Elden Lashley
Jill Decker
English 101
6­12­13
Lashley1

J.R.R Tolkien
J.R.R Tolkien is the writer and creator of The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings books.
Which are four of my favorite books of all time, especially the Lord of the Rings. His creativity and ability to immerse you in a world is unlike any other I've seen or experienced.
"If you really want to know what Middle­earth is based on, it's my wonder and delight in the earth as it is, particularly the natural earth." – J.R.R. Tolkien. I love his books and now I'm here to tell you a little about his life.
J.R.R Tolkien or John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein South Africa on January 3rd, 1892. To his father and mother Arthur Tolkien and Mabel Tolkien. After his father died when he was just 4 years old, his mother took him and his little brother Hilary to hamlet of Sarehole, in Birmingham, England. His mother then died in 1904 and he and his brother were sent to live with relatives and then in boarding homes. with a catholic priest gaining guardianship in Birmingham. He would go on to get his first class degree at Exeter
College, specializing in Anglo­Saxon and Germanic languages and classic literature. He enlisted as a lieutenant Lancashire Fusiliers and served in World War I, making sure he kept writing though. He fought in the battle of somme in which there were many deaths,“I will not say, do not weep, for not all tears are an evil.” ―J.R.R. Tolkien. he eventually was released from duty due to illness. While serving though he met and married Edith Bratt in
1916.
Continuing in his linguistic studies, he join the faculty of the University of Leeds in

Elden Lashley
Jill Decker
English 101
6­12­13
Lashley2

1920 and later became a professor at Oxford University. When he was there he started a group called the Inklings, which included C.S Lewis and Owen Barfield among its members. His Fantasy novel The Hobbit which was about a hobbit named bilbo baggins and his adventures was published in 1937 and was considered and childrens book, though it wasn’t originally intended to be one. He created more than 100 drawings to go along with his book. as time passed he being writing what would be considered his masterpiece and some of the best books of all time. The Lord of the Rings series which he said was partially inspired by ancient Egypt (though I don’t see the connection) had its own set of maps, lore and languages. he released part one of the series “ The fellowship of the ring” in 1954 and part two and three “The Two Towers” and “The return of the King” in 1955 to end the series.
The books gave people a whole new world populated by elves, dwarves, talking trees, goblins and wizards. and anything else under the sun that I’m sure I’m missing. He even created an entire new language for the elves in his books. just the creativity and imagination to do that. Thats one of the many reasons why I love his books, he gives people an escape from reality and takes them to a completely different one, all just with words. “A single dream is more powerful than a thousand realities.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien.
While the books did have some critics, many reviewers and a multitude of general readers embraced his world causing the books to become global best sellers and having fans form clubs and learning the languages from the books. He would go on to retire from professional duties in 1959. going on to publish essays and a poetry collection Tree and
Leaf, and the tale of Smith of Wootton Major. J.R.R would die in 1973 leaving behind a

Elden Lashley
Jill Decker
English 101
6­12­13
Lashley3

son and millions of fans.
“Little by little, one travels far” ― J.R.R. Tolkien
Tolkiens legacy I think is that of a legend. His books are considered some of the most popular in the World, most of which have been adopted into movies, the Lord of the
Rings movie trilogy is Considered one of the best movie trilogies of all time. A trilogy on his book The Hobbit is also just starting. Both trilogies have been directed by Peter Jackson.
"This is a giant undertaking, but I consider this a personal film. It's my film of a lifetime. I read the book when I was 18 years old and thought then, 'I can't wait till the movie comes out.' Twenty years later, no one had done it ­ so I got impatient." ― Peter Jackson. I remember when I first saw the movies, I was young and they scared me a little bit but even then I still loved them and when I got older I decided I needed to read the books, and much to my surprise they were even better than the movies, coming from someone who doesn’t like to read all that much I feel like that is the highest compliment I can give to him. J.R.R is a man who taught people to be creative and and go on adventures and lost yourself to different worlds. His legacy lives on in his books and in the people those books affected. I mean they affected me and here I am writing a paper on the guy. I will forever love these books and appreciate the Imagination and Creativity he had.

Elden Lashley
Jill Decker
English 101
6­12­13
Lashley4

Works Cited "J.R.R. Tolkien Biography ­ Facts, Birthday, Life Story ­ Biography.com." 2011. 12 Jun. 2013

"J.R.R. Tolkien ­ Biography ­ IMDb." 2004. 12 Jun. 2013 "J.R.R.Tolkien short Biography ­ Biography Online." 2007. 12 Jun. 2013

"Biography of J. R. R. Tolkien (1892­1973)." 2002. 12 Jun. 2013

"J.R.R. Tolkien Biography ­ Tolkien's life ­ Tolkien Library." 2004. 12 Jun. 2013