Randall Courtney

Smeagol Versus Gollum: The Bridge Between Fantasy and Reality Randall Courtney

Many literary scholars have observed J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings through biographical, allegorical, and source comparative lenses. Few, however, have focused their attention on characters such as Gollum and his importance in the mythology. The new wave of interest in Tolkien's literary work with the release of Peter Jackson's films has invited a closer look at the connection between Fairy Story and reality. This book offers a new perspective of The Lord of the Rings, focusing on Gollum's journey and Jungian "myth" or self-actualization. The Shadow archetype of Jungian Psychology as applied to Gollum helps reveal the character's overall importance in Tolkien's work, as well as a deep connection between mythology and ourselves. The analysis in this book should be helpful to literary scholars, students, and Tolkien fans alike.