Tolkiens Theology Of Beauty: Majesty, Splendor, And Transcendence In Middle-earth
by Lisa Coutras /
2016 / English / PDF
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In this book, Lisa Coutras explores the structure and complexity of J.R.R. Tolkiens narrative theology, synthesizing his Christian worldview with his creative imagination. She illustrates how, within the framework of a theological aesthetics, transcendental beauty is the unifying principle that integrates all aspects of Tolkiens writing, from pagan despair to Christian joy.
J.R.R. Tolkiens Christianity is often held in an unsteady tension with the pagan despair of his mythic world. Some critics portray these as incompatible, while Christian analysis tends to oversimplify the presence of religious symbolism. This polarity of opinion testifies to the need for a unifying interpretive lens. The fact that Tolkien saw his own writing as religious and Catholic, yet was preoccupied with pagan mythology, nature, language, and evil, suggests that these areas were wholly integrated with his Christian worldview. Tolkiens Theology of Beauty examines six structural elements, demonstrating that the authors Christianity is deeply embedded in the narrative framework of his creative imagination.
