J.R.R Tolkien's Life and Works
Anna Kirsten Todd
Ms. Caston-Smith
English Pre-AP 9
5 November 2012
J.R.R. Tolkien’s Life and Works
In life everyone chooses how to express what we feel and see. J.R.R. Tolkien chose to express his life through his writing. Many events that significantly influenced Tolkien’s life show up in his novels. Tolkien is the author of many books, and some of his most famous writings are in the trilogy The Lord of the Rings. The first book in this trilogy is The Fellowship of the Ring where many connections can be found to major events in Tolkien’s life. These events include Tolkien being orphaned, his service in World War I, and his experiences of loss, death, and friendship.
J.R.R. Tolkien was orphaned at a very early age as was Frodo Baggins, and both were adopted by a father figure who gave them someone to look up to. John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born to Arthur and Mabel Tolkien in Bloemfontein, South Africa, in the January of 1892. When Tolkien’s health began to fail in 1896, his mother took him and his younger brother to London where his father was to join them. Tolkien’s father died soon after, leaving Tolkien and his family in a strange place with no father. Tolkien’s mother died in 1904 from complications with diabetes, leaving twelve year-old Tolkien and his younger brother in the care of her good friend Father Francis Xavier Morgan (Authors). Tolkien’s life was altered greatly by being orphaned so young. The impact this had on him can be seen when Tolkien portrays it through Frodo Baggins, the main character of The Lord of the Rings. Frodo Baggins was the son of Drogo Baggins and Primala Brandybuck. When Frodo was twelve his parents where drowned in a boating accident, and he was taken in by his mother’s clan, the Brandybucks, and later adopted by “his second cousin once removed, Bilbo Baggins (Tolkien 24)”. Both Tolkien and Frodo were orphaned and taken in by people close to their family, and both had to face war, friendship, and loss in the years to
Ms. Caston-Smith
English Pre-AP 9
5 November 2012
J.R.R. Tolkien’s Life and Works
In life everyone chooses how to express what we feel and see. J.R.R. Tolkien chose to express his life through his writing. Many events that significantly influenced Tolkien’s life show up in his novels. Tolkien is the author of many books, and some of his most famous writings are in the trilogy The Lord of the Rings. The first book in this trilogy is The Fellowship of the Ring where many connections can be found to major events in Tolkien’s life. These events include Tolkien being orphaned, his service in World War I, and his experiences of loss, death, and friendship.
J.R.R. Tolkien was orphaned at a very early age as was Frodo Baggins, and both were adopted by a father figure who gave them someone to look up to. John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born to Arthur and Mabel Tolkien in Bloemfontein, South Africa, in the January of 1892. When Tolkien’s health began to fail in 1896, his mother took him and his younger brother to London where his father was to join them. Tolkien’s father died soon after, leaving Tolkien and his family in a strange place with no father. Tolkien’s mother died in 1904 from complications with diabetes, leaving twelve year-old Tolkien and his younger brother in the care of her good friend Father Francis Xavier Morgan (Authors). Tolkien’s life was altered greatly by being orphaned so young. The impact this had on him can be seen when Tolkien portrays it through Frodo Baggins, the main character of The Lord of the Rings. Frodo Baggins was the son of Drogo Baggins and Primala Brandybuck. When Frodo was twelve his parents where drowned in a boating accident, and he was taken in by his mother’s clan, the Brandybucks, and later adopted by “his second cousin once removed, Bilbo Baggins (Tolkien 24)”. Both Tolkien and Frodo were orphaned and taken in by people close to their family, and both had to face war, friendship, and loss in the years to
Cited: “J.R.R. Tolkien.” Authors and Artists for Young Adults. Ed. Kevin S. Hile. Vol. 10. Detroit: Gale, 1993. Print. “Add title of page.” Tolkien Estate. 2007. Christopher Tolkien. July 6. 2007. www.tolkienestate.com. Web. Add date of access. “Tolkien John Ronald Reuel 1892-1937.” Something About the Author. Ed. Alan Hedblad. Vol. 100. Detroit : Gale, 1999. Print. Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings Part One: The Fellowship of the Ring. New York: Ballantine Books, 1973. Print.