Theme : struggle of good vs evil in the characters
-in each scene i will pick ones that show how even things that are seen as good can be easily corrupted to do evil things ( for power in some cases)
-Explain how sauron is the clear example of evil and elves are opposite
Thesis: Oftentimes a person is put in a situation where they must make a decision that can either benefit a group or just themselves. While there can be many factors
For the opening scene I will describe the scene in book five chapter 10 when Gandalf goes to battle against Sauron’s army and then Denethor’s betrayal when he kills himself and tries to take Faramir with him. For the theme will talk about the struggle between good and evil throughout the characters in lord of the rings and the gulag
- Explain how sauron’s army is so much larger compared to the good side, show the significance of why it is like this
- Sauron’s army came together based on fear not trust like gandalf’s side
- Shows the weaknesses of evil – relate to the actions people under totalitarianism choose certain actions based on fear
- OR
Could open with the scene when the pure pippin almost falls under the temptation of the one ring
- His lust for power clouds his judgement
Gulag archipelago scene: part 5 when scholzitzen talks about the overall view of the public towards the prisoners and how they were scared to speak up but in reality they were the prisoners’ only hope of ever escaping or spreading awareness to the injustices they endured.
- Can relate to lord of the rings fear of those in power
- People made questionable decisions due to the fear of those with power
Can relate black riders to the soviet union soldiers are how they used fear to their advantage. The only true power they had was the fear they inflicted.
- The scene where frodo is being chased by the black riders and the scene in the gulag that describes the conditions the prisoners are kept in and how they are treated for crimes they didn’t commit
- In both cases frodo and the prisoners are seen as criminals when neither committed any sort of crime
TWO RESEARCH SOURCES: Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, The Letters of JRR Tolkien