“The Lord of the Rings” by J. R. R. Tolkien

Innledning
Is it accurate to classify "The Lord of the Rings" as a fairy tale? This is a common question that many of us may ponder.

Using "Olrik's epical laws" and the "model of actants" as references, I aim to explore the interplay between these models and Tolkien's trilogy.

The complete narrative of "The Lord of the Rings" commences with Bilbo's birthday celebration, during which he presents his ring to Frodo. This act renders Bilbo as the catalyst and initiator of the entire quest.

Utdrag
In Tolkien's story, objects with supernatural abilities can also act as helpers. Each of these objects is linked to a specific character, such as Sting, the sword belonging to Frodo, which has the unique capability of turning blue to alert him when orcs are nearby.

Another example is Narsil, the sword that Aragorn inherits from Isildur, which has the power to vanquish the evil Sauron.

The light of Eärendil, gifted by Galadriel to Frodo, can illuminate the darkness and repel the giant spider, Shelob. Lastly, the ring, primarily associated with Sauron since he crafted it, can render its bearer invisible.

However, the ring also corrupts the wearer's mind, causing them to become consumed by their obsession with it and become deceitful and malevolent.

According to Olrik's fourth law, a scene should only involve a maximum of two individuals. If a third person is present, they must remain silent.

J.R.R. Tolkien adheres to this principle in his writing, often including multiple individuals in a scene but limiting their dialogue.

In the scene where Gandalf frees Theoden from Saruman's control, many individuals are present, but the focus remains on Gandalf and Theoden/Saruman.

Similarly, when Frodo and Sam are traveling to Mordor, Gollum accompanies them but barely speaks, mainly engaging in conversations with himself.

This rule ties in with Olrik's sixth law, which suggests that when two characters appear simultaneously, they are often portrayed as stark contrasts to each other.

In many stories, the differences between the two characters are emphasized, further highlighting their unique characteristics.

By following these guidelines, authors can create more focused and compelling scenes that keep the reader engaged.