[Vilwarin]

I would need your help in something. I am standing in front of a big problem, and as I know you, you are the ones who may solve it. I have to write a 10 to 20 pages long book presentation of the Lord of the Rings. But how to get this mass of information into so few pages?
Could you help me by pointing out important things and events I should put in the summary as an overview?
I shall have to analyze how and why things were done the way they were,
Characterisations of important people, who and who not?,
Book to film differences (and why?) and the effects it had on people, (like "why the heck did they leave the rangers or Tom Bombadil?")
The book's influence, what we can learn from it, (something like "the message") and history with facts.
Parallels to europe's history and tales.

If anybody has an idea of how to manage the points or how to begin, I would be eternally greatful.

[sindohte]

Doing a book presentation on LOTR is an extremely interesting topic, but unfortunately a rather broad one. I would say to narrow your focus. If you plan on focusing on the 3 books, I would pick a key event or person from each book to write about. Then you could link these 3 things together into an overall framework. I think that would make things much more manageable for you, rather than trying to cram 10 pounds of fat in a 5 pound bag.

[SpaceWeavil]

Ddon't know if this helps, but when I did Higher English at school I did my review of personal reading on Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. I had the same sort of problem, how to do a report on something so vast in just a few thousand words, so I was told to concentrate on one particular element and analyse that. So what I did was take characterisation as my subject. My teacher told us to ask ourselves a question about the book, such as we'd get in an essay or exam, and then answer that. So mine was something like to what extent are Hugo's characters symbols?

So you could do something similar, take a particular issue about Lord of the Rings and examine it in full detail, rather than trying to include everything so that you don't have space to look into anything in depth?

Sorry if that's exactly what Sindohte just said Just thought I'd spill out what's in my brain.

Good luck with the presentation.

[Viv]

An oldie but goodie is Tolkien's female characters. Lots of people have argued that they're weak, but I think those people are blind as bats. Galadriel is just misunderstood.

[JadwigaArda]

Hi! You probably have already wriiten your report, but I felt I should at least offer some help. Like the others have suggested, if you have to include all those points, concentrate then on three or more specific characters and events surrounding them - how they react to them and grow throughout the story, for example Pippin's growth into maturity and bravery from troublemaker Hobbit to a soldier of Gondor, saviour of Faramir - thereby linking the theme(s) of the story together.

One point - if you must mention parelles(sp?) to European history just say quite simply, "none exist". Tolkien himself was quite clear on this point, his epic was not[/i] based on allergory - certainly not any events occurring at that time i.e. World War 2.

Another suggestion: to draw comparisions between differences of the book and the film version concentrate again on a few specific scenes. Prefably, also try in some of these comaprsions to suggest the changes of characterisations the characters underwent from book to film, tying it back to your examination of the characters in the book.

So, basically like the others have said, pick a few key characters and events to discuss the themes of the book and the characterisations in the book and film. Mayhap, you could delibrate whether all these changes were good ones (in the book and film) and if most fans appreciated these changes in the film - such as the elves at Helm's Deep....

Oh! Obviously a quick summary at first to explain the basic plot of the story e.g. One Ring found by Biblo, given to Frodo etc. Hope that has not confused you! And sorry for my poor spelling!

[Vilwarin]

Thank you a lot for all your posts! I should have replied a lot sooner but I just did not come up with a good post (which will probably not happen). First of all, I do not have to finish my report untill well next year, which is a great relief to me.

[JadwigaArda]

Hi! It's me again! I shall try and answer your questions to the best of my ability while apologising in advance if I make no sense in places.

[color=red][/color]While reading the book what became important to you?

[color=white][/color]A number of things became important to me whilst I read the book. First and foremost, that the Quest succeed in destroying the Ring and overthrowing Sauron so he could never return. Secondly, that Frodo and Sam survive the horrors of Mordor hoping that Frodo might be healed of his hurts. Thirdly and lastly, Aragorn reclaim the throne of Gondor, reuinting his sundered Kingdom and marrying his beloved Arewn. In others words, good truimphing over evil.

[color=red][/color]Was there a part you re-read more often than the rest?

[color=white][/color]This is a difficult question to answer as I have a few parts I enjoy re-reading! However, my favourites would inculde when Faramir awoke in the Houses of Healing due to Aragorn's ministrations, and recognised him as his Lord and King. I thought this a very touching moment between the two, plus this scene also revealed Aragorn's true idenity to a few causing word to spread that the King *had* returned, consequently giving hope.
Other parts: the songs of Gil-galad and of Luthien harking back to the 'old days', when Arda was still 'young' and Elves fought alongside Men. Not to mention Tom Bombadil's songs...Ahh! I'll stop driving you insane with useless drivel and too much info!

[color=red][/color]What do you like best?

[color=white][/color]My favourite race are the Elves which is a reason why I enjoy reading the Silmarillion, let alone for the background/history leading to the events happening in Middle-earth in the Third Age. Yet saying that I do like the other races for different reasons. Elves have a bad side as well as a good side (the kinslaying for starters), Men are weak but also strong and valiant. Halbarad I think is really undermined in the general fanfiction/fan community. When he died on Plenanor fields I was very upset. He was Aragorn's friend and shield brother you could say. An exmple of loyalty and friendship. Faramir and Beregond also are favourites for their strength of character, (Faramir for casting aside the tempation of the Ring, Beregond for his unwavering loyalty to Faramir), bravery and geniune kindess. I like the Hobbits because really who could not? Their joy in life - its simplicity, fondness for food, and hidden depths are powerful magnets. The dawrves I do not much know about, but Gimli and his father in the Hobbit showed courage and plain stubborness which is rather amusing and heart-warming.

[color=red][/color]What word do you associate with the Lord of the Rings?

[color=white][/color]Hmmm....difficult. Epic. The story spans so much in reference to time, character growth, the places travelled through the journey and the varied situations the charaters must face with the prominant theme of good fighting, struggling, against an evil menace turns the the book into an epic of massive proportions. I am sure I have missed out vaild and excellent reasons to back up this choice but I cannot think staright at the moment!

[color=red][/color]What effect did it have on you and Why do you love the book?

[color=white][/color]I assume the first question is linked to the answer of which part I re-read the most but I think I gave my reasons there so I shall answer this question along with the other as they are very similar. The book shows that while good can truimph over evil much suffering must be transversed. The good in other words must endure changes - not all pleasent - to become the person/people who *can* face evil, who *can* endure darkness and doubt, who *can* stay and fight even when hope and spirits are low and darkness seems overwhelming. Who *actually* stand a chance of tearing apart the evil meance. For eaxmple, Frodo did not think to dare to bear the Ring to Mordor until his journey to Imladris changed him - the beginning of his suffering and change in the story. Aragorn had to suffer/endure the wild to learn about his talents and start testing the limits of his strength and endurance. The lonely years away from the woman he loved and may never win the hand of if all fell into darkness. The Quest contiuned these tests of character, all bringing him closer to what he needed to become King of Gondor. Pippin growing from childish foolery to brave, stern and wise Hobbit is another example and so on with Legolas, Beregond, Faramir etc.

I loved the book because it also underlines the message that one does not need to be a brave, strong, mucsular warrior to stand a chance in fighting evil, but that even someone small and seemingly worthless can rise to the occassion. That even they can prove their courage, suffer through torment, endure - perhaps where a valiant warrior would be noticed and killed - where others cannot and grow into the hero. And in so doing cast down the evil threat.

Most importantly I enjoyed the book for its many varied characters and history, but also because it taught hope. Hope in the face of possible darkness and destruction. Hope - goodness, valour and loyalty still exist. Good can win - we cannot allow evil to, even when we wish to run and hide. There is always hope otherwise evilhas already won.

Phew. So much! I hope that I have not confused you too greatly but if you are stuck feel free to email me or PM whatever *that* is. Also feel free to ask more questions. Anything about the film? Specific changes (your choice of course) made and whether they were good or bad? Ask away if it will help you!

Sorry for the bad spelling!

Jadwiga