Tolkien's Ordinary Virtues : Exploring the Spiritual Themes of the Lord of the Rings [Paperback]

Mark Eddy Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2002

I will take the Ring, though I do not know the way. Frodo Baggins, at the Council of ElrondThe mere recollection of this declaration, says writer Mark Eddy Smith, "can move me to tears. I have been reading this tale since I was eleven years old, taking it from my shelf every year or so and returning to Middle-earth. . . . As I get older and learn more of what sort of person I am, and continue sojourning to the rich soil of the Shire and the high tower of Minas Tirith, I discover that many of my notions of what is good and right and noble in this world have their source in that one."For Smith, like the rest of us, J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings yields essential lessons in living. In this eloquent book, Smith approaches Middle-earth as a training ground, "a place where [we] can apprentice to those whose gifts of charity, wisdom, kindness, mercy, love and faithfulness far surpass [our] own." And, Smith says, we may learn more easily at the feet of Bilbo, Gandalf, Tom Bombadil and Glorfindel, whose world is so far removed from our real lives and yet so firmly rooted in the biblical story, "than [we would] by studying the convoluted facts of our own history." Echoing Tolkien's views on the workings of story, he concludes that "while it can never supplant the Bible, [The Lord of the Rings] may do its part to supplement it, so that we see again, from a different perspective, the same essential and eternal truths."Here then, is a book that mines the gold from Middle-earth, both for long-time fans and for those just getting acquainted with Tolkien and his universe.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

With insight, humor, and a good deal of personal passion for his subject, Mark Eddy Smith offers glimpses into the deeper spiritual meaning of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings by looking at 30 virtues exemplified by its characters throughout the tales. He then invites readers to embrace these virtues for themselves. Using a persuasive, conversational style, Smith offers reflective commentary, sometimes with a direct call to action: "Are there not enough heroes left in the world? Become one yourself." Tolkien aficionados will appreciate such attention to detail as Smith's note that he uses the Ballantine paperback edition, 95th printing, for references. The author writes that he has found in Middle-earth "a training ground, a place where I can apprentice to those whose gifts of charity, wisdom, kindness, mercy, love and faithfulness far surpass my own." Readers who love the Tolkien tales will be challenged to make changes to their own lives through Smith's gentle, thoughtful prose. --Cindy Crosby

From Publishers Weekly

Smith, a graphic designer at InterVarsity Press, is clearly an avid fan of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic tale The Lord of the Rings. His emotional attachment to the book is unfortunately not coupled with the skill needed for the kind of thematic analysis he undertakes. Each chapter explores a different virtue, such as friendship, sacrifice or humility. However, several of the topics, such as resurrection or providence, cannot be appropriately categorized as "virtues." Within each chapter, Smith's thoughts meander and sometimes even contradict. "Wise generals lead from the rear," he notes, but he counsels on the very same page that "the proper position of leadership is in front, partaking fully in the dangers of the lowliest of soldiers." Smith's chapter about the virtue of justice is actually entirely about mercy. Many Tolkien fans will disagree with much of Smith's interpretation, particularly the assertion that Gandalf clearly dies and is resurrected, or that Gollum and Sam are very similar characters. Christian readers will also be disappointed at the paucity of theological thought; Scripture references are rare and often appear to be tacked on as afterthoughts. Also puzzling are the indications that Smith believes the story to reflect some actual past time somehow "revealed" to Tolkien. Although it contains some original ideas, especially in the chapter on community, this book lacks depth and clarity of expression.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 141 pages
• Publisher: InterVarsity Press (February 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830823123
• ISBN-13: 978-0830823123
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #836,070 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A 'round-up' from 3 1/2 stars. . ., March 18, 2002

By 

David Zampino "21st Century Hobbit" (Delavan, Wisconsin) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tolkien's Ordinary Virtues : Exploring the Spiritual Themes of the Lord of the Rings (Paperback)

It's obvious that Mr. Smith truly loves "The Lord of the Rings". That comes through, if nothing else does. The premise of the book is also good. However, Mr. Smith does not begin to go deeply enough -- and he doesn't use valuable, readily accessible source material which would have strengthened his case dramatically. (Two examples which come to mind are "Letters by JRR Tolkien" and "The Timeless Momement: Christian Doctrine in a Pre-Christian Age".)

Smith does recognize that Tolkien was a devout Catholic -- but fails to bring this perspective into the book's development. In addition, the two most important virtues (according to Tolkien's own letters) found in the book, Pity and Mercy, were not dealt with in nearly enough depth -- and this is a loss.

From a literary basis, Mr. Smith does make some basic errors in fact. (For example, the length of time between Bilbo's departure and Frodo's departure was 17 years, not 12 as was stated twice.) From my perspective, he seriously misunderstands the character of Aragorn (and to a lesser extent, Merry and Pippin).

Why then the (almost) four stars? Because the passion in Smith's writing does come through, as does his humanness and his love for the subject. Mr. Smith has taken an enormous risk in revealing the deep parts of his soul to be shot at by callous reviewers! I respect this -- and I respect that Mr. Smith has made the attempt to bridge the gap between merely an enjoyable read and a spiritual read. I hope that he continues to make the attempt and that his future attempts are more successful.

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Valiant, if a bit wayward, exploration of Tolkien's ethics, February 21, 2002

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David Bratman (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tolkien's Ordinary Virtues : Exploring the Spiritual Themes of the Lord of the Rings (Paperback)

Like Bruner and Ware's =Finding God in LotR=, this book is =not= about the Christian, and specifically Catholic, symbolism, theology, and morality in =LotR=. For that you'd be better advised to turn to Joseph Pearce's =Tolkien: A Celebration=. Instead, it's a collection of brief essays or sermons in the form of Christian theological and ethical homilies on texts (or more accurately themes) taken from =LotR=, pretty much in chronological order. The lesson is how Tolkien's characters can serve as models for a Christian life and ethical behavior. Smith sticks closer to the plot of =LotR= in his discussions than Bruner and Ware do. He has a less sure grasp of Tolkien's moral implications, however, and says a few odd things: he commends Gandalf's self-sacrifice in Moria but at the same time implicitly criticizes him by noting that "wise generals lead from the rear," a lesson of tactics but not of ethics.
What both these essentially Protestant books mostly leave out of their discussion of Tolkien's Catholic work is consideration of the roles of worship, iconography and symbolism, and holy awe in =LotR=. But though selective, they do not distort. Unlike someone's aborted attempt to teach the business secrets of Tolkien's characters, at least these lessons fit. For Tolkien studies, these books' main value is their demonstration that his characters =are= ethical, and that ethics were thus basic to the author. Sermons like these could not easily be written on many other fantasy novels.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tolkien against the decline in values, July 6, 2004

By 

Pheriandil - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tolkien's Ordinary Virtues : Exploring the Spiritual Themes of the Lord of the Rings (Paperback)

Once more a book has been published which tries to venture into the spiritual depths of Tolkien's literary characters. Since the first part of the film trilogy had been released, the book market has got absolutely carried away in the sale of recent publications making any effort to get the Tolkien phenomenon more tangible for us. And do you know why? Well, it is just worth it. "The Lord of the Rings" is not a book to simply read and then to put down and forget it. On the contrary: it might change many of us forever, for the tale of Frodo and the One Ring leaves deep marks in our hearts and souls.

This is what you feel when you read this work of Mark Eddy Smith, who - perhaps most of all for himself - has tried to work out what exactly it is that is touching him so deeply through Tolkien's work. And it is a wonderful fact that he has decided to share his cognitions with us. The feelings that the author might have experienced during the writing are passed on to the reader to leave him in a grateful and contemplative mood. Mark Eddy Smith has classified Tolkien's novel according to values and virtues to give us a clear vision of what we have to rediscover and cultivate to satisfy our contemporary desires. This book is simply a fantastic work.