STATUES SPEAK – POLITICS AND SPIRITUALITY IN SHELLEY AND TOLKIEN

Authors

  • Danko Kamčevski

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18485/bells.2024.16.15

Keywords:

Shelley, Tolkien, politics, religion, spirituality, democracy, monarchy, Spirit, God

Abstract

When Frodo and Sam encounter a desecrated statue of a king while journeying to Mordor, the prose clearly recalls Shelley’s “Ozymandias”. The similar imagery of power found in Shelley’s famous sonnet and Tolkien’s equally famous work of fantasy invites discussion on their differing political views. Shelley was a revolutionary thinker, a Republican, whereas Tolkien was a conservative monarchist. The roots for their political attitudes are then sought in their distinct spiritualities. Whereas Shelley found the ultimate reality in the dialectical Spirit of Nature, Tolkien held fast to the personalistic Christian God. These beliefs persistently influence their opinions and works.

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Published

2024-12-30

How to Cite

Kamčevski, D. (2024). STATUES SPEAK – POLITICS AND SPIRITUALITY IN SHELLEY AND TOLKIEN. Belgrade English Language and Literature Studies, 16(1), 319–340. https://doi.org/10.18485/bells.2024.16.15

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 1 (2024): BELLS - volume 16

Section

LITERARY AND CULTURAL STUDIES

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