Startseite Paradox in the Woods: The Twin Destiny of Elves and Men in the Forests of Beleriand
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Paradox in the Woods: The Twin Destiny of Elves and Men in the Forests of Beleriand

  • Martin Simonson EMAIL logo
Veröffentlicht/Copyright: 5. Dezember 2017
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Abstract

In J. R. R. Tolkien’s tales set in the fictional region of Beleriand, the paradox of a union between immortal and mortal beings, and all that this dichotomy implies, is consistently reflected in wooded settings. At the same time, we can also discern a general direction, which will eventually bring both Elves and Men out of the dark woods and into the light in a symbolical process of enlightenment. However, the woods in the tales reflect both pitfalls and promises, making it impossible to interpret this natural environment as unequivocally positive or negative, but a mixture of both. Tolkien’s stance towards trees and forests can thus be seen as realistic rather than escapist in these tales.


Corresponding author: Dr. Martin Simonson, Department of English Philology, Faculty of Arts, University of the Basque Country, Paseo de la Unversidad 5, 01006 Vitoria, Spain

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Published Online: 2017-12-5
Published in Print: 2017-12-20

©2017 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Heruntergeladen am 19.11.2025 von https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/zaa-2017-0036/pdf
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