On Tolkien's Imitation Of Biblical Narrative Patterns In The Lord Of The Rings

As the milestone of fantasy literature,J.R.R.Tolkien's fiction The Lord of the Rings(LotR) has won a high reputation in Anglo-American academia.Through close reading,the author of this thesis notices that this fiction's narrative pattems owe their origin to the Bible.So this thesis attempts to delve into how Tolkien imitates Biblical narrative patterns in LotR by employing the Biblical U-shaped narrative theory propounded by Northrop Frye,which serves as the most representative research into Biblical narrative structure.Chapter 1 elucidates Frye's Biblical U-shaped narrative theory, which holds that the U-shaped pattern is the primary Biblical narrative pattem,while its demonic parody—the Inverted U-shaped narrative pattern is also contained in the Bible.Besides,the consistency of Tolkien's own narrative principle—eucatastrophe and the U-shaped narrative pattem is also clarified so as to further rationalize Tolkien's imitation of Biblical narrative patterns.Chapter 2 clarifies how Tolkien imitates the U-shaped narrative pattem in LotR.This imitation is mainly embodied in Tolkien's ingenious arrangement of the plot.The fates of three central figures on the good side—Frodo,Aragom and Gandalf, together with the vicissitudes of three kingdoms(the Shire,Gondor and Isengard) that are closely connected with these three figures all unexceptionally conform to Biblical U-shaped narrative pattern.They begin with harmony and happiness,then suffer from catastrophe,but finally enjoy felicity or harmony.Chapter 3 further elaborates on Tolkien's imitation of the Inverted U-shaped narrative pattern in LotR. The representatives of evil forces—The Ring,Sauron and Mordor—are narrated in the Inverted U-shaped pattern.They rise from nihility,then perpetrate,but ultimately get destroyed.In the last chapter,the author points out the great significance of this imitation.By adopting Biblical narrative patterns,Tolkien highlights those thematic implications in LotR that are heavily dented with Christian colour:the affirmation of such values as faith,hope and salvation,and the reflections upon the conflict between good and evil:good,as the primal motive of the universe, precedes evil,and will triumph over evil ultimately.By imitating Biblical narrative patterns,Tolkien unifies ingeniously narrative form and thematic implications,and skillfully combines his literary creation with his Christian belief.Moreover,this imitation reveals the complex connection between LotR and the Bible,which could shed some light upon the long-standing controversy over whether LotR is a fiction of Christian or pagan color.