The Two Towers
A Novel Excerpt by J.R.R. Tolkien
About the Author
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born in Blomfontein, South Africa on January 3, 1892. When Tolkien’s father died, his mother moved the family to Birmingham, England where J.R.R. spent his early childhood. When his mother was accepted into the Catholic Church in 1900, Tolkien became a devout catholic, inspiring his allegorical approach to literature. His mother died in 1904 and Tolkien was sent to his parish priest, Father Francis Morgan. J.R.R. mastered his schooling, becoming fluent in the Greek, Latin, Gothic, and Finnish languages. After finishing grade school, Tolkien attended Exeter College, Oxford, immersing himself in Old English, Classics, Gothic languages, Welsh, and Finnish; graduating with a second class degree in Classics and a degree in Philology. He fought in World War I and his experiences during the war inspired a large amount of his literature, writing portions of The Silmarillion and several languages in The Lord of The Rings during his time in the trenches. Tolkien became the Assistant Lexicographer for the New Oxford Dictionary after his discharge in 1918, writing the Book of Lost Tales and several other stories for his world of Lord of The Rings. In 1920, Tolkien became the Associate Professor of English Language at the University of Leeds, collaborating with E.V. Gordon on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Songs for Philologists. Tolkien eventually returned to Oxford as the Professor of Anglo-Saxon, where Tolkien developed several children’s stories: Mr. Bliss, Roverdam, and The Hobbit. Despite the success of The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, was not received or even accepted by Tolkien’s readers, instead asking him to write a sequel. The Lord of The Rings, which came out in three parts between 1954 and 1955, was quickly made public and Tolkien famous worldwide. He died on September 2, 1973 at Merton College in Oxford. EDH
Relation to "Friendship"
The Lord of The Rings symbolizes the journey of friendship as two friends, Frodo and Sam, go on a quest together to destroy the Ring of Power. In the same way that these two hobbits face trials and other misfortunes, normal friendships go through the same cycle as individuals’ personalities change, people move from one place to another, and misunderstandings occur. EDH
An Excerpt from the Novel The Two Towers
EDH
A Movie Clip from The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Found by: EDH
Uploaded by: RLS
Uploaded by: RLS
Discussion Questions and Activities
1. Research J.R.R. Tolkien’s childhood and see if there is any correlation between characters in The Lord of The Rings and his childhood experiences. Using the information found, generate some discussion on why he would add some of his personal experiences into his writings.
2. Compare Sam’s personality in the movie script with his personality in the book. How are they different, how are they alike?
3. Teachers, go to the book website and show the class the video clip which goes along with movie script under the "Friendship and Relationships" tab. Ask your students how their perspective of the story changes when the visual aspect of the clip is added to the script.
4. Tolkien’s writing style is different from other writers as he switches from one character’s perspective to another’s. Have the class discuss whether this style is more engaging for them or confusing. Use their answers as a way to explain the necessity of good flow from one idea to the next between paragraphs. EDH
2. Compare Sam’s personality in the movie script with his personality in the book. How are they different, how are they alike?
3. Teachers, go to the book website and show the class the video clip which goes along with movie script under the "Friendship and Relationships" tab. Ask your students how their perspective of the story changes when the visual aspect of the clip is added to the script.
4. Tolkien’s writing style is different from other writers as he switches from one character’s perspective to another’s. Have the class discuss whether this style is more engaging for them or confusing. Use their answers as a way to explain the necessity of good flow from one idea to the next between paragraphs. EDH
Essay and Response Questions
1. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s book The Two Towers, Tolkien displays Sam's loyal friendship to Frodo differently than how Peter Jackson displays it in the movie Lord of the Rings: The Return of The King . Read the excerpts from the book and movie script and compare them. Is Tolkien’s original way of expressing Sam’s friendship with Frodo better than the screenplay writer’s?
2. How does the movie screenplay writer’s style differ from that of a playwright’s? Compare and contrast one, or several plays’ styles with the style in which Lord of the Rings: The Return of The King screenplay is written.
3. Watch the scene between Gollum, Sam, and Frodo on the website and follow along in the book with the two scenes. Do the actors portray the level of friendship that is expressed within the text? Do the visual and audio aspects of the movie add to the feelings of friendship within the scene, or do they take away from it?
4. Analyze why Frodo is so quick to believe Gollum; an obviously shady character whom Frodo has not known for a long period of time, and not Sam; his lifelong friend and companion from the beginning of the journey. What does this tell you about Frodo’s friendships and nature? Is Frodo acting out of necessity to distance himself from Sam, who may be after the ring along with everyone else, or is Frodo a victim of Gollum’s lies? EDH
2. How does the movie screenplay writer’s style differ from that of a playwright’s? Compare and contrast one, or several plays’ styles with the style in which Lord of the Rings: The Return of The King screenplay is written.
3. Watch the scene between Gollum, Sam, and Frodo on the website and follow along in the book with the two scenes. Do the actors portray the level of friendship that is expressed within the text? Do the visual and audio aspects of the movie add to the feelings of friendship within the scene, or do they take away from it?
4. Analyze why Frodo is so quick to believe Gollum; an obviously shady character whom Frodo has not known for a long period of time, and not Sam; his lifelong friend and companion from the beginning of the journey. What does this tell you about Frodo’s friendships and nature? Is Frodo acting out of necessity to distance himself from Sam, who may be after the ring along with everyone else, or is Frodo a victim of Gollum’s lies? EDH
Formatting by: RLS