Date of Award

Spring 5-1-2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MA English

Department

English

Advisor

Nancy Enright, PhD

Committee Member

Angela Weisl, PhD

Keywords

: Tolkien, ecocriticism, fantasy, medievalism, Catholicism, environmentalism

Abstract

Ecocriticism speaks to the relationship between the environment and literature, a progressively vital topic of discussion. What is often overlooked, however, is the necessity of the theory’s applicability to stories of speculative fiction; that is, ones existing outside the realm of the real world or, as is the case with the father of modern-day fantasy J.R.R. Tolkien, a mythology set in the ancient days of our world (“Arda”). At first, it may seem contradictory to learn about our surroundings through fictionalized ones seemingly irrelevant to Earth’s own; this apparent contradiction is not valid, though, as the relationship between humans and nature remains a central discourse within literature, regardless of the setting’s inclusion or exclusion of realistic qualities. The application of ecocriticism to the works within Tolkien’s expansive legendarium is a relatively new and emerging academic area of interest, despite his being at the forefront of speculative fiction. With the current limited availability of these secondary sources, it is undoubtable that there exist blatant gaps in the field. This becomes especially true when observing Tolkien’s mountain motif and emblematic usage of trees. In fact, the interplay between mountains, trees, and humanity within Arda has yet to be explored. This thesis, then, seeks to rectify this lack by coining a new term—the ecocritical trinity, based in medievalism, Catholicism, and slow violence—and applying this complex theory to the foundational novels of his legendarium: The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings, which itself consists of three identifiable parts: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. When analyzed in connection with one another, these texts begin to piece together an overarching chronicle of the fundamental battle between good versus evil that resides at the heart of Tolkien’s Arda, in which the mountains and trees consistently and effectively predict and reflect the mythical world’s increasingly disturbed cultural, social, and political climates vi throughout. By uncovering this ecological pattern, a nuanced perspective of Arda’s environment unfolds, emphasizing its inimitable role in defining and enhancing Tolkien’s legendarium’s narrative.

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