	TOLKIEN REVIEWS OF SOURCES
	Students' Critical Reviews of Sources for further Study of J. R. R. TOLKIEN & The Lord of the Rings
	English 104 - Introduction to Literature: Fiction, Fall 2002 Cora Agatucci, Humanities Dept., Central Oregon Community College

Models for citing electronic & other types of sources - See Tolkien Bibliographies:
1. Print Sources by & about Tolkien | 2. Web Sources & Online Articles
3. Sources Recommended by ENG 104 Students
Fall 2002 ENG 104 Critical Review of Sources assignment
URL: http://www.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/eng104/criticalreview.htm
Evaluation: Critical Review of Sources ~ Fall 2002
URL: http://www.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/eng104/criticalrevieweval.htm
Tolkien Seminars ~ Fall 2002
URL: http://www.cocc.edu/cagatucci/classes/eng104/Tolkienseminars.htm

Chuck Barker
Eng 104, Prof. C. Agatucci
Critical Review of Sources
9 October 2002

My topic of choice is J.R.R. Tolkien. I used the Internet to find all of my sources.

My source was URL: http:// www.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/u/relipper/tolkien/rootpage.html. There is so much usable information on this page it is unreal.

This information page gives you so much different things to choose from to view and interact with things about Tolkien. Like: it has mirrors, Individual pages, other www pages, Articles, chat rooms conferences, family trees, fonts, games, graphics, linguistics, lists, mailing lists, music, news groups, online texts, parodies, periodicals, societies, and miscellaneous sites.

This site has so many strengths it’s unbelievable. You can just see how many different things that this web site offers. Whatever question that you might have there is at least one spot where you could find the answer for your question. I saw now significant weakness in this web site. Overall everyone should check this site out.

My topic of choice is the Archives of T.R.R. Tolkien. I used the Internet to locate this website.
The URL: http://www.Nytimes.com/specials/advertising/movies/tolkien/Index.html . This website is especially good for information just on Tolkien himself.

This website introduces many new things to the reader. It has a huge collection of articles from the New York Times Archives. Within these archives there are also many book reviews and also different interviews with Tolkien himself.

This site has a bunch of useful information on Tolkien as a writer and about himself. The interviews are very interesting to read and to learn more about him as a person. The book reviews were a little boring for me just because I might have had a little different view that the reviewer had. This was the only drawback that I had for this website.

My topic of choice is the movie The Lord of the Rings. I used the internet to locate this information. The URL: http://www.us.Imdb.com/Title?0120737. This website was packed full of great information on the movie.

This website has a complete film crew and cast section. There is also a cross-reference on filmographies, plot summaries, a photo gallery, trailers, film locations, awards, and also film reviews. There is a bonus on this website; it has hyperlinks to lists of external reviews, news articles and much much more.

This web site is full of visuals and awesome learning tools. It would most likely answer any question that you might have ever had about the movie or of what someone had to say about it. You could spend a lot of time searching through this site too find out all the info that you would ever need for a report or an essay. The only drawback to this website would be the film reviews. They didn’t give the responses that I wanted to hear, but overall it was a very good website.

Carrie Emrich
Eng 104, Prof. C. Agatucci
Critical Review of Sources
9 October 2002

Day, David. TOLKIEN'S RING. [City]: Harper Collins Publishers, 1994.
        Day's book deals primarily with background myths and histories that influenced Tolkien's THE LORD OF THE RINGS. In a very well written and beautifully illustrated (by Allen Lee) volume, Day attempts to take the reader on a historical journey through the ring quests of ages. The book is a veritable detective work examining Tolkien's sources of inspiration for his own modern mythology.
        Day takes us through the similarities linking THE LORD OF THE RINGS with ancient Norse, Oriental, German, Greek and Roman mythologies; Arthurian and Carolingian legends; Celtic and Saxon oral traditions; and even the Bible. Day also emphasizes the concept of alchemy and the ring-tales associated with the alchemist as being integral to Tolkien's story.
        This is a fascinating insight into Tolkien's world. I recommend it highly for any and all that are interested in learning more about Tolkien's THE LORD OF THE RINGS.

Wynn-Fonstad, Karen. THE ATLAS OF MIDDLE EARTH. [City]: Houghton Mifflin, 2001.
        This amazing tool for visualization is a must for any Tolkien fiend. Cartographer Karen Wynn-Fonstad (and self-professed Tolkien "fiend"), through Tolkien's descriptions of his middle earth, builds to-scale representation of places visited in THE LORD OF THE RINGS.
        For some who may have trouble picturing the layout and coherence of Middle Earth, this book will be extremely helpful. Fully illustrated and paired with the authors comments and a paragraph or two on which of Tolkien's works the map originated in. She also adds amusing sidenotes, such as how to
convert Tolkien's unique Middle Earth measurement system to metric scale.
        I highly recommend this book to students who have trouble "getting into" THE LORD OF THE RINGS. This work is an invaluable study tool to accompany LOTR.

Tolkien, J.R.R. THE QUENTA SILMARILLION. [City]: Houghton Mifflin, 1983.
        The Silmarillion is Tolkien's entire cosmology behind THE LORD OF THE RINGS. A bible, if you will. Starting literally "at the beginning," Eru [God] creates the Valar [angels] and later the races Edhel [Elves] and Adan [Men]. The origin of the Dark Lord Sauron is also addressed, as is the creating of dwarves, orcs and the like.
        A rather difficult volume to read (as it is written in a style even more elevated than LORD OF THE RINGS), I find it an immensely gratifying read as it lends the weight of seemingly documented history to Tolkein's created world. The main body of THE QUENTA SILMARILLION deals with the creation, evolution, wars and ends of the elves. Those who are drawn to the elves in LORD OF THE RINGS may enjoy this work.
        This book also deals mainly with the Silmarils ["Silmarillion" is Qwenya, an elven language. It literally means, "of the Silmarils" - Jewels of unequalled power and beauty created by an elf, Feanor. Melkor [the
super-evil predecessor of Sauron] steals the silmarils and thus turns Elf against God, Elf against Elf, and ultimately Elf against Man.
        I would not recommend this book to those who do not like Tolkien's THE LORD OF THE RINGS.

Eddie Funtanellas
ENG 104 Prof. C. Agatucci
Critical Review of Sources
9 Oct. 2002

Introduction:

            After participating in Seminar 1, I still had some unanswered questions. The answers I sought were obtained through various LOR guru’s websites and essays. It was only here that I would find these answers because they were questions that extended beyond the novel. At first, I was going to find my own sources, but after checking Cora’s extensive amount of links. I found exactly what I was looking for, so I stayed with her list.

            My first fascination that later developed into some questions was the character Tom Bombadil. I could not fully grasp his dealings with evil; they seemed too profound for the way the novel had been going. Which lead me to another question, which were the vast amounts of singing in the book. In my research I found that the songs Tom sings in LOR are variants of another song in another Tolkien creation. I was interested in this because why would Tolkien spend so much time writing about a character that some people think is out of place. Anyhow, I spent most of my time with the Tom Bombadil subject because of his mysterious presence and unreal problem solving abilities.

            In an Essay by Gene Hargrove he makes the point that Tom is an Enigma. An enigma is a mystery, a puzzle, something that seems to be discordant, unrelated, out of place, but it isn’t. He makes the point that Tolkien would not invent this character and leave it with no answer, although Tolkien does not give the answer outright he makes several hints towards it. This subject could go on for twenty pages, but I now have a firmer understanding of why and what Tom Bombadil is or was. This project showed me that you can read a novel and be content or you can research the hell out of matters that you do not comprehend. Then you can find a completely different meaning from your previous cognitions.

Hargrove, Gene. Who is Tom Bombadil?    9 October 2002<

http://www.cas.unt.edu/~hargrove/bombadil.html

            This site consists of a six-page essay written by Gene Hargrove about the mysterious Tom Bombadil. He gives helpful insights such as the origin and why Tolkien invented this character. Although the opinions expressed in this site are of his own, he does make several transitions from showing the common opinion to his own using different degrees of evidence. I felt that this site was a very helpful insight into Tolkien’s cognitions about the character Tom Bombadil. Even if you did not agree with Gene there are plenty of facts here pulled from outside sources that one can indulge in. The only weakness I found was that he made some referrals to concepts about the book that I could not fully grasp because I have not read the whole novel. This site is highly recommended if you want to know who, what, when, why and how about Tom Bombadil. He also offers many links to different sites, so happy Tom hunting.

Hargrove, Gene.   About the Songs and Poems in LOR. 9 October 2002<

www.cep.unt.edu/songs/tolkien.html

   This Website contains all the songs and poems of the novel Lord of the Rings that are more than two lines long. It is nice in the sense that you do not have go back and in the book and find an individual poem or song because they are listed on this site in the order that they are received in the book. Each poem or song has a detailed paragraph(s) that explained in great detail the origin and meaning. I found this site to be very helpful when trying to decipher a poem or song. Especially, when it came to the first song Tom Bombadil sings. I wish I new about this sight while I was reading The Fellowship of the Ring, it would have answered many questions that I had about these songs. I highly recommend this site to anyone looking to further answer questions about the songs and poems in LOR.

Fisher, Mark.   The Encyclopedia of Arda. 9 October 2002<

http:// www.glyphweb.com/arda/

            This site had the most extensive amount of information on more common subjects such as beings and places of the Tolkien’s creation. Not to mention the site itself is very user friendly and a delight to look at. For instance, I looked up the Orc race. There were several different kinds of species of Orcs and it even gave quotes that pertained to the origin of the race. This site definitely lives up to an encyclopedia title. Although, the claims it is still under construction and will never be fully done, one can find information on beings that you did not even think were that meaningful. I highly recommend this site to anyone looking to further strengthen their knowledge about any being or place in any of Tolkien’s works.

Sara Gerard
ENG 104, Prof. C. Agatucci
Critical Review of Sources
9 October 2002

J.R.R. Tolkien wrote stories. We call them epics, novels, and works of art. He uses vivid imagery to jump-start our imaginations and bring us to worlds we could only dream about. His works and words have produced numerous articles, books, and societies filled with places and creatures that could only exist in mythology. I have found many resources on Tolkien and begun to ask a few questions.

Who was he? We know that he was the man who wrote The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and other novels, but what was his background? Also, what did he do for the readers? Luckily, I have found some sources that answered my questions. Our library has books about Tolkien. Unfortunately, I could not get a copy of any of them. However, the library has many articles online that were easily accessible. The internet was another source that had many useful web pages, websites, and articles about Tolkien and his works. I learned about his life and that he worked on the Oxford English Dictionary, defining words from "waggle to warlock". I found that he claimed readers young and old.

Annotated Bibliography

“From Middle Earth to Middle English”. Report/Newsmagazine. (2002): 4. Academic Search Elite. EBSCOhost. COCC Library, Bend, OR. 6 Oct 2002. <http://www.ebsco.com>
[Cora's Revision of bibliographical entry:]
"From Middle English to Middle-Earth." Report/Newsmagazine (Alberta ed.) 8 July 2002: 4 (1p). Rpt. EBSCOHost Academic Search Elite, 2002; Article No. 6893894.

This article talks about the professor J.R.R. Tolkien and what he did during his time as a professor at Oxford. It also talks about his work on the Oxford English Dictionary and how the word “hobbit” was added to it. This is a short article, so it does not have much information, but it is an interesting bit on the man who wrote the famous Lord Of The Rings.

Mithrilian of Lothrorien. “The Chronology of the Life of J.R.R. Tolkien.”
URL: http://www.kulichki.com/tolkien/eng/enghron.html

[Cora's Revision of bibliographical entry:]
The Fellowship of Arda-na-Kulichkah. “The Chronology of the Life of J.R.R. Tolkien.” Arda-na-Kulichkah: The Island of Tolkien Fans. Chertovy Kulichi, Inc. [Russia], 1996-2002. [Accessed] 10 Oct. 2002.
URL: http://www.kulichki.com/tolkien/eng/enghron.html

This website gives a great history of the creator of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. It has the years when each of his books began in writing and when each was published. Also included are the years when his parents died, and where he and his brother moved during his upbringing. This is a good source for specific information about Tolkien’s life. However, it lacks the specific dates for many events.

“The Barrow-Downs”. <http://www.barrowdowns.com>.
[Cora's Revision of bibliographical entry:]
The Barrow Downs. The Barrow Downs Store [No Date]. [Accessed] 10 Oct. 2002.
URL: http://www.barrowdowns.com/Welcome.asp

This is a place for everything Tolkien. It has the books, the encyclopedia, chronology, and many other interesting things including madlibs and games. It has contests, a readers section, and links to other Tolkien sites. This is an interesting site for Tolkien fans to see, and a good one to waste some time at. The problem is there is no good way to cite this page, as it has no author and no specific name.

Josh Goodall
ENG 104, Prof. C. Agatucci
Critical Review of Sources
9 October 2002

Critical Reviews

            In the Annotated Bibliography that is my compilation of critical reviews, I attempted to find articles that were interesting and worth reading. I wanted to sift through articles that merely talked about the books, or delved too deeply into the minor intricacies of Tolkien’s world. I found an interesting article about other’s analysis of Tolkien’s work and a good piece on the character Tom Bombadil (whom I find one of the most interesting and clever characters in the trilogy). Also, I picked out a site that merely quoted some memorable sayings from the books. I felt that the quotes painted a good picture of the theme and style of the books, and was enjoyable to read.

            Through the reading and searching for sources, I found that many people take Tolkien a bit too seriously for my tastes. Many sites and books plowed headfirst into the deep, mysterious details of Tolkien’s creations. They seemed to imply that they actually felt Tolkien’s world existed, and that they themselves lived in that world. However, I also found many that appreciated the books for their great literary merit (which is more of what I am like). They looked at some of the more gray areas of the books (I found this especially in the Tom Bombadil article, but I could withstand it since I am fascinated by Tom.), but mostly stayed in the realm of reality, looking at the books through a reader’s eye, rather than a believer in the reality of this “world”. I found my sources off the web, and at the library. However, I was unable to track down any real good sources in book form.

            At the End of the Quest, Victory. Book review by W. H. Auden of the New York Times, January 22, 1956. Accessed October 5, 2002. URL: http://www.nytimes.com/1956/01/22/books/tolkien-king.html

In this article, Auden touches on a few different topics. One: the reaction to the book at the time (which we must realize is 1956, and maybe not as relevant today); two: how Tolkien manages to avoid the classic style of medieval quests; and three: how Tolkien incorporates the battle of Good vs. Evil without presenting an obvious, or unbelievable solution.    The article is very well written, and appeals to a philosopher, or others who enjoy contemplating the morality of a story. The author compares other books similar in plot and setting to Tolkien’s, and then explains how they are all different, and what sets The Lord of the Rings apart from the other stories. It may get a little bit wordy for some who are less interested in this type of discussion, but for those who enjoy contemplating the unanswerable questions, this article will leave you wanting more.

Who is Tom Bombadil? An essay by Gene Hargrove, earlier published in Mythlore, no. 47 (August 1986). Accessed October 5, 2002. URL: http://www.cas.unt.edu/~hargrove/bombadil.html.

Although this article is very long (possibly longer than the section of the book Tom is in), it is very insightful. The essay covers the many aspects of Tom’s character, ranging from his immunity to the One Ring to his carefree attitude. It dives deep into the depths of the book, even beyond into the gray realm of “behind the scenes”. There are many different ideas presented pertaining to Tom’s origin, character, and power. The essay is quite intuitive, but may also get a bit long for those who are not very interested in Tom Bombadil. However, for anyone who loves The Lord of the Rings, there is much to analyze and reflect upon in this essay.

            The Road Goes Ever and On. Part of the Coldal Web Pages. Last updated October 3, 2002. Accessed October 5, 2002. URL: http://www.coldal.org/quotes.htm.

            The website is a compilation of quotes and sayings from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. It includes sound bytes and pictures relevant to the trilogy as well. The quotes are not in any particular order, and seem there merely to provide us with little tidbits to carry with us throughout our day, or even through life. This site has much to offer in the ways of satisfying the appetite of a quote lover, or someone who desires a brief, light chance to reminisce upon the wit and wisdom of The Lord of the Rings.

            I would like to include another article in my report; however, I was unable to find another source that appealed to me in the time given. I would like to add another source when I receive my paper back for revision.

Christalyn Grantier
ENG 104, Prof. C. Agatucci
Critical Review of Sources
9 October 2002

Long before I even had heard of Lord of the Rings, I loved C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia for the story and the Christian themes that were involved. When I discovered that Tolkien and Lewis were good friends, I became interested in how Tolkien’s faith may have been reflected in his books. I found that, if there was any influence of Christianity, it was not nearly as obvious as in Lewis’s works. Did the faith of the author have an impact on the epic he wrote? If so, are there specific passages or messages from the text that support this idea?

I began at the English 104 website. I skimmed the bibliographies and found sources that might be related to the topic I was in search of. I then copied the relevant information into a Word document for easier accessibility. I also explored the linked web sites from the writing home page. Next, I looked up the full text articles that I chose from the website on the COCC library database, specifically Ebsco Academic elite. I also explored the COCC library’s catalog and the Deschutes County Library catalog. I also did some searches on the EBSCOHost database and the search engine Yahoo using keywords like “Tolkien,” “Lord of the Rings,” and “Christianity.” I read articles online, on the EBSCOHost database, and on microfiche in the library. With these sources, I not only discovered specific passages that could be viewed as “Christian”, but also the general mindset of Tolkien as he wrote the myth. I learned Tolkien believed that because humans are created in the image of God, we have the desire and ability to create stories, just as God has created His story, the history of the world. Tolkien stressed the importance of a “happy ending”, or “eucatastrophe” after a period of sorrow. He believed this to be important because of the greatness of God’s story. This story is the redemption of man by Jesus’ death of the cross. Tolkien states “The Gospels contain a fairy-story, or a story of a larger kind which embraces the essence of fairy-stories… among the marvels is the greatest and most complete conceivable eucatastrophe. But this story has entered History and the primary world.” (Williams, www.christians.org). The author of Lord of the Rings believed the stories written by humans, although fractured, contain elements of truth because we come from the God that is ultimate truth. Some specific elements of truth in these books are: sacrifice, battles of good versus evil, and the ring as a symbol for Christ’s cross- a burden He carried for the redemption of the world (Grace 34). The characters, although similar to the characters of past mythology that fascinated Tolkien, have Christian attributes. “There is a nobility, humility and sense of purpose about them unknown to pagan literature” (Byfield 2).

Annotated Bibliography

Byfield, Link. “The Greatest Book of the Century Was Built on the Thought ‘and in one Lord, Jesus Christ….’” Alberta Report/ Newsmagazine 24 Feb. 1997: 2. EBSCOHost Academic Search Elite, 2002; Article No. 9703253234.

This short article begins by proclaiming that, according the British bookstore customers, Lord of the Rings is the best book of the twentieth century. He goes on to support this theory by arguing with Ms. Greer, another author who has never liked Tolkien’s work. Byfield shows how Tolkien drew his material from past times, but added a more modern view, a Christian view. He points out that Ms. Greer does not like the work because it is Christian. The only drawback is the somewhat rude manner in which the author refers to Ms. Greer. This was done in poor taste, even if he disagreed with her opinions. This, resource, although short in length, gives a unique theory as to the continuing popularity of the Lord of the Rings.

Grace, Kevin Michael. “Praising God in Myth.” Report / Newsmagazine (Alberta ed.): 7 Jan. 2002: 34 (4pp). Rpt. EBSCOHost Academic Search Elite, 2002: Article No. 5813863

This article specifically recounts the discussion Tolkien had with C.S. Lewis, which directly relates to Tolkien’s argument for the value of myth, which was a religious-based argument. It also gives some insight into Tolkien’s faith in general that is not directly related to themes present in Lord of the Rings. Some historical information on the life of Tolkien and other beliefs that influenced his writings are included. This article has a lot of information to sift through, but it is worth the search.

Williams, Donald T. “Is Man a Myth?” Christians .org 5 Oct. 2002 <http://www.christians.org/manmyth/man04.html>

The subsection of this article is called “J. R. R. Tolkien: Humanity and Faerie.” The author’s statement is largely constructed around quotes from Tolkien himself as the author of Lord of the Rings explained his theory on the origin of man’s abilities to create stories and defended the value of myth. He claims that as we are created in the image of a Creator, we to have the ability to create. These creations have great value because they reflect back to the ultimate Creator, God. The specific example of a “Happy Ending” is given and compared between Tolkien’s and many others stories and the true story of God’s “happy ending”, the coming and redemption of Christ. The quotes themselves give great insight into the mind of Tolkien and this article addresses the topic of his religious beliefs very directly. Because it is obviously written by a Christian author in a Christian publication, this article is biased toward the Christian viewpoint.

Wood, Ralph C. “Traveling the One Road: The Lord of the Rings as a `pre-Christian' Classic.” Christian Century 110 (1993): 208- 211.

Instead of briefly stating that Christian themes are found throughout the book, this work gives many specific examples from the book where Christian messages and themes are found, although acknowledging the work is not obviously Christian. It analyzes these sections of the book and then discusses the Christian topic related to each. The author compares magic and machinery, how both are used to speed up life. It is shown that the noble and wise, Gandalf and Galadriel, are the most tempted. It compares Saruman as a type of Judas, who was impatient for victory. The fellowship of the ring is compared to the church, which has crossed boundaries of different groups of people. Christian mercy is seen in Bilbo’s pity of Gollum. This article retells portions of the story and quotes others, making it easy to follow the argument of the author and glean valuable insight into the story from a certain (Christian) point of view.

Kristie Gravatt
ENG 104, Prof. C. Agatucci
Critical Review of Sources
9 October 2002

INTRODUCTION:

The topic of my research for this annotated bibliography is a comparison of the Lord of the Rings book to the film. I have only read the first book of the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. I have mixed feelings about seeing the movie. I so love my own perception of Middle Earth and it’s inhabitants. I am looking online for feedback on this topic. I have found endless bounds of information. A few websites stood out for me because 1)they had comparisons of book to film; 2)they were simple to navigate; 3) they had a very "Tolkien" feel to them. I learned a lot about Tolkien from this project and was astonished by the amount of "Tolkomania" going on in the world. I found many notes from college classes just like this one. The most valuable thing I learned from this project was that I should finish the book(s), then see the movie, and keep the two perceptions separate in my mind. They are both O.K. Understanding the making of the movie brings a lot to that perception.

WEBSITES:

The Tolkien Archives: A Guide to the World of J.R.R. Tolkien. An on-line archival collection from the New York Times Company. Copyright 2002 The New York Times Company.
URL: http://nytimes.com/specials/advertising/movies/tolkien/index.html
[Cora's Revision of bibliographical entry:]
The Tolkien Archives: A Guide to the World of J. R. R. Tolkien. New York Times Online, 2002. [Accessed] 10 Oct. 2002.
URL: http://www.nytimes.com/specials/advertising/movies/tolkien/index.html

This website covers everything that I could think of in relation to J.R.R. Tolkien. This site contains innumerable links to everything from Tolkien biographies and bibliographies to book reviews, discussion groups, slide shows, interviews, quizzes and games. There are also reviews on the movie and some information as to the making of the movie. This is a good site for information and links to more information on Tolkien and his work and especially good for reading Tolkien related book reviews.

The Encyclopedia of Arda. An interactive encyclopedia into the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Sponsored by Discus Online. Copyright Mark Fisher 1997-2002. URL: www.glyphweb.com
[Cora's Revision of bibliographical entry:]
Fisher, Mark. The Encyclopedia of Arda: An Interactive Guide to the Works of J. R. R. Tolkien. 1997-2000. [Accessed] 10 Oct. 2002.
URL: http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/

This is an award winning website. It contains a bibliography, which is a good source for more research. The site also contains maps and illustrations and has an alphabetical listing of over 5,000 Tolkien/LOTR topics from which you can choose to study. There is also a movie-goers guide that points out the differences between the book and the movie. The only drawback of this site is that it is fairly new and lacks illustrations; some of the links are still under construction.

There and Back Again. Community Member of TheOneRing.Net. Copyright 2001 Shire Media.
URL: www.thereandbackagain.net
[Cora's Revision of bibliographical entry:]
Govar, Daniel [aka: saulone]. There and Back Again. XI Group, 2002. [Accessed] 10 Oct. 2002.
URL: http://www.thereandbackagain.net
URL: http://thereandbackagain.xigroup.com/book.html

This is my favorite website to go to before and after reading in the Lord of the Rings book. This site is magical and mystical. The words seem to quiver and float on the pages. When you click on a link for any of the people or realms of the story, the text comes up on the blank open pages of an old magical wizards book There is another magical book and on the pages appear a calendar, in what is probably Hobbit script. The months have names from another language, and when you click on a date, it gives you the news for that date. There is also a movie link for information about the movie and differences between the movie and the book. This site is great to get you in the mood to read more Tolkien, but is a site more for beginners in research on Tolkien/LOTR. Not a lot of literary content.

Geoffrey Gruetzmacher
ENG 104, Prof. C. Agatucci
Critical Review of Sources
October 9, 2002

            There are so many websites on the internet that concern Tolkien his works and his characters. The choices were nearly endless. I chose three websites that interested me the most.
            I first chose a very interesting essay about the influences war had on Tolkien’s writings. This intrigued me because I was in the military, and because it is amazing how an author’s life experiences are reflected in his or her writings. I don’t think WWII had a huge affect on Tolkien’s work, The Lord of the Rings, but I do think his experiences in WWI had a huge impact. I see this in his descriptions of the bad or evil things in his book and the loss of members in the Fellowship of the Ring.
            Secondly I chose an essay on Frodo’s choice to depart Middle Earth. I think this is interesting because being on a journey and trying to complete a task can be very daunting. Frodo deserves this break and should take it.
            Lastly I chose an article on Tom Bombadil, the most interesting character in the book as of yet. He is an enigma and no one knows who or what he is. He is as old as the dirt but full of energy.

Brian M. Kessler: Tolkien and the Wars, 7 December 1998. Brian Kessler’s Home Page. Accessed 8 October 2002.
URL: http://www.fortunecity.com/westwood/naked/132/tolktoc.html

            This website is a compilation of the differences in opinion many people have concerning the influence of war on J.R.R. Tolkien’s works. I like this website a great deal. It documents sources’ opinions as well as the reasoning behind their opinions. The website is also laid out extremely well. I was also very impressed with the bibliographies many entries. The most interesting component of Brian’s essay was the coloration of different people’s quotes. The addition of color to the words makes this website very easy to read and use in research.

Karyn Milos: Too Deeply Hurt, 1998. The Writings of Karyn Milos. Accessed 8 October 2002.
URL: http://home.mn.rr.com/karynmilos/essays/toodeeplyhurt.html

            This is a great article explaining the reasons Frodo left Middle Earth at the end of the Lord of the Rings. I like it because it takes into account the peril Frodo went through to complete his mission. I don’t blame Frodo for wanting to leave and get away from it all. Karyn’s bibliography is extensive, including three publications from Tolkien himself. She can’t go wrong quoting the master of Middle Earth. I also like her layout of this page the dark blue background and the yellow stars make it appealing to my eyes. This article was also published in The Tolkien Society’s journal, issue 36.

Eugene C. Hargrove: Who is Tom Bombadil?, 2 September 1996. University of North Texas. Accessed 8 October 2002.
URL: http://www.phil.unt.edu/~hargrove/bombadil.html

            This website is my favorite. Who doesn’t like Tom Bombadil? He is a carefree soul who lives in the forest. Something like the people who live in Central Oregon. The only thing I do not like about this website is the background color makes it very hard to read. The website does have a link to a white background essay, but is disconnected. Fanatics of Tom Bombadil will love the extensive links it has to other information concerning this unique creature.

Kyle Heinze
Eng 104, Prof. C. Agatucci
Critical Review of Sources
9 October 2002

Middle Earth is a Gold Mine

            J. R. R. Tolkien wouldn’t have believed it if you’d told him. Before it’s initial publication in the mid 1950’s, the author of the epic, The Lord of the Rings, was quoted as saying, “I sincerely doubt it (the novel) will be able to make any money for the publisher, let alone the author,” as well as, “I now wonder whether anyone, beyond my friends, would read anything so long.”

            Now in the year 2002, Tolkien’s doubtful words about his masterpiece seem nearly laughable; equivalent to Decca Records not signing the Beatles because “guitar bands are going out of style.”   A walk through an American mall would be enough to convince anyone of Tolkien’s misjudgment. The Lord of the Rings has not only made scores of money for the publisher and the author (or his heirs), but also for New Line Cinema (the studio that has filmed and is currently releasing the new, book-based movies directed by Peter Jackson with a $270 million dollar budget), video game producers, clothing companies, poster designers, and the makers of pretty much anything else that can have the words “One Ring to rule them all” emblazoned across it and sold. In fact, with the recent release of The Fellowship of the Ring and the upcoming releases of The Two Towers and The Return of the King in theaters everywhere, you can’t throw a cat these days and not hit a piece of Middle Earth merchandise.

            In a recent, very simple Internet search delving into the commercial aspect of Lord of the Rings (hereafter referred to as LOTR) as generated by the release of the new movies, I uncovered three great web sites that do a great job of showing how far the impact of Elves and Dwarves and Hobbits and Wizards has gone in the American economy.

Lord of the Rings. The Official Lord of the Rings Movie website. New Line Cinema Productions Inc, The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Tolkien Enterprises under lisence to New Line Productions 2002. Accessed 8 October 2002.
URL: http://www.lordoftherings.net

Basically, New Line Cinema’s official LOTR movie website is one big money making movie promotion. Its main features seem to be the sale of the recently released LOTR: the Fellowship of the Ring DVD, its soundtrack, and also the recent LOTR video games available on nearly all of the modern gaming systems. It also serves heavily as an ongoing promotion for LOTR: The Two Towers, offering news updates and screenshots: just enough to arouse any fan’s appetite without satisfying it.   Aside from those main functions, this site features downloadable movie trailers, screensavers, and desktops bearing the LOTR logo. Fans can also read interviews with director Peter Jackson concerning The Two Towers, and read along as Elijah Wood, who plays Frodo, describes what it’s like to be a Hobbit.

Official Lord of the Rings Online Store. New Line Cinema Studio Store. New Line Cinema, 2001. Accessed 8 October 2002.
URL: http://www.lotrshop.com

I do not believe that you have witnessed true entrepreneurship until you have visited this website. The official LOTR online shop offers everything having to do with Middle Earth. When I say “everything,” what I mean is that this site will sell you Halloween costumes, DVDs and videos, mugs, glassware, posters, prints, clothing, clothing accessories, water globes, picture frames, books, maps, calendars, stationary goods, toys, and games (including a customized LOTR chess set). The crowning glory of this entire commercial endeavor is, I believe, the fact that at this site you can purchase the One Ring. Yes, Isuldur’s Bane (the Ring of Power) comes complete with ancient Elvish writing around the outside (“One Ring to rule them all”) and a certificate of authenticity. It is even forged from 14 karat gold, making this the quintessential gift to any LOTR fanatic.

Hopper, Timothy. Lord of the Rings Action Figure Storybook. Fool of a Took: A Lord of the Rings Information Depot, 2001. Accessed October 2002.
URL: http://www.foolofatook.com

            I included the fan-operated website Foolofatook.com (“Fool of a Took” is what Gandalf calls Perigrin Took in a moment of anger) because, although it is not a direct effort by anybody to sell anything, it’s contents go a long way to show how popular much of this new LOTR merchandise has become with old Tolkien fans. I say that because of the following: Timothy Hopper, owner of Foolofatook.com, has taken the time and energy out of his life to not only purchase every LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring action figure, but to recreate the movie Fellowship of the Ring using those action figures in a long series of still shots, organized in a chapter-by-chapter story-book method. In short this page shows anyone who views it exactly what kind of a dedicated LOTR fan-base there really is out there. With this kind of backing, the future movies and merchandise should have no problem making money.

Eric Ozrelic
Eng 104, Prof. Cora Agatucci
Critical Review of Sources
10/7/2002

In deciding my topic I spent a good deal of time going over what I knew about Tolkien, his books, the various renditions of his book that have been made into movies, and I found that of things in the Tolkien universe, I knew very little about the man himself. I thought it would be interesting for myself, and others if I found some good resources for bibliographical information about him. Along the way I also hoped to learn more about him and how events in his life may have shaped how his books turned out. Why was he so driven to invent an entire world, all the way down to different languages and cultures? Who was he writing these works for, and how did he feel society accepted them?

Due to time restraints I had to limit my resources to purely those located on the World Wide Web. I would have liked to have done some research at the library downtown, or at COCC but I simply didn’t have the time. However I don’t think that this limited my search in any way. The resources I found on the web were very satisfying and provided a wealth of detail about my topic. It’s really quite amazing what can be found on the web with a little research.

Going over Tolkien’s life from various points of view from different sources, one thing was made abundantly clear; Tolkien had a pretty tough life, more so during his earlier years. Between having your mom die at the age of 12, living in a foster home and orphanage, then going off to war and getting trench fever; I’m amazed that he was able to have the drive to accomplish what he’s done. Even though all these things happened to him, he fell in love and was married, became a fixture at Oxford University, and wrote (after quite some time) the books we know today.

And finally without further a due, my critical review of sources:

Who Was Tolkien? A brief biography of his life and works from The Tolkien Society website. Accessed 7 September 2002 URL: http://www.tolkiensociety.org/tolkien/bio_frame.html

This web site includes a wealth of resources on Tolkien and his works. The link listed shows a brief biography of his life and works. This is a good source if you want a quick and dirty overview of Tolkien’s life. The site is well organized and allows for the reader to visit many parts of the site, and links outside of the site very easily. They list a short, but concise overview of his life. If you want more in-depth information views on any part of his life you had best look elsewhere. They conveniently provide links and information to more in-depth sources however. There are no pictures, sound bites, or any sort of media.

After reviewing the materials, I found myself wandering to other parts of the site where I stumbled on to an off-topic, but very interesting piece on Tom Bombadil. The author of this FAQ on the site gives a brief overview of Tom, which I have cited here:

Who was Tom Bombadil? A brief overview of Tom, and some resources to find out more information from The Tolkien Society website. Accessed 7 September 2002 URL: http://www.tolkiensociety.org/faq01.html#bombadil

Here’s a very interesting excerpt from the article: “Tom isn't affected by the ring, but it seems that the reason for this is because he has no desire, even in the depth of his heart, for the power that the ring offers. Maybe Tom is just "more hobbit-like than the Hobbits". Perhaps, if he were left with it long enough, and put into danger, even Tom might begin to feel its pull. But it has also been suggested that Tom's relationship with the world is like that of Adam, the first Man in Judeo-Christian theology, who lived as master of other created things, but in harmony with them, not in domination. Tom never bosses anything around unless it is getting someone else into trouble (and they ask for help). It may be that he is so far beyond temptation because, even if he felt the pull of the ring, he might have an inner reason to reject it that is deeper than we can understand.”

Tolkien’s Warwickshire: An illustrated Biography of JRR Tolkien. A visually oriented biography of Tolkien, along with other interesting facts and pictures. Accessed 7 September 2002 URL: http://home.freeuk.com/webbuk2/tolkien-biography.htm

This site contains a wealth of pictures in relation to Tolkien and his books. It includes information on all major aspects of Tolkien’s life, and goes in depth on some aspects more then others like detailing all the locations (pictures included) that Tolkien has lived. It includes a ‘significant dates’ section at the bottom for quick reference, and also includes several links to other sites including the ‘middle earth web ring’ that this site is a part of. There is a bit of non-biographical information listed on this site which detracted from the flow of the biography.

I was really impressed by the amount of pictures and images on this web site. It really gives you a feeling for how Tolkien got some of his ideas for his books, and also where he liked to live. The countryside in several of the places he’s lived look very similar to where I imagine a Hobbit might live.

A picture of a hobbit home



There’s also some very interesting photos of what the Barrow Downs might have looked like in real life. This site does NOT go really in-depth on Tolkien’s life, probably less than the previous site.

A picture of the Warwickshire’s Barrow Downs

RedBookofWestmarch. J.R.R. Tolkien biography: Tolkien bratt morgan bloemfontein christophy. A year-by-year breakdown of Tolkien’s life. Accessed 7 September 2002 URL: http://www.geocities.com/redbookofwestmarch/bio.htm

[Biography: John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (* 03-01-1892 / † 02-09-1973). RedBookofWestmarch, 2001-2002.]

Provides a year-by-year breakdown of Tolkien’s life including all major, and some minor events. Includes some small but relevant images. Only covers information up to his death in 1973, carries very little post-mortem information. Provides few links to relevant information, and only uses 2 bibliographical sources.

This site isn’t the best when it comes to links, media, or views on why Tolkien did certain things; however I did like it because it gave a straightforward, no frills view of his life from start to finish. This would be excellent for someone who wants to make a test based on what happened in Tolkien’s life. However dryly it may be presented, it was a good way to find factual information on Tolkien.

Jennifer Stewart
ENG 104 – Prof. C. Agatucci
Critical Review of Sources
9 October 2002

CRITICAL REVIEW OF SOURCES

The outside sources I have selected for my Critical Review focus on J.R.R. Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings, both film and novel. I was interested in learning more about Tolkien, the history of The Lord of the Rings, and the interpretations others have of the novel. I have chosen to review one book, one magazine article and one newspaper article. I obtained all of my outside sources from the Deschutes County Library. I found the magazine article through a search of the Biography Resource Center database and the newspaper article through a newspaper database. All of my sources are current and were produced less than one year ago. Upon completing this project I have gained a better understanding of the characters, insight into how others interpret the novel, the religious similarity and the way the novel has mirrored the world for so many generations.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

Dudek, Duane. “Epic Fantasy Echoes Today’s Clash between Good and Evil.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 17December2001.

The parallelism between the current war on terrorism and The Lord of the Rings are the beginning focus of this article. Dudek suggests that The Lord of the Rings is a metaphorical expression of good versus evil and that many people have been able to relate to the book. This article also gives insight into the hard work and dedication given by all of those involved in the production of the film. It explains how the film cam to be and Peter Jackson’s role as director. The Tolkien illustrator was used to create the Middle-Earth environments. An Elvish language guide was developed to ensure the actors had correct pronunciations of the language. The entire trilogy was filmed in New Zealand during an 18-month shoot. Two of the main actors in the film provide their interpretations of the novel and it’s relation to the world today. Ian McKellan, who plays Gandalf in the film, refers to The Lord of the Rings as his “bible” and he even carried a copy of the novel in the pocket of his costume on the set. A disadvantage to this article is the claim it makes that The Lord of the Rings was “greatly influenced by the horrors of World War II,” and as we discussed in class this was not the case. I do feel this is a valuable source for those interested in learning more about the making of the film and those involved in the process. It also allows one to see the relationship between the novel and the world today with it’s depiction of good versus evil.

MAGAZINE ARTICLE

Miller, John J. “The Truth Beyond Memory. (J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings).” National Review 31December2001: 43.

The author of this article proposes that The Fellowship of the Ring film is a “welcome diversion” from the happening of the last year. On the contrary he claims that the novel envelops the reader and sheds light on the “most fundamental concerns of this world: the nature of evil, the lure of power, and the duty of courage.” Miller recognizes Tolkien for his accomplishments other than his novels. Miller has obviously conducted thorough research on Tolkien and seems to understand him and the drive that helped produce The Lord of the Rings. The author also concentrates on the religious components that exist in the novel, furnishing convincing examples. Although Miller agrees that The Lord of the Rings is “wonderful and well-written,” he claims that the full value can only be obtained when one can recognize “what lies behind the book.” The author of this article appears to be very knowledgeable and his perception of the novel is supported by quotes and facts. This is a beneficial source that increases the interest in discovering the underlying concepts in the novel.

BOOK

Stanton, Michael N. Hobbits, Elves, and Wizards. New York: Palgrave, 2001.

Michael Stanton has been an English Literature Professor at the University of Vermont since 1971. Stanton’s stated intention for his book is “to make clear what reader’s of Tolkien’s tale would want made clear for their greater enjoyment.” He provides a glimpse into who Tolkien was and what elements were involved in the creation of The Lord of the Rings. In Part I there is a chapter devoted to each book of The Lord of the Rings. These chapters provide a detailed summary with in-depth descriptions of the characters, settings and themes. Part II focuses on the several types of races in The Lord of the Rings. Stanton explains the history, characteristics, and terminology associated with each race. A strength of this source is the creditability of the author who has taught and studied Tolkien for over twenty five years. The explanations of the moral themes presented in The Lord of the Rings are very helpful. This is an excellent source; it is very detailed and answers many of the questions that may arise while reading The Lord of the Rings.

I was really impressed by the amount of pictures and images on this web site. It really gives you a feeling for how Tolkien got some of his ideas for his books, and also where he liked to live. The countryside in several of the places he’s lived look very similar to where I imagine a Hobbit might live.
	A picture of a hobbit home

There’s also some very interesting photos of what the Barrow Downs might have looked like in real life. This site does NOT go really in-depth on Tolkien’s life, probably less than the previous site.
	A picture of the Warwickshire’s Barrow Downs