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Line 28: + + + + + + − − *[[Samwise Gamgee]] − *[[Author]] − − ==Film Version== − New Line Cinema has produced three films, all of which have names which are derived from the three books in ''The Lord of the Rings''. They were released from 2001 to 2003. Special Extended Editions have also been released for each film. Each set includes four discs, two of bonus material. All were directed by [[Peter Jackson]]. <ref> ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', Directed by Peter Jackson, Produced by Barrie M. Osborne, Peter Jackson 2001. </ref>
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[[Image:Mhjfjfr7.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Covers for the three volumes of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, based on designs by Tolkien.{{fact}}]]
[[Image:Mhjfjfr7.jpg|right|300px|thumb|The covers for the three volumes of ''The Lord of the Rings'', designed by Tolkien.{{fact}}]]
'''''The Lord of the Rings''''' is the best-selling work of fantasy literature of the twentieth century. It written by British professor [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]. Conceived by the author as a seven-book work (including compendious appendices and an index), it was released by the publisher in three volumes:
'''''The Lord of the Rings''''' is a fantasy book written by English [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]. It was published in three parts in the years 1954 and 1955. ''The Lord of the Rings'' is considered one of the most influential works on the fantasy genre in modern times. It is the best-selling work of fantasy literature of the twentieth century.
== Creation ==
=== Writing ===
After the success of his earlier book ''[[The Hobbit]]'', Tolkien's publishers persuaded him to write a sequel. He began writing in December of 1937, but the first drafts were still far away from the later version. After writing and re-writing the beginning several times, Tolkien realized the role of the [[One Ring (Middle-earth)|One Ring]] and the quest it entailed in the spring of 1938, while writing the discussion between Gildor Inglorion and the later [[Frodo Baggins]]. This was the point upon which the backstory and central quest that would be ''The Lord of the Rings'' came together in his mind. It was also the point that he firmly set the book's plot into his already existing [[Middle-earth]] legendarium. Whereas the ''The Hobbit'' had before been separate from his Middle-earth mythology, while still borrowing ideas, names, and persons from it, Tolkien now consiously moved it and its sequel into the Middle-earth setting. This resulted in the changes in tone, and in the meaning of formerly unimportant things as the 'magic ring' and the Necromancer, who both literally gained importance in the sequel. While the ''The Hobbit'' was written as a story intended for his children, ''The Lord of the Rings'' due to the realization of the later plot, soon became an epic tale of much greater proportions, both in plot and in lenght.
=== Publication ===
Although often wrongly thought to be a [[trilogy]], ''The Lord of the Rings'' was conceived by the author as a single work. Its internal structure divides it into six 'books', named Book I-VI, according to the plot, and has added several appendices and an index. Because of the amount of paper needed and to reduce financial risk, it was released by the publisher [[Allen & Unwin]] in three volumes, each containing two Books:
#''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]''<br>
#''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]''<br>
#''[[The Two Towers]]''<br>
#''[[The Two Towers]]''<br>
#''[[The Return of the King]]''<br>
#''[[The Return of the King]]''<br>
This resulted in the common error of calling ''The Lord of the Rings'' a trilogy, a term which Tolkien rejected, just as he disliked the book being published in separate volumes.
''The Lord of the Rings'' was published in hardbound in 1954 and 1955, but was known only to a small audience of aficionados until 1965. At that time, J. R. R. Tolkien himself was known primarily to scholars for his work on [[Beowulf]]. This changed when an American paperback publisher released a "pirated" paperback edition, paying Tolkien nothing, in the belief that Tolkien's copyright in the U. S. was defective because of a technicality. Tolkien reached a legal settlement with this publisher, and another publisher released an authorized edition for which Tolkien was paid royalties. The book was an instant success, particularly among college students.
''The Lord of the Rings'' was published in hardbound in 1954 and 1955, but was known only to a small audience of aficionados until 1965. At that time, J. R. R. Tolkien himself was known primarily to scholars for his work on [[Beowulf]]. This changed when an American paperback publisher released a "pirated" paperback edition, paying Tolkien nothing, in the belief that Tolkien's copyright in the U. S. was defective because of a technicality. Tolkien reached a legal settlement with this publisher, and another publisher released an authorized edition for which Tolkien was paid royalties. The book was an instant success, particularly among college students.
== Christianity ==
== Christianity ==
J. R. R. Tolkien was a [[Roman Catholic]], and many readers see [[Christian]] undertones in ''The Lord of the Rings.'' <ref>"Much as it is possible to identify allegories of the Second World war into ''The Lord of the Rings'', it is possible to identify any number of Christian allegories as well" in Smith, J. and Matthews, J.C. ''The Lord of the Rings:the Films, the books, the radio series'' (Virgin Books 2004), p.116.</ref> Tolkien himself discounts the belief that he wrote the book as a direct Christian allegory--or any other sort of allegory, which he went on record as "cordially disliking", and preferring "applicability"--in contrast with the overt and acknowledged allegories in the works of Tolkien's friend, [[C.S. Lewis]].<ref>Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, # 129</ref>
J. R. R. Tolkien was a [[Roman Catholic]], and many readers see [[Christian]] undertones in ''The Lord of the Rings.'' <ref>"Much as it is possible to identify allegories of the Second World war into ''The Lord of the Rings'', it is possible to identify any number of Christian allegories as well" in Smith, J. and Matthews, J.C. ''The Lord of the Rings:the Films, the books, the radio series'' (Virgin Books 2004), p.116.</ref> Tolkien himself discounts the belief that he wrote the book as a direct Christian allegory--or any other sort of allegory, which he went on record as "cordially disliking", and preferring "applicability"--in contrast with the overt and acknowledged allegories in the works of Tolkien's friend, [[C.S. Lewis]].<ref>Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, # 129</ref>
== Adaptions ==
''The Lord of the Rings'' has been adapted full or in part in a variety of media. Among these are films, stage plays and a musical.
=== Film trilogy ===
New Line Cinema has produced three films, their names derived from the three volumes: ''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (2001), ''The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' (2002) and ''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (2003). All were directed by [[Peter Jackson]]. <ref> ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', Directed by Peter Jackson, Produced by Barrie M. Osborne, Peter Jackson 2001. </ref> The films were filmed in [[New Zealand]]. The films were released annually in cinemas from December 2001 to 2003. DVD releases of the cinema version and Special Extended Editions have also been released for each film. Each set includes four discs, two of bonus material.
== See also ==
== See also ==
*[[Mythology]]
*[[Mythology]]
== References ==
== References ==