Heroic Tradition In The Lord Of The Rings

This thesis has endeavored to explore the images of heroes in Tolkien's epic fantasy LOTR, expounding the literary background, types, and nature of the heroes, as well as probing into the influence exercised by epic Fantasy and Tolkien's Chrsitian heroes on modern heroic tradition.Introduction looks back upon some important critical achievements on LOTR, especially emphasizing the critical attainments concerning the heroes in this work based on the frame structure of this thesis.Chapter 1 construes inspiration Tolkien has got from old heroic tradition for the heroes in LOTR. The heroes in LOTR are influenced by old English literature represented by Beowulf, old North literature, Christianity(Catholic conception), and Homer's Odyssey together with Virgil's The Aeneid. Among them, the influence from Christianity ranks the first:LOTR is basically a Christian works, as its characters together with plots are similar to the Holy Bible while the discipline, faith, and theme underlying LOTR is Christian.Chapter 2 has analyzed the embodiment of heroic tradition in LOTR. It displays the images and actions of the heroes in LOTR, and investigates the task and nature of the true heroes in LOTR. This thesis adopts Campbell's theory for initiation hero to vertically analyse the heroes in LOTR, and employs Hourihan's definition for warrior hero, and Bible's description for Christian hero to horizontally analyse the heroes in LOTR. Frodo and Aragorn, both like Odyssey, are shedding light on initiation heroes; Aragron, Faramir, and the Rohan riders are the representatives of warrior heroes; Frodo is the typical Christian hero. This thesis claims that Christian hero is what Tolkien appraised in LOTR, and spiritual quest is the true theme of this fantasy. By analyzing the virtues (sanctity, humility, selflessness, and mercy) possessed by Frodo, this thesis has expounded the promotion of Christian heroic tradition made by Tolkien in LOTR.Chapter 3 examines the influence exerted by LOTR on modern heroic tradition. LOTR takes the pre-historical time as setting, fantasy as genre, war as background, and Christian hero as the true hero. Tolkien imbues the classical heroic tradition into the modern spirit to recreate the Christian hero, discussing the modern problems such as escapism, violence, moral depravation, and dictatorship. This creation lowers down the status of the hero from the noble to the mass, weakens the images of the hero, and transforms the genre from holy epic to popular fantasy, betokening democratic spirit and direction of cultural development. The battle between sacred and secular arts has also been reflected. The heroes in LOTR have influenced the later fantasy writers such as Carol Kendall, C. S. Lewis, Terry Brooks, Alan Garner, Stephen Donaldson, and Lloyd Alexander, and Tolkien has been honored as the originator of epic fantasy.To sum up, this thesis probes in Tolkien's inspiration from old heroic tradition for heroes in LOTR, the embodiment of heroic tradition in LOTR, and the influence of LOTR on heroic tradition, so as to concisely synthesize literary heroic tradition behind LOTR, vividly elucidate images of the heroes, and critically and logically remark on the reason and significance of Tolkien's innovation for heroic tradition.