Here is the essay I've been writing for a contest and I think I'm finally finished! Yay! So settle back and play the video at the bottom and enjoy! <3
Every fantasy story has something in common—a world full of mystery and magic. It is a world where courage and love are powerfully portrayed and where evil is overcome. A classic work that exemplifies this style is The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. After recently reading this series, it became my favorite fantasy book.
This trilogy is an astonishing and epic story, tracing the lives of individuals who changed the course of history. For years evil lay brewing underneath Middle-earth while peace reigned over the land. But as the trilogy begins, war threatened to end this peace. Some resisted the draw of war, like the Elves who lived quietly, but others who wanted order found war instead. In the small town of Hobbiton lived a Hobbit, Frodo, small in stature, but tremendously brave. He lived with his uncle and enjoyed the comforts of the small town, until peace was veiled in darkness. One day he was faced with the dangerous mission of taking the One Ring through the dark wasteland of Mordor and casting it into Mount Doom. The mission depended on him, and he had to destroy it or all of Middle-earth would perish. He began his journey with a few faithful friends who left behind everything they loved. In their perilous adventure, danger lurked behind every corner as the powerful wizard, Saruman, unleashed his brutal force of evil.
Meanwhile, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, a Man, Elf, and Dwarf, respectively, fought furiously to overcome Saruman’s growing legions of doom. They all survived, however, because they had an undying determination to defend Middle-earth. As Gandalf the good wizard said,”It is not despair, for despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not.” Samwise Gamgee was the only Hobbit who went to the end with Frodo — once a gardener, now a valiant friend. As they stood on the brink of the volcanic Mount Doom, Frodo struggled to give up the Ring, the only key to ruling Middle-earth. Sam pulled him back from the brink of death and enabled him to complete the mission. When the mission was finished they were reunited in Aragorn’s new kingdom and enjoyed victory over the darkness.
This story represents to me the constant battle we have in the world around us. Even though it doesn’t show up as dark and evil, sin is always seeking to devour and change us. We must fight it just as these gallant men and hobbits prevailed against the darkening evil. I liked the book because it made me feel like I was there—fighting for my world and my people. They sacrificed everything they had for the ones they loved and we should be willing to do that for our Heavenly King. We should also strive to be more like Sam, never abandoning those we’ve promised to help. It is a beautiful story of love and forgiveness, a story that will speak to every reader.
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