This collection of essays brings together positive criticism of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, diving deep into the literary modes and philosophic views that make his work so lasting and impactful. Exploring the meaning behind the myth, we learn about good and evil and Tolkien's deep faith in Christ. Analyzing his literary style, we learn about fairy tales, the universal truth behind every myth, and Tolkien's ideas of sub-creation. We get to consider the history of the hero quest going all the way back to ancient times and how that affects our ideas of hero worship today, and how Tolkien used different types of heroes in Lord of the Rings.

This book is now full of little sticky tabs where I bookmarked especially interesting places and little pencil marks where I marked insights that particularly captured my imagination. After reading this book, I will look at Aragorn, Gandalf, Frodo, and Sam in a completely new light.

However, I did not agree with everything in every essay. Some of the writers seemed to me to be stretching a little bit to make some certain point and I just didn't see the connection at all. One essay went on and on about Jungian archetypes that I didn't agree with at all.
Another essay had a part about how Pippin represents all young people who mischievously rebel against their elders. So far so good. But then they said that Pippin taking the Palantir was because Gandalf was just too scared to use the Palantir. "And the moral of this seems to be that the young, ... sometimes have their own answers for what their elders fear." (pg. 79, Marion Zimmer Bradley) I did not accept their interpretation, but everyone is entitled to their own perspective.

However the same essay had a wonderful insight into Eowyn's crush on Aragorn, saying that she didn't really ever love Aragorn, she wanted to BE him. She looked up to him as a captain and a warrior because she wants to identify with who he is. She wants to be a hero and so she has a case of hero-worship. After she has achieved her own brave deeds on the battlefield and proven her courage, her previous feelings dissolve because she has become the person she wanted to be, and is ready to embrace another new aspect of her womanhood. I really love that insight!

I especially enjoyed the essays exploring the concept of the hero and the hero's quest. It was so interesting to see how ancient legends, and in particular Beowulf, shaped Tolkien's fantasy. One essay contrasts the different quests of Aragorn and Frodo. Aragorn goes on a quest to gain a kingdom and a princess, but Frodo goes on a quest to lose the Ring. Fairy tales are full of weak third sons who are humble and they go on adventures to win the kingdom and marry the princess. And Northern legends like Beowulf are full of strong warriors, but they tragically die in darkness in the end. Frodo and Aragorn have swapped places in their destinies. It's the weak and humble hero (Frodo) who must tragically die, like King Arthur sailing across the sea to have his wounds healed. And it's the brave strong warrior (Aragorn) who wins the princess and the kingdom and legacy of happy generations. I love that Tolkien incorporated these literary tropes, but flipped them upside down.

I also really loved how many of the essays talked about Tolkien's Christian worldview being reflected in Lord of the Rings. One talks about how Christianity teaches that God is always there to help us and yet we are expected to put in the effort ourselves to get through life, just as the powerful Valar are involved in the affairs of Middle Earth, but Frodo and Sam must make the journey to Mount Doom themselves. "The idea of free will intimately involved with fate..." (pg. 64, Patricia Myer Spacks) Our individual choices contribute to a larger fate that is destined by a higher power.

The essays on literary style were especially good, because it analyzed how fairy stories are meant to reveal to us truths in the real world. Fairy stories offer an escape from the real world, only to point us back to the real world with a fresh perspective where ordinary things take on a new significance. "It is not a refusal to face reality; it is a time needed to regroup one's forces for the next day's battle." (pg. 101, R.J. Reilly) We come away from Tolkien's fantasy inspired with the courage to face our own daily battles in life.

Jane Chance's essay had some very interesting ideas about how Gollum represents the monster without and Frodo is battling the monster within. Even Shelob and Saruman represent the intellectual monster and the sensual monster. And Denethor and King Theoden represent different Germanic lords of legend, one fighting for family and the other for selfish power. It was very interesting to examine these parallels and contrasts.

Another cool essay was the one from Tom Shippey about how Peter's Jackson's movie trilogy captured the most essential messages of Lord of the Rings and translated them to the screen. Although many things were changed, left out or added to the movies, the spirit of Tolkien's story was kept intact.

This is such a great collection of essays that explore a lot of different insights and ideas into Tolkien's work!