Kršćanski elementi u fantastičnoj književnosti: pitanja morala u "Gospodaru prstenova" i "Hobbitu" J. R. R. Tolkiena

Abstract

J. R. R. Tolkien is widely considered to be the father of modern fantasy. His efforts to prove to his readers that fairy stories do not belong exclusively to childrens literature and his revolutionary style of creating the myths in his stories have paved the way for many other contemporary fantasy novels. He has incorporated his devout Christian beliefs into his stories and characters, which captivate numerous readers even decades after his death. Tolkien believed that the only true myth is the Gospel and that all any author can do is simply try to recreate such perfection in his own work. Even though he disliked allegory, Christian influence on his work is clearly evident, especially in the creation myth at the beginning of The Silmarillion. Using his characters, Tolkien demonstrates the importance of some of the essential values of Christian doctrine: pity, mercy, forgiveness, remorse, belief in a Divine power, the importance of friendship, and the significance of hope. This paper analyses and identifies the examples of those values in Tolkiens works and focuses on the morality of his characters in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit