The Ring and the Cross: Christianity and the Lord of the Rings - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1611470641 ISBN 13: 9781611470642

Publisher: Fairleigh Dickinson University, 2010

Synopsis

The conversation, sometimes heated, about the influence of Christianity on the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien has a long history. What has been lacking is a forum for a civilized discussion about the topic, as well as a chronological overview of the major arguments and themes that have engaged scholars about the impact of Christianity on Tolkien's oeuvre, with particular reference to The Lord of the Rings. The Ring and the Cross addresses these two needs through an articulate and authoritative analyses of Tolkien's Roman Catholicism and the role it plays in understanding his writings. The volume's contributors deftly explain the kinds of interpretations put forward and evidence marshaled when arguing for or against religious influence. The Ring and the Cross invites readers to draw their own conclusions about a subject that has fascinated Tolkien enthusiasts since the publication of his masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings.

About this title

About the Author

Paul E. Kerry is an associate professor of history at Brigham Young University, research associate at Corpus Christi College and visiting fellow at the Woolf Institute, Cambridge.

Review

As a contribution to a—if not the—polemical area of Tolkien studies, The Ring and the Cross is commendable not only for looking at both sides, but also for reflecting those many shades in between where most opinions fall. The collection’s civility and single-volume format more than likely belie the true friction and disparity of opinions on its topic, but the willingness to publish together is at least a willingness to engage one another, and that can never be a bad thing. (Mythlore)

To a reader who is more a Tolkien fan than a Tolkien scholar, Kerry appears to have been successful in both his aims. . . .This book will be enjoyed by most of those who don't mind prospecting for literary nuggets in broad fields of scholarship.
(Touchstone: A Journal Of Mere Christianity)

Not only does the collection capture the theological traditions and complexity of Tolkien’s written world, The Ring and the Cross further promotes the cross-pollination of religious studies and literary criticism, aptly showing both disciplines more than merely interrelated. Indeed, what The Ring and the Cross demonstrates is that the theological underpinnings of a literary work are indispensable to thoroughly responsible criticism. In the case of Tolkien’s chef-d’oeuvre, if Kerry’s diagnosis of contemporary Tolkien scholarship is correct— that ‘all signs seem to indicate that Tolkien’s writing will continue to provoke, inspire, and provide rich food for thought about its relation to religions and spirituality generally, and Christianity in particular.’—thenThe Ring and the Cross should continue to carry the Ring into even deeper recesses of religion-literary criticism. (The Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts)

Professor Paul E. Kerry’s ambitious project – to bring together leading academic voices in the burgeoning area of Tolkien Studies to debate and explore the influence of Christianity on Tolkien’s works is a success. Fourteen scholars of literature, theology, history, political science, and philosophy have contributed to Kerry’s volume, lending it an interdisciplinary (and inter-confessional) range and depth that is unique for a work dealing with these particular questions. It should be read by any fans or students of Tolkien – Christian or otherwise, from university professors to mature high schoolers seeking a rigorous gateway into a deeper grasp and appreciation of one of the greatest storytellers in the English language. . . .This collection of essays feature many other relevant debates and discussions that are well worth the time of a casual fan of Tolkien who seeks to learn more, or of a seasoned student or scholar deepening their knowledge and study of a profound corpus of writing. (Journal of Inklings Studies)

While the relationship between Tolkien's personal religious convictions and his fictional works has been explored in the past, this collection now brings together many of the common arguments and approaches, situating them in context with one another and offering the reader a. . .cohesive view of the conversation. . . .Christian readers and scholars interested in Tolkien's Middle-earth fictions, or of the relationship between myth-making and person religious faith in general, will find this anthology accessible, useful, and thought-provoking. (Christianity and Literature)

Edition details

• Publisher: Fairleigh Dickinson University
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1611470641
• ISBN 13: 9781611470642
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 310
• Editor: Kerry Paul E.