A Hobbit Journey
Is there any spiritual significance in The Lord of the Rings? A Hobbit Journey: Discovering the Enchantment of J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-Earth, by Matthew T. Dickerson, is a wonderful book to help you better see the truth in Tolkien's stories. Reading like a series of connected essays, this book is a masterwork of analyzing and understanding the world of Middle-Earth.
The Writing of Tolkien
What I appreciated most was how Dickerson is able to showcase how Tolkien writes. For instance, Tolkien shifts the perspective of the story in order to underly his worldview, and guide his readers into understanding. In scenes of battles and war, Tolkien moves to different viewpoints, often of the Hobbits, in order to personalize the fights but also give them some gravity. Indeed, Dickerson notes that Tolkien does not glorify violence.
Dickerson is also able to point out how Tolkien’s personal life influenced his work. Tolkien served in the British Army during World War I, but he did not rush to enlist. And throughout the book, the reader is impressed to see the Lord of the Rings not as some fantastic journey (though it may be) -- but as a story of war. This brings up questions on topics such as torture, and Dickerson addresses them with wisdom.
Rewarding and Encouraging
Although I read the original books, I am more familiar with the films. Dickerson does an excellent job of explaining some key differences and why these creative choices impact the meaning of the story. For instance, the films leave many acts up to chance or circumstances, whereas Tolkien originally wrote for his characters to make choices -- true acts of heroism. Where does Gandalf’s wisdom come from? What is it about the particular power of the ring that makes it evil and corrupting? These are some of the hard questions that Dickerson does not shy away from.
Dickerson tackles one of my favorite themes in The Lord of the Rings with his chapter on moral responsibility and stewardship. He compares Gandalf to Denethor as being the true and better steward. I saw that objective morality is the basis for judgment, and therefore see moral decisions as important. Dickerson also writes about the difficult themes of the seen and the unseen, especially in how they relate to salvation and social justice. This is a rich, rewarding, and encouraging book.
Seeing Spiritual Significance
More than just enhancing my understanding of Middle-Earth, this book increased my enjoyment of Tolkien's work and world. There is truth to be told about God, man, the world, and salvation. Epic in scope and courageous in its undertaking, this book is a wonderful guide to deeper appreciation for and seeing the spiritual significance of Middle-Earth.
I received a media copy of A Hobbit Journey and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram - my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.