THE FOREST AS CONCEPT AND ARCHETYPE IN J. R. R. TOLKIEN’S “THE LORD OF THE RINGS”
Keywords:
Nature, ecological concepts, forestAbstract
This study explores three interrelated ecological concepts embodied by the forests of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings—conflict, harmony, and sovereignty—through close readings of the Old Forest, Lothlórien, and Fangorn. Drawing on Augustine’s original notion of archetypes and C. G. Jung’s psychological theory, it demonstrates how the Old Forest dramatizes the adversarial clash that arises when humans treat wilderness as a foe; how Lothlórien models a symbiotic integration in which Elvish beings and woodland flourish in mutual respect; and how Fangorn reveals nature’s inherent authority when left undisturbed, demanding human humility. By situating Tolkien’s vivid literary “sketches” within broader eco-philosophical and cultural traditions, the article argues that Lothlórien’s paradigm of harmonious stewardship offers the most promising guide for sustainable human engagement with forests.
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