THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Fellowship of the Ring is a story of burden, responsibility, courage, friendship, and the ongoing fight between good and evil. Themes worth reading, pondering and discussing fill the pages. Every one of us, at some point, carries a burden in life like Frodo - something that we bear until its finality, its destruction. Quests like this require trusted sojourners around us - protectors, leaders, wise council and loyal friendship. If a reader looks close enough, they may be able to find themselves within the characters. Are they carrying a burden like Frodo? Are they a loyal and trusted friend like Sam? Are they a protector like Aragorn? Life can feel like its full of mountains, Orcs, Saurons and Ringwraiths, but it also consists of Rivendells, Lothloriens, Galadriels and Elronds - places of rest, refreshment and wisdom gathering.

Recently, I read through The Fellowship of the Ring with a group of high schoolers. As always there were those that loved the quest and the elements of fantasy that surround it and those that weren't crazy about Tolkien's wordy manner. (I encouraged them to focus on the main thread of the book and divorce from their mind the extra explanations on everything that caused them to sometimes get muddled in the mire themselves.). However, the self application that can occur when viewing our lives through the story causes us to think on a higher level. One that helps us see that no matter where we are, there is hope of getting through.

HEADS UP- There are moments of magic in the book.