All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter, Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost

Where does one begin when discussing the epic tales woven so masterfully by J.R.R Tolkien? Along with the Harry Potter series, The Lord of the Rings defined by middle school years. My friends and I were obsessed. We read the books, saw the movies together, bought the soundtracks, and had LOTR calendars gracing the walls of our rooms. I still enjoy those rare snow days during which I can watch all three of the extended version DVDs in a row. I never doubted that The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings would be on this list, and was thrilled to see that my assumptions were correct.

The Hobbit: It is hard to separate this novel from The Lord of the Rings trilogy, since it serves as a prequel. That being said, the character development of Bilbo is what is crucial here. With the encouragement of Gandalf, my personal favorite character, Bilbo finds his own inner strength and is able to lead a hapless group of thirteen dwarves to their goal. At its heart, The Hobbit demonstrates the importance of staying true to oneself. Bilbo doesn’t allow his newfound courage to change him; he remains the humble Hobbit he always was. This is juxtaposed by the wealth driven character of Thorin, whose leadership skills suffer as a result of his own selfishness and greed. For the way it sets up the Lord of the Rings, I give it an A+.

The Lord of the Rings: I have so much love for this story. Epic nature of the story itself aside, I appreciate this trilogy for all of its relationships. The familial bond between Merry and Pippin is touching, especially in the moment during which they find out they are to be separated. The relationship of the fellowship is transcendent, demonstrating quite literally that people can overcome racial prejudices and stereotypes. The sacrifice of Arwen’s immortality to be with Aragon, the one she loves, is incredibly moving. And the devotion of Sam to his greatest friend, Frodo, ends up saving Middle Earth. All readers can find something of themselves in The Lord of the Rings. It is a true story for all ages. A definite A+.

Bottom line: Anyone can save the world. You’ll never know you can’t do something unless you try.

11 down, 990 to go!

"Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens." (J.R.R Tolkien)