A illuminating guide to the world of The Lord of the Rings
J.R.R. Tolkien?s Lord of the Rings trilogy has sold more than100 million copies worldwide, and interest in Tolkien?s work hasreached new peaks with the release of Peter Jackson?s Lord of theRings movies, the third of which, The Return of the King, will hittheaters in December 2003.
Demystifies key players, their relationships, and their motivations Understand the mythology, characters, and themes of Middle-earth
Don't know Gollum from Gandalf? This plain-English guide helps you make sense of the creatures, language, geography, and richly detailed history of the fascinating world of Middle-earth. From the Shire to Mount Doom, from the hobbits to the Ringwraiths, you'll discover the varied sources and inspirations behind Tolkien's stories and comprehend the meanings that lie beneath the surface.
Discover:
- The differences between the books and the movies
- The historical background of Middle-earth
- The origins of Tolkien's mythology in European folklore
- Middle-earth's diverse languages
- Why the Elves were Tolkien's favorites
The Dummies Way
- Explanations in plain English
- "Get in, get out" information
- Icons and other navigational aids
- Tear-out cheat sheet
- Top ten lists
- A dash of humor and fun
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Foreword xvii
Introduction 1
Part I: The Geography of Middle-earth 7
Chapter 1: The Worlds of Middle-earth 9
Chapter 2: The Lands of Middle-earth and Beyond 21
Part II: The Beings of Middle-earth 45
Chapter 3: The Divine Ainur 47
Chapter 4: The Fair Race of Elves 57
Chapter 5: The Mortal Race of Men 73
Chapter 6: The Hardy Race of Dwarves 95
Chapter 7: Those Homespun Hobbits 109
Chapter 8: The Wily Wizards 129
Chapter 9: Beorn, Tom Bombadil, and Treebeard 139
Chapter 10: The Enemy and His Minions 149
Part III: The History of Middle-earth 167
Chapter 11: The Valarian Ages 169
Chapter 12: The First Three Ages and Then Some 177
Part IV: The Languages of Middle-earth 187
Chapter 13: Tolkien and Language 189
Chapter 14: The Tongues of Tolkien 199
Part V: The Themes and Mythology of Middle-earth 211
Chapter 15: The Struggle Between Good and Evil 213
Chapter 16: Immortality and Death 219
Chapter 17: The Heroic Quest 233
Chapter 18: Chivalry and True Love 247
Chapter 19: Fate and Free Will 257
Chapter 20: Faith and Redemption 269
Chapter 21: Ring-related Myths 277
Chapter 22: Ecological Themes 287
Chapter 23: Sex and Gender 293
Part VI: The Part of Tens 301
Chapter 24: Top Ten Battles in the War of the Ring 303
Chapter 25: Top Ten Online Middle-earth Resources 309
Chapter 26: Top Ten Ways The Lord of the Rings Books Differ from the Movies 313
Index 319
