Good, Evil And Mortal World

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings is his master piece. Since its publication, the book has been vehemently embraced by the general public. Sunday Times once commented that the English-speaking world was divided into those who had read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and those who were going to read them. The work has also left its impact upon literary creation and Tolkien has been identified as the"father"of modern fantasy literature. However, many critics remain skeptical about the seriousness of the work. The work is too often regarded as children's story, or an escapist novel. This thesis attempts to prove that The Lord of the Rings is serious writing which is dominated by a single theme, i.e. the contradictory experience of man's physical helplessness in the mortal world and man's spiritual freedom. This thesis reveals that this theme was conceived from his personal life and reinforced by his academic studies and his religious belief. It appears in his scholarly writings as well as his literary creation.