Donald Trump, winner of the New Hampshire primary, has been promoting torture. I’ve been teaching “Lord of the Rings” recently and he reminds me of the temptation of the ring, which hollows one out.
Tag Archives: Lord of the Rings
Ring Wraith Trump Wins in New Hampshire
British and American Fantasy Contrasted
An “Atlantic” article argues that British fantasy is richer than American fantasy. I agree that they are different and that there are interesting reasons for those differences–but that American fantasy is vibrant as well.
Criminal Case: Turkish Prez & Gollum
A character analysis of Gollum could determine whether a Turkish doctor goes to jail. This after he tweeted images of the Turkish president that resembled the film’s depiction of Gollum.
How Fantasy Saves Our Souls
Great fantasy can always be seen as oppositional, pushing against prevailing modes of thought and opening up portals into new human possibilities.
Frodo’s Battle with Sin
Students discover that “Lord of the Rings” is a story about their Christian journeys.
Sauron’s Ring: Power Corrupts
The ring in “Lord of the Rings” lends itself to numerous approaches.
A Spiritual Quest Begins inside a Whale
According to Joseph Campbell, a hero’s journey invariably involves a “belly of the whale” experience. Tokien describes the experience in fantasy, Dan Albergotti in everyday life.
Fantasy’s Special Insight into Reality
Fantasy literature becomes something different after the world ceased believing in magic.
Hobbits against Spiders in the Playoffs
The Heat-Pacers NBA series is like Sam Gamgee fighting Shelob in “Lord of the Rings.”

