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The Image of the Enemy - An Issue of Race and Class in the Works of J. R. R. Tolkien.

Elmgren, Ainur (2002) ENGA80 20022
English Studies
Abstract
The Lord of the Rings has been denounced as carrying a black-and-white fairytale moral, with forces
of Good (light, freedom, beauty) fighting Forces of Evil (darkness, tyranny, ugliness) Many writers
argue that the battle between the forces of Good and Evil is a reflection of Tolkien's strong Christian
beliefs. Others see in the battle between Light and Darkness a reflection of the never-ending struggle
between order and chaos in old Norse mythology. The problem of the seeming dualistic struggle in
Tolkien's works has been studied to a great extent. My intention in this study is to show the origins
and purpose of the "other" races, primarily the incurably evil Orcs, in Tolkien's mythology, both
within a hermeneutic study of his... (More)
The Lord of the Rings has been denounced as carrying a black-and-white fairytale moral, with forces
of Good (light, freedom, beauty) fighting Forces of Evil (darkness, tyranny, ugliness) Many writers
argue that the battle between the forces of Good and Evil is a reflection of Tolkien's strong Christian
beliefs. Others see in the battle between Light and Darkness a reflection of the never-ending struggle
between order and chaos in old Norse mythology. The problem of the seeming dualistic struggle in
Tolkien's works has been studied to a great extent. My intention in this study is to show the origins
and purpose of the "other" races, primarily the incurably evil Orcs, in Tolkien's mythology, both
within a hermeneutic study of his texts, and within a wider scope including previous mythological
and literary references and sources of inspiration. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Elmgren, Ainur
supervisor
organization
course
ENGA80 20022
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Othering, the Other, enemy images, fantasy, fantastic literature, race, mythology, Anglo-Saxonism, intellectuals
language
English
id
8988898
date added to LUP
2019-06-28 10:30:39
date last changed
2019-06-28 10:39:02
@misc{8988898,
  abstract     = {{The Lord of the Rings has been denounced as carrying a black-and-white fairytale moral, with forces
of Good (light, freedom, beauty) fighting Forces of Evil (darkness, tyranny, ugliness) Many writers
argue that the battle between the forces of Good and Evil is a reflection of Tolkien's strong Christian
beliefs. Others see in the battle between Light and Darkness a reflection of the never-ending struggle
between order and chaos in old Norse mythology. The problem of the seeming dualistic struggle in
Tolkien's works has been studied to a great extent. My intention in this study is to show the origins
and purpose of the "other" races, primarily the incurably evil Orcs, in Tolkien's mythology, both
within a hermeneutic study of his texts, and within a wider scope including previous mythological
and literary references and sources of inspiration.}},
  author       = {{Elmgren, Ainur}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Image of the Enemy - An Issue of Race and Class in the Works of J. R. R. Tolkien.}},
  year         = {{2002}},
}