"Sense of overwhelming joy and sorrow" - perfect description! I went back to when I was 13, and closed the cover of the Return of the King for the first time. Although I have reread it more times than I care to admit, I still feel the same. Skipping the poems is criminal.
I completely agree about the poems! They add layers to the experience, and why would I rob myself of those layers? To this day, reading Tolkien’s books in Middle-Earth feels like coming home.
My favorite part of Tolkien's works is how different they each are. Silmarilion: His world's equivalent of a bible Hobbit: A fantastic children's book LotR: One of the first modern fantasy epics Great Tales (Children of Hurin, Fall of Gondolin, etc): Ancient epic poetry It blows my mind his diversity.
hank france Well said! They are indeed distinct, and yet they form the cohesive whole that is Middle-earth, which is so beloved to many of us. Thanks for the wonderful comment!
i think i was around 7th grade when i made my first attempt at reading the lord of the rings books. i was introduced to them through my english teacher at the time. the school was shutting down and he gave some books away to his students and i got a harry potter book and fellowship of the ring from him. i found it hard to read through originally, but i really got into lord of the rings after watching the hobbit movies. i went back and watched the lord of the ring movies properly then got into the books. incredible stories.
Agreed, Gwen! They are really incredible stories. It's interesting how the films gave you the impetus to read the books. I think the Peter Jackson films were a great thing for Tolkien's books.
This is a very elegant summary of what makes the Lord of the Rings so great - it incorporates the epic, great, and dark world of the Silmarillion with the humanity of the Hobbit. If you haven't read the Children of Hurin, I recommend you do so as well - it only came out in 2007, compiled and edited by Christopher Tolkien (like the Silmarillion). It's a proper narrative, like the Hobbit and LotR, but it is much darker.
Thank you! I have a copy of Children of Hurin and will most definitely be reading it. I assume it follows and expands on the Turin narrative in The Silmarillion, in which case I imagine it’s not the most cheerful tale. However, Tolkien was often at his eloquent best when dealing with tragedy, so I look forward to it. I’m also due for a reread of Lord of the Rings this year, I think.
i think Lord of the rings has quite litterly shaped who i am today. i first watched the films at eleven years old after my dad reading me The Hobbit when i was younger. the films left a huge impression on me and i went on to read the books afterwards. this took me into mythology as i got older and then history and then now in my twenties, back to fantasy. to this day there arnt many books i cry at while reading (with the exeption of all of the Malazan Book of the fallen books) like all of the emotional moments in lord of the rings. one day ill show these books and films to my children, i cant wait for that day.
Beautifully said, Louis! Tolkien took me on a similar journey, with the difference that I was already about 30 years old when the Peter Jackson films came out. As a Tolkien fan, I was nervous about the film adaptation, but within the first five minutes of The Fellowship of the Ring, I knew Jackson had nailed it. I’ll be doing a video at some point on Erikson’s Malazan books, by the way!
One of my fondest memories was my dad reading LotR to me when I was 8. However, one chapter a day was too slow for me so I read RotK by myself lol. I love this series so much!
The Serpent I feel the same way about it. It was my doorway into fantasy and so much more. I read The Hobbit to both of my daughters when they were little. The younger one, who is 12, just finished reading LOTR a few weeks ago, and I must admit I’m happy she loved it.
After almost 2 years into my dive into fantasy literature I finished reading LOTR!! Now after finishing the Malazan 10 and the first 2 Kharkanas books you of all people Philip can understand what a huge shock to my system I experienced. In a way I found LOTR a much easier read as well as an immensely beautiful one. There where several times through the books where I was overcome with such emotion that I was sobbing. And I will never forget the scene where Frodo and Sam are holding hands on the “Crack of Doom ,there at the end of all things”. This was such a masterpiece and I’m grateful to have finally read it for the first time. Thank you sir for your commentary on this rich literary experience.
The catharsis you're talking about speaks to me so much because, for lack of that word, I wrote on my Instagram review: "I wasn't expecting the ending to be so bittersweet after such joy and hope flooded through Middle-Earth... It created so much longing and ache for this world and its characters, I had never experienced that before." It was surprising to me because I struggled through Two Towers and was disappointed by how little I connected with the characters, but Return of The King's high stakes and near biblical tone (for having read the Bible many times, the parallels were striking both in language and themes) blew me away and now I need to finish the two books I'm in the middle of, but all I want is to get to The Hobbit as soon as possible. Now that I have a fuller picture, I know I'll appreciate it so much more (I unfortunately don't remember most of it). This video was beautiful, you expressed very well why this story touched me so much (despite being disappointed by how most characters were - as you said - flat, but even Aragorn that we actually barely know ended up being - again, like you said - this inspiring and powerful archetype, I couldn't help loving him in the end).
The longing you describe so beautifully is most definitely a way of experiencing catharsis. Also, I agree with you about the biblical overtones. Tolkien was a devout Roman Catholic, and the connection between his faith and his fiction is most evident in his essay On Fairy-Stories. It’s an essay that illuminates where Tolkien’s sense of beauty and wonder came from. I wish you much joy in reading The Hobbit, which has a much more playful and whimsical tone as Tolkien originally wrote it for his children. The Silmarillion is on the other end of Middle-Earth’s spectrum, being far more somber and tragic. All of it is beautiful to me, though, and incredibly nostalgic!
Some nice thoughts again. I have fond memories of me and my dad reading these together when I was a child. I consider that a very formative part of my development, and was also an important bonding point with my father which I feel absolutely blessed to have experienced. As you touched on, Tolkien's works would today be seen as very flawed, and with fair enough reason...However, for me as a fantasy reader I don't think anything can quite compete with the absolute majesty of the tale...And as you put it yourself, the catharsis it offers. Really enjoyed both videos so far. You're fairly close to 1k subs too!
Guilbert Maric Tolkien will always be my favorite author, and Lord of the Rings my favorite book. I can’t think of a tale that offers as much beauty, and I simply would not be who I am without Tolkien’s influence. As you say, there’s also a great nostalgic element to reading his books for many of us. I recognize that fantasy has moved on in ways that are both important and trendy (if you watch the video I made about tropes in fantasy that many people see as having racist and colonialist origins, you’ll see what I mean by the important changes). But, to me, the originality and grace of Tolkien’s vision in his time remain so important. Thanks for the great comments!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy I haven't watched that yet. Since you don't have too many up just yet I'm just gonna watch them from the beginning, and then hopefully stay up to date after that!
I like to think Robert e howard made the dirt road that Tolkien traveled while writing his works. The hobbit turned me into an avid reader and fantasy lover at the age of 12. I ADORE this channel dude. Thank you
A good video Philip, thank you. Not to nitpick but, The Silmarillion was the unfinished work of Tolkien. It therefore cannot be viewed as the oldest. In the chronology of Middle Earth it is, but not by finished product. Tolkien was still busy with the outlines, I believe that is why it is harder to read than The Hobbit and TLOTR. Christopher did us (the fans) a service in editing and compiling the notes, but it should very much be viewed as an unfinished work by Tolkien. I remember reading about it and that Christopher had to choose between various forms of some of the "stories" contained in what became The Silmarillion. If Tolkien had 20 more years of active working on this I believe The Silmarillion would have been much longer and much better. As it is now, I would not even recommend people try and read it as a normal Novel. They should take small bites, and savour it. Tolkien will always be a legend and without him, fantasy would look much different. Thanks again for your video and thoughts.
You are correct in every respect about The Silmarillion. Tolkien left the tales (it is, of course, not one story) unfinished, and his son Christopher (with help from Guy Gavriel Kay) tidied them into the shape we have read them in. The important thing to me is that Tolkien had worked out the mythology and history and languages of Middle-Earth long before writing The Lord of the Rings, and all of that depth is one of the important reasons for the story’s success. Without the tales that would become The Silmarillion and the invention of hobbits in The Hobbit, there could be no LOTR, which I consider my favorite book of all time and probably always will. Thanks for your excellent insights!
Oh hey! My Watch Later shuffle brought me here next! I honestly connect so much with Bilbo and his storyline, much more than I ever did with Frodo. Some of it I just struggled with. I think I might've just been too young when I read them. The last time I tried to read them was when I was in New Zealand though... that was hard in a weird way because I kept just wanting to go outside!! But I like your thoughts on Hobbits in general.
Thanks! I'd love to visit New Zealand myself. I've got a good friend from high school who lives there these days, so I have an excuse (in addition to visiting the Shire!).
@@GetWriteOnIn I can't remember the name of the town, but he told me it's not far from the Shire location (he knows I'm a Tolkien fan and that I wouldn't hear anything else after he said "not far from the Shire").
Dr. Chase, how do I get your job? I wanna research literature and fantasy for a living! Kidding! I know there's more to it. But seriously--if I was interested in a similar career path, what would you suggest?
Hello, Branej! There was a time when I wouldn’t have hesitated to recommend a career as a professor in the humanities. It’s a rewarding career - not so much financially, but in terms of fulfillment. However, especially here in the United States, many, perhaps even most, colleges and universities have been, despite plenty of lip service, cutting back on the humanities. This means there are far more qualified people than there are positions, leading to a lot of people with PhDs working under exploitative part-time positions (adjuncts) or having to find jobs outside of academia. If you’re really passionate about your field and very determined, it could still be worth pursuing. It would involve going to graduate school after finishing your bachelor’s degree. This could mean a master’s program or a doctoral (PhD) program. If you are fortunate enough to get into a healthy and well-funded PhD program, you won’t be paying tuition. Instead, you get paid to be a teaching assistant or research assistant while you’re doing your degree. These programs are extremely competitive, and you need to do excellent work as an undergraduate to get into one. Also, there are other requirements for admission at most places, such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), which is like an SAT but for graduate school. Also keep in mind that you’re going to be more specialized in graduate school. So, as an undergraduate, you might be an English major, but in graduate school you would specialize in something more specific, like medieval literature. That’s a very short summary, but I hope it helps!
My dad used to read to me as a young kid growing up. The last one we did together was Lord of the Rings. A fitting end. Not the originator, maybe not even the best, but every other fantasy book that followed owes something to Tolkien. His use of language was incredible and I personally think he elevated the genre unlike any other writer before or since. What's funny is when you read the early drafts and ideas for LOTR, you see just how badly it could've gone. Luckily he figured it out.
Another story from this time that i don't think gets enough credit is The Once and Future King. Maybe because it pulls from an already popular tale, but its use of humor and meta-awareness has been used in a ton of fantasy.
Nick Wurthmann Tolkien was definitely not the originator of fantasy, though for me on a personal and nostalgic level, he’ll always be my favorite author. If I ever have electricity in my home again, I’m eventually going to make a video on the origins of fantasy, focusing especially on William Morris, who inspired Tolkien in many ways, including his use of language. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Nick Wurthmann That’s true - White is not as well read as he could be. I feel like Arthurian material sort of comes in and out of fashion. Perhaps Monty Python (with medievalists among them) unintentionally made it hard to take Arthurian lore too seriously for a while!
Hi Philip, great video! I love your channel and have admired your content for many months now! I’m almost done with The Fellowship of the Ring in the process of reading LOTR for the first time. I was wondering if you’d want to do a collab video with me? I would love to chat with you (who knows so much about LOTR and has loved it for such a long time) about the series. I think it’d be great having my fresh, initial reaction in conversation your seasoned experience with the series. And, as always, keep up the great content! I’m loving your channel!!
Thanks so much, Mitch! I’m actually thinking about doing a reread of LOTR at some point, and I hope you’ll love it. A collaboration would be cool, but right now I’m booked up for the next couple months. Please keep me in mind, though, perhaps for a discussion this summer. Thanks!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy No worries at all! I’ll definitely keep in touch then and you’ll definitely see me commenting away on your videos! Love the work you’ve been doing, thanks for getting back to me :))
Tolkien's works are still gold. Song of ice and fire is great but LOTR IS FUCKING EPIC. Actually if people actually get out of the city and visit the countryside, Tolkien's works appear more realistic than Martin's world.
Though I recognize its flaws by modern standards, LOTR will always be my favorite book of all time. I appreciate your comment especially since one of the things I love most about LOTR is the descriptions of landscapes, which simply aren't done that way these days since most readers have little patience for description. Thanks for commenting!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Thank you for the response. There's no flaw. It's basically a trend. It's a primarily a children's story which grandparents can tell their grandchildren on weekend afternoon and during bedtime. It was for that purpose. Also it is a mythology that is fundamentally Catholic in nature. It's not supposed to be a fast paced story where events happen one after the other.
@@srinjoyroychoudhury7034 True! It’s certainly best to judge works of art (and people) by keeping their historical context in mind. It’s not Tolkien’s fault that today’s readers have less tolerance for description and exposition.
This was very hard for me. I know I'm supposed to like Lord of the Rings but it just didn't click for me. I didn't like the writing style at all. I tried the movies as well and I was mostly on my phone more than I was watching the movie. I respect what it has done for fantasy though. It inspired some of my favorite series and games (like the Witcher and its novels) but at the same time I think it just isn't my type of fantasy. People say it's not outdated but I feel like it is. Too much description for little things like doors. Too wordy and too much attention on elves for my liking and I feel like Aragorn (well in the movies) has too much self hatred for his own race. His fascination for them just didn't make sense. I'm not sure if he had self hatred for his own race. But anyway, I think it's just as you said is that I do not like the clearly white and clearly black characters.
There’s no doubt that aspects of The Lord of the Rings are out of sync with the expectations of many modern readers. Though it’s hard for me since I grew up loving Tolkien’s books, I can understand that perspective and admit that they have aged in some ways. I’ll always love them, but I’m cool with people who either have moved on or never click with them.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy That's why you're doctor fantasy! But I did grow up with LOTR but I don't think I LOVED them. I think I enjoyed them but I preferred the works that were inspired by them such as First Law
I was talking to my cousin and I jokenly said the orcs are misunderstood but at the same time I think it would have made them more interesting. Kind of what Joe did with his Shanka and what George RR Martin did with Jaime Lannister for example. I also thought it would have been intetesting if Gandalf's return made evil or ruthless. Why do you say Tolkien would not have been published today?
@@currangill430 Tolkien would not be published today for some of the reasons you expressed for not enjoying his books. Lots of description. Lots of exposition. Too archaic in places for the taste of many. The same is true of most books of his era, of course. All that is very nostalgic for me, though!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Okay so everything you said in the video pretty much. I think it is nostalgia probably. I know Mike has him number one and won't remove from number one even though Joe is clearly his favorite but that nostaligia is probably keeping him at one for him. I'm not sure he likes Malazan more than First Law. But it was a bit surprising for me that Age of Madness didn't top First Law for him because I thought Age of Madness was for sure Joe's best work. Like the description of the body count in Trouble of Peace would not be something for example that Tolkien would even dream of writing about. I believe he was a really religious Christian? And I'm not sure how much religion was put into Lord of the Rings. Does the ring symbolize sin? Does Golum symbolize Satan?
Maybe u won’t respond to this ... but I am curious if u would ever tackle Children of Hurin which I could argue has some of his most complex characters. It’s my second favourite Tolkien work and first would be LOTR. But what he achieved in 1/4 of LOTR size is truly remarkable. It’s insane that tale was suppose to be the size of LOTR. Additionally have you checked out some of the HoME content like Morgoth Ring and the one afterwards which contains Wanderings of Hurin?
Great question! I have read The Silmarillion many times, and I have The Children of Hurin on my bookshelf, ready to read. So, it's something I would consider. I'm thinking about more Tolkien related videos next year. I'm due for a LOTR reread for sure! I used to read it every year, and it's been a few years, and I find myself missing it. Thanks for asking -- it's always good to hear of interest in Tolkien!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy yeah do so also some of the tales told in HoME is recommended like Wanderings of Hurin which compliments the chapter 22 of Silmarillion and was the cut content from The Silmarillion. it serves as a great epilogue to CoH and honestly should have been included in all honesty. I created a cut which " completes " it more just merging the ones from CoH, Silmarillion and HoME into something cohesive ( which I've DM u on discord). Also i would recommend reading the Fall of Gondolin though its not like CoH being " complete" its still worth reading the original tale of the Fall and the last version which is one of the best prologues to a story but sadly just that. Beren & Luthien and Unfinished Tales is still something i need to read though. Then later on i would like to read aspects of HoME for the Tolkien work post LOTR in how he tried to form the SIlmarillion.
Mike Alexander True! Tolkien was building a world, complete with languages and mythology and history and landscapes and cultures, before “world building” was a phrase. In spite of any faults I perceive in his writing today, he will always be my favorite since it was his words that baptized my imagination.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy I guess we're no longer allowed to write the stories we want to write for the sake of appealing to "post-modern readers".
@@user-ik4kh9lt6d It can feel that way, but I tend to think that trends come and go. I may be crazy, but I think a writer should write what they're passionate about and forget about the trends.
"Sense of overwhelming joy and sorrow" - perfect description! I went back to when I was 13, and closed the cover of the Return of the King for the first time. Although I have reread it more times than I care to admit, I still feel the same. Skipping the poems is criminal.
I completely agree about the poems! They add layers to the experience, and why would I rob myself of those layers? To this day, reading Tolkien’s books in Middle-Earth feels like coming home.
My favorite part of Tolkien's works is how different they each are.
Silmarilion: His world's equivalent of a bible
Hobbit: A fantastic children's book
LotR: One of the first modern fantasy epics
Great Tales (Children of Hurin, Fall of Gondolin, etc): Ancient epic poetry
It blows my mind his diversity.
hank france Well said! They are indeed distinct, and yet they form the cohesive whole that is Middle-earth, which is so beloved to many of us. Thanks for the wonderful comment!
i think i was around 7th grade when i made my first attempt at reading the lord of the rings books. i was introduced to them through my english teacher at the time. the school was shutting down and he gave some books away to his students and i got a harry potter book and fellowship of the ring from him. i found it hard to read through originally, but i really got into lord of the rings after watching the hobbit movies. i went back and watched the lord of the ring movies properly then got into the books. incredible stories.
Agreed, Gwen! They are really incredible stories. It's interesting how the films gave you the impetus to read the books. I think the Peter Jackson films were a great thing for Tolkien's books.
This is a very elegant summary of what makes the Lord of the Rings so great - it incorporates the epic, great, and dark world of the Silmarillion with the humanity of the Hobbit.
If you haven't read the Children of Hurin, I recommend you do so as well - it only came out in 2007, compiled and edited by Christopher Tolkien (like the Silmarillion). It's a proper narrative, like the Hobbit and LotR, but it is much darker.
Thank you! I have a copy of Children of Hurin and will most definitely be reading it. I assume it follows and expands on the Turin narrative in The Silmarillion, in which case I imagine it’s not the most cheerful tale. However, Tolkien was often at his eloquent best when dealing with tragedy, so I look forward to it. I’m also due for a reread of Lord of the Rings this year, I think.
i think Lord of the rings has quite litterly shaped who i am today. i first watched the films at eleven years old after my dad reading me The Hobbit when i was younger. the films left a huge impression on me and i went on to read the books afterwards. this took me into mythology as i got older and then history and then now in my twenties, back to fantasy. to this day there arnt many books i cry at while reading (with the exeption of all of the Malazan Book of the fallen books) like all of the emotional moments in lord of the rings. one day ill show these books and films to my children, i cant wait for that day.
Beautifully said, Louis! Tolkien took me on a similar journey, with the difference that I was already about 30 years old when the Peter Jackson films came out. As a Tolkien fan, I was nervous about the film adaptation, but within the first five minutes of The Fellowship of the Ring, I knew Jackson had nailed it. I’ll be doing a video at some point on Erikson’s Malazan books, by the way!
One of my fondest memories was my dad reading LotR to me when I was 8. However, one chapter a day was too slow for me so I read RotK by myself lol.
I love this series so much!
The Serpent I feel the same way about it. It was my doorway into fantasy and so much more. I read The Hobbit to both of my daughters when they were little. The younger one, who is 12, just finished reading LOTR a few weeks ago, and I must admit I’m happy she loved it.
Philip Chase awesome! I’m excited to see what you put out next
After almost 2 years into my dive into fantasy literature I finished reading LOTR!! Now after finishing the Malazan 10 and the first 2 Kharkanas books you of all people Philip can understand what a huge shock to my system I experienced. In a way I found LOTR a much easier read as well as an immensely beautiful one. There where several times through the books where I was overcome with such emotion that I was sobbing. And I will never forget the scene where Frodo and Sam are holding hands on the “Crack of Doom ,there at the end of all things”. This was such a masterpiece and I’m grateful to have finally read it for the first time. Thank you sir for your commentary on this rich literary experience.
Congratulations, Michael! That’s truly fantastic, and I most certainly do relate. LOTR is one of the most beautiful stories ever told. My best to you!
The catharsis you're talking about speaks to me so much because, for lack of that word, I wrote on my Instagram review: "I wasn't expecting the ending to be so bittersweet after such joy and hope flooded through Middle-Earth... It created so much longing and ache for this world and its characters, I had never experienced that before." It was surprising to me because I struggled through Two Towers and was disappointed by how little I connected with the characters, but Return of The King's high stakes and near biblical tone (for having read the Bible many times, the parallels were striking both in language and themes) blew me away and now I need to finish the two books I'm in the middle of, but all I want is to get to The Hobbit as soon as possible. Now that I have a fuller picture, I know I'll appreciate it so much more (I unfortunately don't remember most of it).
This video was beautiful, you expressed very well why this story touched me so much (despite being disappointed by how most characters were - as you said - flat, but even Aragorn that we actually barely know ended up being - again, like you said - this inspiring and powerful archetype, I couldn't help loving him in the end).
The longing you describe so beautifully is most definitely a way of experiencing catharsis. Also, I agree with you about the biblical overtones. Tolkien was a devout Roman Catholic, and the connection between his faith and his fiction is most evident in his essay On Fairy-Stories. It’s an essay that illuminates where Tolkien’s sense of beauty and wonder came from. I wish you much joy in reading The Hobbit, which has a much more playful and whimsical tone as Tolkien originally wrote it for his children. The Silmarillion is on the other end of Middle-Earth’s spectrum, being far more somber and tragic. All of it is beautiful to me, though, and incredibly nostalgic!
Some nice thoughts again. I have fond memories of me and my dad reading these together when I was a child. I consider that a very formative part of my development, and was also an important bonding point with my father which I feel absolutely blessed to have experienced.
As you touched on, Tolkien's works would today be seen as very flawed, and with fair enough reason...However, for me as a fantasy reader I don't think anything can quite compete with the absolute majesty of the tale...And as you put it yourself, the catharsis it offers.
Really enjoyed both videos so far. You're fairly close to 1k subs too!
Guilbert Maric Tolkien will always be my favorite author, and Lord of the Rings my favorite book. I can’t think of a tale that offers as much beauty, and I simply would not be who I am without Tolkien’s influence. As you say, there’s also a great nostalgic element to reading his books for many of us. I recognize that fantasy has moved on in ways that are both important and trendy (if you watch the video I made about tropes in fantasy that many people see as having racist and colonialist origins, you’ll see what I mean by the important changes). But, to me, the originality and grace of Tolkien’s vision in his time remain so important. Thanks for the great comments!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy I haven't watched that yet. Since you don't have too many up just yet I'm just gonna watch them from the beginning, and then hopefully stay up to date after that!
Guilbert Maric Excellent! I hope to read more of your thoughts, then.
I like to think Robert e howard made the dirt road that Tolkien traveled while writing his works. The hobbit turned me into an avid reader and fantasy lover at the age of 12. I ADORE this channel dude. Thank you
Thank you, Wade! I deeply appreciate the kind words, and I’m happy the videos speak to you and some of your experiences.
An informative appreciation of Tolkien!
Thank you, and thanks for watching!
A good video Philip, thank you.
Not to nitpick but, The Silmarillion was the unfinished work of Tolkien. It therefore cannot be viewed as the oldest. In the chronology of Middle Earth it is, but not by finished product. Tolkien was still busy with the outlines, I believe that is why it is harder to read than The Hobbit and TLOTR.
Christopher did us (the fans) a service in editing and compiling the notes, but it should very much be viewed as an unfinished work by Tolkien. I remember reading about it and that Christopher had to choose between various forms of some of the "stories" contained in what became The Silmarillion. If Tolkien had 20 more years of active working on this I believe The Silmarillion would have been much longer and much better. As it is now, I would not even recommend people try and read it as a normal Novel. They should take small bites, and savour it.
Tolkien will always be a legend and without him, fantasy would look much different.
Thanks again for your video and thoughts.
You are correct in every respect about The Silmarillion. Tolkien left the tales (it is, of course, not one story) unfinished, and his son Christopher (with help from Guy Gavriel Kay) tidied them into the shape we have read them in. The important thing to me is that Tolkien had worked out the mythology and history and languages of Middle-Earth long before writing The Lord of the Rings, and all of that depth is one of the important reasons for the story’s success. Without the tales that would become The Silmarillion and the invention of hobbits in The Hobbit, there could be no LOTR, which I consider my favorite book of all time and probably always will. Thanks for your excellent insights!
Oh hey! My Watch Later shuffle brought me here next! I honestly connect so much with Bilbo and his storyline, much more than I ever did with Frodo. Some of it I just struggled with. I think I might've just been too young when I read them. The last time I tried to read them was when I was in New Zealand though... that was hard in a weird way because I kept just wanting to go outside!! But I like your thoughts on Hobbits in general.
Thanks! I'd love to visit New Zealand myself. I've got a good friend from high school who lives there these days, so I have an excuse (in addition to visiting the Shire!).
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy where does your friend live?? That country is just so beautiful I loved it so much
@@GetWriteOnIn I can't remember the name of the town, but he told me it's not far from the Shire location (he knows I'm a Tolkien fan and that I wouldn't hear anything else after he said "not far from the Shire").
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy haha he probably lives in Rotorua or Hamilton, but the Shire itself is in Matamata
Why would someone skip the poems and songs? There should be some kind of literary law preventing that.
Ha ha! Yes, I agree! Some sort of anti-sacrilege law, perhaps.
Dr. Chase, how do I get your job? I wanna research literature and fantasy for a living!
Kidding! I know there's more to it. But seriously--if I was interested in a similar career path, what would you suggest?
Hello, Branej! There was a time when I wouldn’t have hesitated to recommend a career as a professor in the humanities. It’s a rewarding career - not so much financially, but in terms of fulfillment. However, especially here in the United States, many, perhaps even most, colleges and universities have been, despite plenty of lip service, cutting back on the humanities. This means there are far more qualified people than there are positions, leading to a lot of people with PhDs working under exploitative part-time positions (adjuncts) or having to find jobs outside of academia. If you’re really passionate about your field and very determined, it could still be worth pursuing. It would involve going to graduate school after finishing your bachelor’s degree. This could mean a master’s program or a doctoral (PhD) program. If you are fortunate enough to get into a healthy and well-funded PhD program, you won’t be paying tuition. Instead, you get paid to be a teaching assistant or research assistant while you’re doing your degree. These programs are extremely competitive, and you need to do excellent work as an undergraduate to get into one. Also, there are other requirements for admission at most places, such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), which is like an SAT but for graduate school. Also keep in mind that you’re going to be more specialized in graduate school. So, as an undergraduate, you might be an English major, but in graduate school you would specialize in something more specific, like medieval literature. That’s a very short summary, but I hope it helps!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Thanks for all the honest info! I appreciate it!
@@brancellbooks My pleasure!
My dad used to read to me as a young kid growing up. The last one we did together was Lord of the Rings. A fitting end. Not the originator, maybe not even the best, but every other fantasy book that followed owes something to Tolkien. His use of language was incredible and I personally think he elevated the genre unlike any other writer before or since. What's funny is when you read the early drafts and ideas for LOTR, you see just how badly it could've gone. Luckily he figured it out.
Another story from this time that i don't think gets enough credit is The Once and Future King. Maybe because it pulls from an already popular tale, but its use of humor and meta-awareness has been used in a ton of fantasy.
Nick Wurthmann Tolkien was definitely not the originator of fantasy, though for me on a personal and nostalgic level, he’ll always be my favorite author. If I ever have electricity in my home again, I’m eventually going to make a video on the origins of fantasy, focusing especially on William Morris, who inspired Tolkien in many ways, including his use of language. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Nick Wurthmann That’s true - White is not as well read as he could be. I feel like Arthurian material sort of comes in and out of fashion. Perhaps Monty Python (with medievalists among them) unintentionally made it hard to take Arthurian lore too seriously for a while!
Hi Philip, great video! I love your channel and have admired your content for many months now! I’m almost done with The Fellowship of the Ring in the process of reading LOTR for the first time. I was wondering if you’d want to do a collab video with me? I would love to chat with you (who knows so much about LOTR and has loved it for such a long time) about the series. I think it’d be great having my fresh, initial reaction in conversation your seasoned experience with the series. And, as always, keep up the great content! I’m loving your channel!!
Thanks so much, Mitch! I’m actually thinking about doing a reread of LOTR at some point, and I hope you’ll love it. A collaboration would be cool, but right now I’m booked up for the next couple months. Please keep me in mind, though, perhaps for a discussion this summer. Thanks!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy No worries at all! I’ll definitely keep in touch then and you’ll definitely see me commenting away on your videos! Love the work you’ve been doing, thanks for getting back to me :))
@@mitchsimoes1305 My pleasure! Happy reading!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Thanks!
Awesome!
Thanks for watching!
3:40 you mean to say the “Ainur”, the Vanyar were one of the three kindreds of the Elves
Thanks!
Tolkien's works are still gold. Song of ice and fire is great but LOTR IS FUCKING EPIC. Actually if people actually get out of the city and visit the countryside, Tolkien's works appear more realistic than Martin's world.
Though I recognize its flaws by modern standards, LOTR will always be my favorite book of all time. I appreciate your comment especially since one of the things I love most about LOTR is the descriptions of landscapes, which simply aren't done that way these days since most readers have little patience for description. Thanks for commenting!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy
Thank you for the response. There's no flaw. It's basically a trend. It's a primarily a children's story which grandparents can tell their grandchildren on weekend afternoon and during bedtime. It was for that purpose. Also it is a mythology that is fundamentally Catholic in nature.
It's not supposed to be a fast paced story where events happen one after the other.
@@srinjoyroychoudhury7034 True! It’s certainly best to judge works of art (and people) by keeping their historical context in mind. It’s not Tolkien’s fault that today’s readers have less tolerance for description and exposition.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy
Absolutely. Tolkien is like a vintage wine to me.
This was very hard for me. I know I'm supposed to like Lord of the Rings but it just didn't click for me. I didn't like the writing style at all. I tried the movies as well and I was mostly on my phone more than I was watching the movie. I respect what it has done for fantasy though. It inspired some of my favorite series and games (like the Witcher and its novels) but at the same time I think it just isn't my type of fantasy.
People say it's not outdated but I feel like it is. Too much description for little things like doors. Too wordy and too much attention on elves for my liking and I feel like Aragorn (well in the movies) has too much self hatred for his own race. His fascination for them just didn't make sense. I'm not sure if he had self hatred for his own race.
But anyway, I think it's just as you said is that I do not like the clearly white and clearly black characters.
There’s no doubt that aspects of The Lord of the Rings are out of sync with the expectations of many modern readers. Though it’s hard for me since I grew up loving Tolkien’s books, I can understand that perspective and admit that they have aged in some ways. I’ll always love them, but I’m cool with people who either have moved on or never click with them.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy That's why you're doctor fantasy!
But I did grow up with LOTR but I don't think I LOVED them. I think I enjoyed them but I preferred the works that were inspired by them such as First Law
I was talking to my cousin and I jokenly said the orcs are misunderstood but at the same time I think it would have made them more interesting. Kind of what Joe did with his Shanka and what George RR Martin did with Jaime Lannister for example.
I also thought it would have been intetesting if Gandalf's return made evil or ruthless.
Why do you say Tolkien would not have been published today?
@@currangill430 Tolkien would not be published today for some of the reasons you expressed for not enjoying his books. Lots of description. Lots of exposition. Too archaic in places for the taste of many. The same is true of most books of his era, of course. All that is very nostalgic for me, though!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy Okay so everything you said in the video pretty much. I think it is nostalgia probably. I know Mike has him number one and won't remove from number one even though Joe is clearly his favorite but that nostaligia is probably keeping him at one for him. I'm not sure he likes Malazan more than First Law. But it was a bit surprising for me that Age of Madness didn't top First Law for him because I thought Age of Madness was for sure Joe's best work. Like the description of the body count in Trouble of Peace would not be something for example that Tolkien would even dream of writing about. I believe he was a really religious Christian? And I'm not sure how much religion was put into Lord of the Rings. Does the ring symbolize sin? Does Golum symbolize Satan?
Maybe u won’t respond to this ... but I am curious if u would ever tackle Children of Hurin which I could argue has some of his most complex characters. It’s my second favourite Tolkien work and first would be LOTR. But what he achieved in 1/4 of LOTR size is truly remarkable. It’s insane that tale was suppose to be the size of LOTR. Additionally have you checked out some of the HoME content like Morgoth Ring and the one afterwards which contains Wanderings of Hurin?
Great question! I have read The Silmarillion many times, and I have The Children of Hurin on my bookshelf, ready to read. So, it's something I would consider. I'm thinking about more Tolkien related videos next year. I'm due for a LOTR reread for sure! I used to read it every year, and it's been a few years, and I find myself missing it. Thanks for asking -- it's always good to hear of interest in Tolkien!
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy yeah do so also some of the tales told in HoME is recommended like Wanderings of Hurin which compliments the chapter 22 of Silmarillion and was the cut content from The Silmarillion. it serves as a great epilogue to CoH and honestly should have been included in all honesty. I created a cut which " completes " it more just merging the ones from CoH, Silmarillion and HoME into something cohesive ( which I've DM u on discord). Also i would recommend reading the Fall of Gondolin though its not like CoH being " complete" its still worth reading the original tale of the Fall and the last version which is one of the best prologues to a story but sadly just that. Beren & Luthien and Unfinished Tales is still something i need to read though. Then later on i would like to read aspects of HoME for the Tolkien work post LOTR in how he tried to form the SIlmarillion.
@@Dylankiwi1 Awesome! That gives me a lot to look forward to, and thanks for the recommendations!
Also he has unparalleled world building
Mike Alexander True! Tolkien was building a world, complete with languages and mythology and history and landscapes and cultures, before “world building” was a phrase. In spite of any faults I perceive in his writing today, he will always be my favorite since it was his words that baptized my imagination.
So if you write a fantasy story where good and evil are clearly defined, it won't get published?
Who can say for sure? My sense is that publishers will be less interested in that type of story these days, but I’m not an industry insider.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy I guess we're no longer allowed to write the stories we want to write for the sake of appealing to "post-modern readers".
@@user-ik4kh9lt6d It can feel that way, but I tend to think that trends come and go. I may be crazy, but I think a writer should write what they're passionate about and forget about the trends.
@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy You're right.