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The Hidden Meaning of <i>The Lord of the Rings</i> - (Audio CD): The Theological Vision in Tolkien's Fiction
Joseph Pearce offers a fascinating and insightful course on The Lord of the Rings, which is the greatest and most popular work of literature of the twentieth century. The course discusses the book's phenomenal success and the life of its author, J. R. R. Tolkien, before embarking on a tour of the world and characters of Middle-earth.
Despite the absence of any direct mention of Christ or the Catholic Church, Tolkien described his work as "fundamentally religious and Catholic." He was able to infuse his fictional world with theological orthodoxy through his creation myth and world order, by endowing his protagonists with Christian virtues, and by incorporating themes of grace and mercy.
Tolkien's deep faith and creative philosophy emerges from the narrative as an unmistakable Catholic presence. The very foundation of Tolkien\'s Middle-earth, from its creation by Eru Ilúvatar, the one God, to angel-like Melkor s sinful rebellion, to the menacing presence of Sauron, the dark lord, supports Professor Pearce's argument for the Catholicity of the work. You'll learn how the One Ring symbolizes Original Sin, how the dates Tolkien chose for events in the story are theologically significant, how the Elvish waybread, lembas, figures as the Eucharist, and how Frodo acts as a Christ-figure.
Tolkien also describes his work as an allegory of "power usurped for domination" - a theme which is all the more important to examine in our modern world. Characters throughout The Lord of the Rings are tempted by power and the urge to seize it and wield it for personal gain and unlawful control. Throughout the journey of the Fellowship, various characters face the temptation of the One Ring - the wizard Gandalf, through whom the Ring would wield a terrible power; human man Boromir, who would use it to save his people; elf queen Galadriel, weary from fighting the "long defeat" against evil. Among the characters who do usurp power for domination are Saruman, the white wizard who succumbs to evil, whose machinations at Isengard only bring more evil into Middle-earth.
Over the eight lectures in the course, Professor Pearce highlights connections, allegories, and insights which will expand your reading of The Lord of the Rings. It is said that art holds the mirror up to life. This is the reason that art is "real" and fiction is "true". The Lord of the Rings enjoys such fame and popularity because in a way, it shows us ourselves in the characters. Learn more and discover for yourself the truth written into The Lord of the Rings with Professor Joseph Pearce.
Despite the absence of any direct mention of Christ or the Catholic Church, Tolkien described his work as "fundamentally religious and Catholic." He was able to infuse his fictional world with theological orthodoxy through his creation myth and world order, by endowing his protagonists with Christian virtues, and by incorporating themes of grace and mercy.
Tolkien's deep faith and creative philosophy emerges from the narrative as an unmistakable Catholic presence. The very foundation of Tolkien\'s Middle-earth, from its creation by Eru Ilúvatar, the one God, to angel-like Melkor s sinful rebellion, to the menacing presence of Sauron, the dark lord, supports Professor Pearce's argument for the Catholicity of the work. You'll learn how the One Ring symbolizes Original Sin, how the dates Tolkien chose for events in the story are theologically significant, how the Elvish waybread, lembas, figures as the Eucharist, and how Frodo acts as a Christ-figure.
Tolkien also describes his work as an allegory of "power usurped for domination" - a theme which is all the more important to examine in our modern world. Characters throughout The Lord of the Rings are tempted by power and the urge to seize it and wield it for personal gain and unlawful control. Throughout the journey of the Fellowship, various characters face the temptation of the One Ring - the wizard Gandalf, through whom the Ring would wield a terrible power; human man Boromir, who would use it to save his people; elf queen Galadriel, weary from fighting the "long defeat" against evil. Among the characters who do usurp power for domination are Saruman, the white wizard who succumbs to evil, whose machinations at Isengard only bring more evil into Middle-earth.
Over the eight lectures in the course, Professor Pearce highlights connections, allegories, and insights which will expand your reading of The Lord of the Rings. It is said that art holds the mirror up to life. This is the reason that art is "real" and fiction is "true". The Lord of the Rings enjoys such fame and popularity because in a way, it shows us ourselves in the characters. Learn more and discover for yourself the truth written into The Lord of the Rings with Professor Joseph Pearce.
Audio CD
First published January 1, 2011
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About the author
Joseph Pearce
183 books297 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author with this name on GR
Joseph Pearce (born 1961) is an English-born writer, and as of 2004 Writer in Residence and Professor of Literature at Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, Florida; previously he had a comparable position, from 2001, at Ave Maria College in Ypsilanti, Michigan. He is known for a number of literary biographies, many of Catholic figures. Formerly aligned with the National Front, a white nationalist political party, he converted to Roman Catholicism in 1989, repudiated his earlier views, and now writes from a Catholic perspective. He is a co-editor of the St. Austin Review and editor-in-chief of Sapientia Press.
Joseph Pearce (born 1961) is an English-born writer, and as of 2004 Writer in Residence and Professor of Literature at Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, Florida; previously he had a comparable position, from 2001, at Ave Maria College in Ypsilanti, Michigan. He is known for a number of literary biographies, many of Catholic figures. Formerly aligned with the National Front, a white nationalist political party, he converted to Roman Catholicism in 1989, repudiated his earlier views, and now writes from a Catholic perspective. He is a co-editor of the St. Austin Review and editor-in-chief of Sapientia Press.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 25, 2024
This is an audiobook of a series of short lectures, about 20 minutes a piece on the various aspects of the Lord of the Ring trilogy and its allegories to the Catholic faith. It is very informative and interesting. I wish that I listened to this before reading the Lord of the Rings as I see that I missed a lot of insights about the book.
July 5, 2023
The depth of Middle Earth is unbelievable and this book does a great job showing the layers. Makes me want to read all things Tolkien again.
September 12, 2023
Absolutely amazing deep dive into The Lord of the Rings and its "deeply Catholic" meaning. Fans of Tolkien must listen to these wonderful lectures, as should all Christians.
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January 8, 2024Edit: I didn’t realize until after writing this up that this series of lectures are supposed to be Christian in faith.
I really liked this series of lectures; I think it is a bit one-sided to make it seem as though this is an introductory miniature-class on Tolkien when it really is more of an evaluation of the Christian and religious themes in LOTR. Pearce continuously wants to make the point that The Lord of the Rings is a Christian text (which is true), and then continues to really almost entirely only give a Christian insight into the text. I found it really interesting, but it seemed very misleading for this to appear from the outside and inside to be lectures about LOTR when it clearly has an agenda/argument to explain its religious themes. I would much prefer if the focus were on that, instead of it appearing to not be, and have the lecturer almost multiple times a lecture say 'and The Lord of the Rings is fundamentally a Christian text' which is true (Tolkien said so himself), but at the same time, it also is a million other things too. I would have much preferred if there was more of a focus just on the Christian themes and made it clear that was the argument. Or, I would have much preferred a deep dive into multiple ways to read the text, and one of those being a Christian reading. Essentially, I just did not really like how Pearce spoke of The Lord of the Rings as though you can ONLY see it as a Christian text. I found it very fascinating, but also very short-sighted since there was no deep dive into the ways you can read the book like most collections of arguments about one text.
I really liked this series of lectures; I think it is a bit one-sided to make it seem as though this is an introductory miniature-class on Tolkien when it really is more of an evaluation of the Christian and religious themes in LOTR. Pearce continuously wants to make the point that The Lord of the Rings is a Christian text (which is true), and then continues to really almost entirely only give a Christian insight into the text. I found it really interesting, but it seemed very misleading for this to appear from the outside and inside to be lectures about LOTR when it clearly has an agenda/argument to explain its religious themes. I would much prefer if the focus were on that, instead of it appearing to not be, and have the lecturer almost multiple times a lecture say 'and The Lord of the Rings is fundamentally a Christian text' which is true (Tolkien said so himself), but at the same time, it also is a million other things too. I would have much preferred if there was more of a focus just on the Christian themes and made it clear that was the argument. Or, I would have much preferred a deep dive into multiple ways to read the text, and one of those being a Christian reading. Essentially, I just did not really like how Pearce spoke of The Lord of the Rings as though you can ONLY see it as a Christian text. I found it very fascinating, but also very short-sighted since there was no deep dive into the ways you can read the book like most collections of arguments about one text.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews