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Tolkien and Literature

 

             Throughout this allegorical study of literature, one begins to ponder the purpose literature serves in the world. Some literature uses material from real world events while others tell truly fictional stories. However, these fictional stories, as is the case with allegorical stories, may shed more light on human nature than one can even fathom. The purpose of literature is a very debatable topic and one can argue that allegorical literature is entertaining yet sheds light on real world truths.
             First, one can see literature as a form of entertainment. People who take to reading as a hobby love to read for entertainment. ""A Balrog", muttered Gandalf. "Now I understand .What an evil fortune! And I"m already weary."" Gandalf's quote here in Book II is very entertaining in the context of the story. The fellowship was just forced to take a path that leads them to known evil in the Mines or Moria, and there they encounter an evil being who "takes Gandalf's life", hence adding an entertaining twist to the Lord of the Rings. .
             Another entertaining element of the trilogy is when the fellowship first encounters the Black Riders. "The black shadow stood close to the point where they had left the path, and it swayed from side to side. Frodo thought he heard the sound of snuffling. The shadow bent to the ground, and then began to crawl towards him." This passage is a very exciting and intense which grips the reader, for this is the first time that we encounter the mysterious Black Riders. The Lord of the Rings trilogy is speckled with gripping passages like these that give a form of fantastic entertainment to those who read them.
             In a similar manner Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle provides entertainment to the reader. One can see that irony is the platform that brings about entertainment in Vonnegut's tale. After Papa Monzano's death due to ice-nine, Frank, Newt, and Angela plan on burning his body to destroy the deadly isotope.


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