Tolkien’s writing and publication history, and adaptations of his work in films, television and games.
In December 2012, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey reached cinemas at 169 minutes, and Bilbo Baggins had still not reached the Lonely Mountain. Two more films followed, bringing the theatrical trilogy to 474 minutes, just under eight hours. For a compact 1937 novel, did that extra film deepen Tolkien’s story, or spread its strongest material … Read more
In the manuscript holdings at Marquette University, one item bears an unfamiliar title: The Magic Ring. The university’s finding aid describes it as a handwritten title page bearing a rejected title for the work that became The Lord of the Rings. This is evidence of a different title in Tolkien’s own hand, not merely one … Read more
Before Frodo reaches Bree in The Fellowship of the Ring, he and his companions get lost in the Old Forest, are trapped by Old Man Willow and later encounter a barrow-wight. Peter Jackson’s film skips almost all of this journey. For a game, however, those episodes offer something valuable: a stretch of country where familiar … Read more
Before the assault on Helm’s Deep in Peter Jackson’s The Two Towers, Aragorn takes a sword from a frightened young defender, tests its weight and hands it back. The boy introduces himself as Haleth, son of Háma. Hearing that the men expect to die, Aragorn reassures him: there is always hope. It is a memorable … Read more
During a scene in Peter Jackson’s 2002 film The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Elrond stands before a large painting in Rivendell while Galadriel speaks to him about the growing danger to Middle-earth. The image shows an armoured figure confronting an enormous dark opponent. Despite its resemblance to Fingolfin’s challenge to Morgoth, it … Read more
While Sam, Merry and Pippin gather mushrooms, Frodo looks down the wooded road ahead. The trees appear to surge towards him, although no tree visibly walks or falls. He becomes alarmed and urges the other hobbits to get off the road. Moments later a Black Rider approaches on horseback. The scene occurs in Peter Jackson’s … Read more
On the snowy slopes of Caradhras in Peter Jackson’s 2001 film The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf raises his staff and shouts towards the mountain while Saruman chants from the tower of Orthanc. Their words sound like competing spells, and that is precisely how the film presents them. Saruman is … Read more
In the year 3017 of the Third Age, Aragorn caught Gollum in the Dead Marshes and marched him north to the Elvenking’s realm in Mirkwood. The prisoner was questioned by Gandalf, held by the Elves and eventually escaped. All of that happens before Frodo leaves the Shire. The hunt’s result is known before the film … Read more