An Unlikely Hero and Villain
Folktales, fairytales, and legends have been around for 1,000’s of years; first in pictographs by the cave dwellers, then through oral presentations, and finally, these tales were transcribed into countless volumes. With each new century, the pieces evolved. They are still evolving. Often writers are inspired by these stories, thus they adapt aspects of the stories (be it plot, character, or setting) into their own works. One such writer inspired by folktales and legends was J.R.R. Tolkien. Not only did he put morals and lessons into his trilogy, The Lord of the Rings , Tolkien also adapted his antagonists and protagonists to have similar trials, tribulations, and personality traits as those in folktales, fairytales and legends. Such trials included getting lost and finding a way back home, solving puzzles, or going on a quest for something lost. Some tribulations affronted by were inner dissensions, such as illness, ...