Thesis (M.A.R.)--Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, Tennessee, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-90).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves : [79]-82).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of West Florida, 2007. / Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 50 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Sociology. / Bibliography: leaves 46-48.

Thesis (M.A.R.)--Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, Tennessee, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-90).

Thesis (M.A.R.)--Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, Tennessee, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-90).

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This study views J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy against its Anglo-Saxon background, specifically in light of Tolkien's 1936 Beowulf essay, and contends that the author consciously attempted to recreate the mood of the heroic poem. Chapter I compares Tolkien's use of historical perspective in Lord of the Rings with that of the Beowulf poet. His recognition of the poet's artistic use of history is stated in the "Beowulf" essay. Chapter II makes comparisons between Good and Evil as they are revealed in Beowulf and in the trilogy. Once again, much of the evidence for this comparison is found in Tolkien's Beowulf criticism. Chapter III examines the comitatus relationship fundamental to the heroic poem and to Lord of the Rings. It is the major element in Tolkien's portrayal of Good. Chapter IV concludes the study by asserting that the trilogy must be viewed as an heroic elegy, in exactly the same way that Tolkien viewed Beowulf. Thus, the theme of the trilogy, like Beowulf, is the mutability of man.

In an interview with Hy Bender, Neil Gaiman states, "We have the right, and the obligation, to tell old stories in our own ways, because they are our stories." While fantasy stands apart from other types of fiction, it still provides a particular kind of commentary on the culture/time it is being created in, often by toying with older themes and conventions. Stories of the quest for kingship tend to fall by the wayside in favor of the "unlikely hero" tale. While the king's story is not always vastly different from that of the hero, there are some key points that need to be taken into consideration. Unlike many heroes, especially in the modern sense, kings (whether recognized at first or not) are born for the duty they must eventually fulfill. A hero may be unaware of the problem at first or later reluctant to engage it; more often than not in tales of kingship there is a deep awareness of the problem and the knowledge of their potential in solving it. There is always a sense of inherent purpose and destiny: they must undertake quests in order to legitimize themselves and their power — their right to rule. These stories bear a similar structure and shared themes that can be found in medieval sources as well as earlier myths. Tales of kingship in modern fiction, specifically in the work of Neil Gaiman (The Sandman) and George R. R. Martin (A Game of Thrones), are similar to the medieval models, as kingship and the requirements of kingship were popular themes in medieval texts, including Beowulf and King Horn. The role of the king in epic tales varies from hero to villain, at times even occupying both roles depending on the story. In the tales explored herein and in much of the medieval source material that inspired the fantasy tradition, the king also takes on the role of healer. The interwoven plots of George R. R. Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice series revolve around the struggle for the rightful rule over seven kingdoms, and while the protagonist in The Sandman is in many ways vastly different from Tolkien's Aragorn, the character still exists with a sense of purpose, responsibility, and duty; a regal bearing that does not necessarily occur in the majority of typical heroes. The influence of Tolkien's work both as a scholar and an author is apparent in Gaiman's use of mythology and Martin's style of world creation; both authors have admitted their creative debt to and continuing admiration of Tolkien's style of fantasy. It is impossible to discuss modern fantasy without acknowledging Tolkien as an influence to these two more recent authors. This paper will discuss The Lord of the Rings as a bridge between modern fantasy and medieval/mythological sources. In each of these modern fantasy tales of kingship, healing and reunion become major themes, tied into the right/duty of a ruler. The patterns established by medieval tales are used by modern authors to create fantasy kings, giving their narratives legitimacy that may have been difficult to establish without these patterns and links back to the medieval tradition. / Master of Arts

Nous proposons ici une exploration philosophique radicale d'une œuvre littéraire dans le but de tester les limites de la légitimité de ce qu'une modalité particulière de la discipline philosophique considère comme objet de recherche approprié. Nous avons donc choisi d'étudier l’œuvre de Tolkien pour plusieurs raisons exposées ci-dessous. La première est la forme et l'immensité de son univers fictif, et l'effort de vérisimilitude historique qui a occupé ses considérations tout au long de sa rédaction. La seconde est la position conceptuelle de l'auteur à propos de la rédaction de fictions ainsi que ses considérations linguistiques. Finalement, la confluence des différentes dimensions réflexives mentionnées ci-dessus, qui apparaissent toutes esthétiquement motivées, doit aussi être couplée à la dimension religieuse intime et particulière de la vie de l'auteur. Cet étrange mélange a produit une œuvre qui a dépassé son auteur et qui a continué de grandir après sa mort grâce au travail d'édition de son fils. Nous parierons donc que l'étrange contexte de création, qu'est celui de la vie intime de l'artiste, ait culminé en une œuvre suffisamment riche pour, non seulement nous permettre une analyse philosophique intéressante, mais nous permettre d'en reconstruire positivement une vision philosophique du monde. Pour ce faire nous parcourrons l’œuvre narrative de Tolkien dans ses dimensions conceptuelles et morales, politiques et psychologiques, et nous disperserons notre recherche stratégiquement à travers le corpus principal de l’œuvre narrative, c'est-à-dire The Silmarillion et The Lord Of The Rings. Nous commencerons au début chronologique et mythique de celle-ci et nous progresserons jusqu'au point culminant de la fiction historique tout en contextualisant l'interprétation de manière continue afin de toujours reconfirmer, de l'intérieur, les conclusions auxquelles nous serons précédemment arrivés. Ce faisant, nous espérons défier, de manière convaincante, les normes institutionnelles, qui régissent ce qui peut être légitimement considéré comme une œuvre philosophique.