Changes

[[Image:Mhjfjfr7.jpg|right|300px|thumb|The covers for the three volumes of ''The Lord of the Rings'', designed 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 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.  

'''''The Lord of the Rings''''' is a fantasy book written by [[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 ==

== Creation ==

=== Writing ===

=== 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.  

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 ===

=== Publication ===

''The Lord of the Rings'' is set in [[Middle-earth]], a vastly expanded version of the fictional world presented in ''[[The Hobbit]]'' and ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.  It continues the story that ''The Hobbit'' began, but while ''The Hobbit'' was intended for children, ''The Lord of the Rings'' was written for all ages.  

''The Lord of the Rings'' is set in [[Middle-earth]], a vastly expanded version of the fictional world presented in ''[[The Hobbit]]'' and ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.  It continues the story that ''The Hobbit'' began, but while ''The Hobbit'' was intended for children, ''The Lord of the Rings'' was written for all ages.  

The story takes place at a time when the [[Elves]], immortal, good, and fairest of all beings in the world, are leaving the war-weary world to sail to the blessed realm of [[Valinor]].  With the departure of the Elves, the Age of [[Men (Middle-earth)|Men]] has come, but they are opposed by the Dark Lord, [[Sauron]].  Although Sauron is a formidable foe, most of his powers are bound to a magic [[Ring (Middle Earth)|Ring]] which was cut from his finger in a battle thousands of year ago.  This Ring fell by chance into the hands of a [[hobbit]], [[Bilbo Baggins]] who in turn left it in the keeping of his nephew and heir, [[Frodo Baggins]].  If this Ring is destroyed, it will strip Sauron of his power and free Middle-earth from his threat.  The only way the Ring can be destroyed, however is by casting it into the fires of [[Mount Doom]], a volcano in the heart of Sauron's realm.  The Lord of the Rings follows Frodo's adventures as he journeys to destroy Sauron's Ring.   

The story takes place at a time when the [[Elves]], immortal, good, and fairest of all beings in the world, are leaving the war-weary world to sail to the blessed realm of [[Valinor]].  With the departure of the Elves, the Age of [[Man (Middle-earth)|Men]] has come, but they are opposed by the Dark Lord, [[Sauron]].  Although Sauron is a formidable foe, most of his powers are bound to a magic [[One Ring (Middle Earth)|One Ring]] which was cut from his finger in a battle thousands of year ago.  This Ring fell by chance into the hands of a [[hobbit]], [[Bilbo Baggins]] who in turn left it in the keeping of his nephew and heir, [[Frodo Baggins]].  If this Ring is destroyed, it will strip Sauron of his power and free Middle-earth from his threat.  The only way the Ring can be destroyed, however is by casting it into the fires of [[Mount Doom]], a volcano in the heart of Sauron's realm.  The Lord of the Rings follows Frodo's adventures as he journeys to destroy Sauron's Ring.   

Frodo's journey is interwoven with other themes as he joins a [[Fellowship of the Ring]], pledged to take it to Mount Doom where it can be destroyed. The ranger [[Aragorn|Strider]] and the wizard [[Gandalf]] are foremost among his companions. He is also assisted by ther Ents, a peaceful tree-folk, and the elves.

Frodo's journey is interwoven with other themes as he joins a [[Fellowship of the Ring]], pledged to take it to Mount Doom where it can be destroyed. The ranger [[Aragorn|Strider]] and the wizard [[Gandalf]] are foremost among his companions. He is also assisted by ther Ents, a peaceful tree-folk, and the elves.

== Languages ==

== Languages ==

Though Tolkien was an excellent writer, his primary interest was [[The Languages of Tolkien|languages]]. Tolkien originally came up with Middle Earth as a world in which his languages could be spoken. {{Fact}} In an interview with the BBC in 1972, shortly before his death, Tolkien said that he came up with the concept of a hobbit in part because he had been embarrassed about his own below-average height in his early childhood, and liked to imagine a world where he could be "normal" or even possibly "a hero". {{Fact}} Tolkien based his fictional languages largely on the sounds and style of [[Finnish]] (his Quenya or High Elvish language) and [[Welsh]] (Sindarin, or the tongue of the Grey Elves). His stories were influenced by [[Norse mythology]] which features dragons, elves and dwarves. He also knew and liked the [[Gothic]] language, and [[Old English]]. His Riders of Rohan are like [[Goth]]s in the way they fight, but speak Old English (e.g. Theoden, their king's name, is OE for "prince").

:''Move to [[Tolkien's languages]].''

In an interview with the BBC in 1972, shortly before his death, Tolkien said that he came up with the concept of a hobbit in part because he had been embarrassed about his own below-average height in his early childhood, and liked to imagine a world where he could be "normal" or even possibly "a hero". {{Fact}} Tolkien based his fictional languages largely on the sounds and style of [[Finnish]] (his Quenya or High Elvish language) and [[Welsh]] (Sindarin, or the tongue of the Grey Elves). His stories were influenced by [[Norse mythology]] which features dragons, elves and dwarves. He also knew and liked the [[Gothic]] language, and [[Old English]]. His Riders of Rohan are like [[Goth]]s in the way they fight, but speak Old English (e.g. Theoden, their king's name, is OE for "prince").

== Christianity ==

== Christianity ==

== References ==

== References ==

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lord of the Rings, The}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lord of the Rings, The}}