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Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities
Sam's Song In The Tower: The Significance Of 'Merry Finches' In J.R.R. Tolkien's _Lord Of The Rings_, Jane Beal Phd
Sam's Song In The Tower: The Significance Of 'Merry Finches' In J.R.R. Tolkien's _Lord Of The Rings_, Jane Beal Phd
Journal of Tolkien Research
In The Lord of the Rings, Samwise Gamgee climbs the Tower of Cirith Ungol to try to rescue his master and friend, Frodo Baggins, who has been taken captive by Orcs. When Sam is near despair because he cannot find Frodo, Sam sings a song that makes reference to “merry finches.” What is the significance of this phrase in his lyrics? To answer this question, my essay first explores J.R.R. Tolkien’s ornithological knowledge, especially of finches in England, which is readily demonstrated from a letter he wrote to his son, Christopher Tolkien (July 7, 1944), about his observations of bullfinches …
The Great Tales Never End: Essays In Memory Of Christopher Tolkien (2022), Edited By Richard Ovenden And Catherine Mcilwaine, Douglas C. Kane
The Great Tales Never End: Essays In Memory Of Christopher Tolkien (2022), Edited By Richard Ovenden And Catherine Mcilwaine, Douglas C. Kane
Journal of Tolkien Research
Book review, by Douglas C. Kane, of The Great Tales Never End: Essays in Memory of Christopher Tolkien (2022), edited by Richard Ovenden and Catherine McIlwaine