An Old Hobbit Testament

Every major social movement is rooted in a set of foundational ideas. The United States government is grounded on the Declaration of Independence; Buddhists are rooted in the teachings of the dharma as presented by their Lamas; the Catholic Church operates on their interpretation of the Bible; the Mormon Church is founded on the teachings of its prophet Joseph Smith in the Book of Mormon. In the field of psychology, Jungians are rooted in the ideas of Carl Jung. In the genre of fantasy literature, every author or student of fantasy is influenced by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien.

Great ideas are worth sharing, so that others may find a source of inspiration and guidance along their life’s journey. There are many interesting genres of philosophy, psychology, theology, mythology, and fantasy literature; for just like music, there’s a genre suitable for every taste and every occasion. The fairytale genre of Tolkienian fantasy, as presented by J.R.R Tolkien in the 20th century, will be the focus of this essay. And since all genres evolve, I’ll present my personal approach towards understanding Tolkien’s core concepts, which builds a foundation towards further development and the evolution of the genre.

In this essay, I’ll propose my "original idea" of reading and interpreting Tolkien’s LOTR as an “old testament” of fairytale stories. It's understandable that Tolkienian fantasy may not be to the taste of the mainstream culture, for it may appear strange and confusing upon first encountering Tolkien's work. My proposal to present LOTR as an "old testament" serves the purpose of introducing and reimagining the core concepts within the tale, which will inevitably inspire new approaches-- a "new testament"-- in life's quest towards finding magic and enchantment. New tales will arise as we discover what works for us, and our communities. Those beginning to walk the road of magic collect notes and journal their discoveries which might someday turn into a book of tales. Exploring old fairytale concepts--such Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, or Lord of the Rings--allows a modern generation to rediscover the timeless wisdom contained in these old stories; which are made new again as we live them and test them. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings is an excellent tale to analyze and draw out inspiration, and magic.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the word “testament” is defined as something that serves as a “sign” or “evidence” of a specific fact or event. For example, for a local small business, an increase in revenue at a café is a “sign” that business is prospering and growing, and its increasing sales numbers serve as a “testament” for the proposal to expand the business. Another type of testament is in a courtroom scenario when a witness is brought to “testify” on the occurrence of an event as an eye witness, or expert in forensics or related matters of the case.

In literature, authors get highly creative in the manner and fashion in which they present their “testimony” to a general public. Some write in poetic form, others in the style of philosophy, mythology, or theology. J.R.R. Tolkien got highly creative on his presentation by writing his epic high fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings.

Old fairy tales evolve into new stories, new genres, new testaments. In the music world, old genres of music evolve into new forms--in every generation, the old becomes new again. In literature, The Wizard of Oz (1900) inspired the Wicked novel (1995) written by Gregory McGuire, which became a huge success in film and the Broadway stage. There’s always something that gets carried along at the underlying depths of art, music, film, and storytelling—some folks call it “magic.” Therefore, by studying old forms of magical stories, new forms of magic come to manifestation. By studying and analyzing the Lord of the Rings as an “old testament” of fairy tales, the reader finds new inspiration and guidance for overcoming daily challenges we face today in the modern world. The “new testament” of fairytales is discovered along the road we embark on along life’s adventure, which perhaps, someday, we'll craft into art or write in a book of tales. Just like Bilbo Baggins upon returning from his adventure decides to write a tale in his Red Book, which then gets passed along to Frodo Baggins to continue the tradition of storytelling that passes down from generation to generation.

Tolkien’s masterwork, LOTR, was published in 1955, and the movie version (adaptation) was released on theaters in 2001. Stories presented in book format have a longer lifespan than in visual representations, since visual media tends to go out of style quickly, but words on a page stimulate the imagination into bringing forth mental images that are personal, therefore, relevent to the unique circumstances of the reader. Children who read fairy stories will develop the imagination exponentially better than watching the movie adaptations. Adults that read interesting stories have a more advance imagination than those who watch television all day; and musicians who create from within the "inner worlds" have a better understanding of the capabilities of the mind. Scholars and teachers of Tolkien's work suggest reading the books before watching the movie version; for the imagination's magic comes from creating mental images rather than receiving them or being told exactly how and what to think.

The movie version of The Lord of the Rings, directed by Peter Jackson, has now entered its 25th anniversary since its release in 2001. A quarter of a century may seem old for a movie, but it's still enjoyable to watch. A new Tolkien movie adaptation is set to come out in December 2027: The Hunt for Gollum. New and modern visual presentations in film serve the purpose of introducing old tales in a new fashion suitable for modern audiences, which will lead many viewers into the books and into the world of Middle-earth. In every generation old stories become new again, a “new testament” is delivered in fashionable ways.

Since older versions of magical tales are challenging to study and understand, the role of modern students of fantasy is to retell the stories in relevant and appealing ways. The classical tale of The Lord of the Rings is enjoyed by millions across the world, but it may not be the taste for everyone in every culture, and for this reason I propose the association to an “old testament.” At least until a reader begins solving the riddles which grant access beyond the surface level of storytelling; the underlying elements of story come to life in fresh new ways as the reader excavate the caves of imagination, discovering layers of treasures and opening new dimensions of understanding, and reality.

J.R.R. Tolkien studied various classical tales in order to find a guide or map into his imagination, which lead to his discovery of Middle-earth, which he documented into his book of tales. We as modern readers can find our way through these enchanted lands too, by referencing Tolkien's “old testament” of LOTR. Authors in every generation study the old classic stories which inspire and call forth new genres or new tales. Many scholars, philosophers, psychologists, theorists and thinkers assert, and “testify,” that the Lord of the Rings is one of the great modern tales for our modern times. There are many approaches to studying the stories, it's only a matter of discovering an approach that is "right" for the readers or students of magic.

The collective fanbase of Tolkien scholars and readers are contributing their part in delivering, presenting, and sharing these hobbit tales. The academic Tolkien scholar Becca Tarnas is doing her part in introducing Tolkienian fantasy to her students; the film director Peter Jackson is playing his part in introducing the tales in movie formats, and there’s plenty of websites and YouTube channels dedicated to Tolkien’s work on-line. All these efforts add up to a collective “testimony” which declares Tolkien's work as a vital resource for our society.  

The classical tale of The Lord of the Rings may not be compatible with every taste of our modern culture, hence the necessity of creative individuals to offer presentations that are appealing, compatible, and engaging to audiences across different platforms. Similar to the classical punk rock movements of the “old days” that have gone out of style, but the instinct to rebel and challenge the social status quo never goes out of style, for it's something that every generation urges to do, therefore, new forms of punk rock emerge on the scene all the time. Techno music has grown in popularity across America, both north and south, which is another rebellious style of music.

In conclusion, by analyzing old genres and tales, adapting them in new ways for our modern culture, will offer modern folks additional resources for finding inspiration and guidance along the magical roads of life. And as we study the tales and walk the road of enchantment and magic, we'll discover new paths that open new possibilities, which if proven worthy and successful become the “new testament” of fairy tale magic.