I admit it. I have an incurable obsession with any and all that is J.R.R. Tolkien’s THE LORD OF THE RINGS. Above all else this work inspired me to put pen to paper as a writer. It gave me permission to build fantastical worlds, set forth on adventures, and create swoonworthy heroes (Aragorn, not Frodo).
Confessions of a LORD OF THE RINGS addict:
- I immerse myself in the story every year by either reading the trilogy, listening to the audiobooks (appendices included – you haven’t lived until you’ve experienced the full story of Aragorn and Arwen), or watching the extended versions of all three films.
- I read the entire trilogy aloud to my children. (My Gimli ROCKS)
- I own a cardboard standee of Aragorn (Thank you Peter Jackson for casting Viggo Mortensen.)
- I still have nightmares about the Nazgul (Sauron I can deal with, but those nine riders FREAK ME OUT.)
- I play the LORD OF THE RINGS slot machines (I’m up to the Shards of Narsil bonus.)
- I attended Trilogy Tuesday, December 16, 2003, and watched all three movies back to back in the theatre the day RETURN OF THE KING debuted (That’s a lot of popcorn. I’m on the left in the pic.)
All kidding aside, I revere this story. It continues to set a literary bar that I will never achieve, but always strive for.
Tolkien permeates my teaching as well.
“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost” – is a fabulous writing prompt.
“War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend…” – this works as a Patriot POV on the Revolutionary War.
Are you a Tolkien devotee? What piece of literature continues to glitter the gold of inspiration to your writing?
Middle Earth Fans: Check out Peter Jackson’s Video blog for THE HOBBIT
