Goodness And Nature In Fantasy Essay - 1454 Words

Goodness and Nature in Fantasy Nature often plays a heavy role in the world of fantasy literature. From the scenery of Narnia to the Forest Spirit in Princess Mononoke, there has always been something fascinating and fantastical about the majesty of nature. After all, the entire subgenre of eco-fantasy focuses on this exact concept. Even in our world, nature is seen as the epitome of goodness and purity, therefore it is reasonable that many fantasy stories, even those not traditionally categorized as eco-fantasy, connect their pure protagonists to symbols of nature. Many stories written by the Brothers Grimm demonstrate this, particularly the tale â€Å"Cinderella,† and J.R.R. Tolkien’s massive fantasy trilogy The Lord of The Rings†¦show more content†¦They also are both shown to genuinely like spending time in nature. In the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring, Tolkien states that Hobbits â€Å"love peace and quiet and good tilled earth: a well-orde red and well-farmed countryside was their favorite haunt,† (1). This continues in The Two Towers when Treebeard responds to Pippin’s remark that the Hobbit was beginning to like their location, stating â€Å"Almost felt you liked the Forest! That’s good! That’s uncommonly kind of you,† (Tolkien, Towers 452). In Cinderella, the girl is shown to frequently spend time in the garden near her mother’s grave. She even requests that her father â€Å"break off the first branch that brushes against your hat on the way home and bring it to me,† rather than desiring the material goods of â€Å"beautiful dresses† and â€Å"pearls and jewels† like her stepsisters wanted. These connections to nature are quite prominent, and are further shown in the characters’ interactions with nature itself. The Hobbits and Cinderella share a certain reciprocity with nature; The protagonists are both shown to aid nature and in return, natur e returns the favor. For example, Merry and Pippin inform Treebeard of the current events in Middle Earth and the Ent agrees to assist them in defeating Sauron’s forces at Isengard. In â€Å"Cinderella,† the title character is shown to have â€Å"wept so hard that her tears fell to the ground andShow MoreRelated Elements of The Lord of the Rings in Final Fantasy VIII Essay1730 Words   |  7 PagesElements of The Lord of the Rings in Final Fantasy VIII      Ã‚  Ã‚   J.R.R. Tolkiens The Lord of the Rings trilogy is arguably the most influential work of fantasy literature in modern times. Its epic tale of good against evil and its surreal world of magical and unusual characters and places have captured and enchanted readers since its publication half a century ago. 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