apart while<br />

Frodo and his servant Sam continue their quest. Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas fight to rescue the<br />

hobbits Pippin and Merry from the Orcs and to save the Kingdom.<br />

The Return <strong>of</strong> the King (1955), Part 3 <strong>of</strong> The Lord <strong>of</strong> the Rings. Frodo and Sam reach Mordor,<br />

while Aragorn arrives in Gondor and reclaims his heritage.<br />

Good battles Evil and, at last, triumphs.<br />

As a setting, Tolkien's geographic creation wasn't underground at all. To Tolkien, "Middle Earth"<br />

was an historical term derived from Old English "middangeard," the physical world in which<br />

humans live, as opposed to the unseen Heaven and Hell. Tolkien's Middle Earth is our earth<br />

ages ago when hobbits quietly dwelt before humans were aware <strong>of</strong> them.<br />

DRAFT 1122//66//22001122<br />

Uppddaatteess aatt hhttttpp::////www. .uunnm. .eedduu//~rrhheeggggeenn//UnnddeerrggrroouunnddRi ivveerrss. .hhttml l<br />

182

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!