The Lord of The Rings: The Return of The Kind

The Lord of The Rings: The Return of The Kind
Fantasy Mirrored In History

Fifty years ago when Tolkien wrote the book as they are today, they were relevant 500 years ago. What is the connection between these timeless themes and our own lives and histories? What inspires a reluctant hero to become a courageous 1 leader, to cast off the burdens of his past and go on and lead his people? What makes men go into battle against overwhelming odds 2? To march without 1)flinching right into the line of fire? Are friendship and loyalty 4 on a quest the key to achieving the impossible? Are these the qualities that are needed to cross the 2)uncharted American West? Perhaps our own history is closer than we think with this mythic past. Now we go beyond the movie, see how fantasy meets history, The Lord of the Rings.

Aragorn VS William Wallace
Throughout The Lord of the Rings as the fate of Middle-earth is fought over, the question of leadership 3)looms large. Now more than ever is a time which calls for great leaders, but the heir to the throne of Gondor -Aragorn- 4)shuns the crown, knowing his own ancestor was corrupted 7 by the ring of power. 

Aragorn’s reluctance 8 is surprising, yet he is like many historical figures who did not want to carry the 5)mantle 9 of leadership, among the most famous examples is a man immortalized by Hollywood, his name is William Wallace, better known as Braveheart. Outside Sterling 10 in Scotland there stands a monument to this freedom fighter. Scotland in the late 13th century was struggling to free itself from English domination, but Wallace born without wealth or title refused to show obedience 11 to the English crown and, like Aragorn, he never sought power or glory.

Aragorn too takes up his fight against the powers of Mordor for the greater good, for him duty and service are more important than power.

Dr. Diona Watson (Historian): I think there is a comparison to be made between Wallace and Aragorn in terms of their relationship to power. Wallace is highly unusual, I think, as a major character in history because he doesn’t seek power for its own sake.

(At the end of the movie, Gandalf crowns Aragorn to make him the King of Gondor.)

Gandalf: Now come the days of the king, may they be blessed.
Aragorn: This day does not belong to one man but to all. Let us together rebuild this world that we may share in the days of peace.

Aragorn & Arwen VS Queen Elizabeth & Robert Dudley
Aragorn knows he has to make enormous personal sacrifices to become king. His struggles become more compelling as they connect with another story of leadership from English history. One of the greatest queens to ever rule England, Elizabeth I, realized early in her reign 12 the price of power, like Aragorn, she put duty before love, her subjects before herself.

Elizabeth chose the 6)dashing Robert Dudley to be her master of the horse. He was responsible for the queen’s safety and his charms were all too apparent to the young queen. Aragorn too is in love with the Elvin princess Arwen. He will have to sacrifice their relationship in order to fight for the freedom of Gondor and Middle-earth.

Tragically 13 for Elizabeth, Dudley was already married and when his wife died in an accident there was a rumor 14 Dudley had murdered her. Although this was unproven, the queen realized she could not risk the scandal, she would give up the love of her life for the political stability of her kingdom. In fact, Elizabeth was prepared to live and die a virgin 15 for her country.

Professor Michael Drout (Tolkien Expert): Both Aragorn and Elizabeth had to sacrifice their personal love, the individual people they cared about, for something that was bigger and that was more important to them.

Gandalf VS Benjamin Franklin
Although Gandalf’s wisdom is rare in the real world it does have parallels in history. He is Benjamin Franklin, a diplomat 16, scientist, inventor and statesman who lived at a time of great peril 17 for America, the Revolution. Franklin first developed a taste for 7)dispensing advice as a young printer. People loved his proverbs in Poor Richard’s Almanac: “From fish and visitors stink 18 in three days.” to “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”

Gandalf too has a wisesaying to suit every moment.

(After the war of guarding Gondor, Gandalf inspires Pippin to looking forward to hope.)

Pippin: I didn’t think it would end this way.
Gandalf: End? No. The journey doesn’t end here. Death is just another path, one that we all must take. The grey rain curtain of this world rolls back and all turns to silver glass and then you see it.
Pippin: What, Gandalf? See what?
Gandalf: White shores, and beyond, a far green country into a swift sunrise.
Pippin: Well unless it’s all burnt.
Gandalf: No, no it isn’t.

Gandalf is not just an advisor 19 to kings but a wise man with lessons to teach all of Middle-earth. Franklin too became a source of wisdom, not just for individuals but for a new nation, and like Gandalf he put the common good before power and self-interest.

Professor Michael Drout (Tolkien Expert): During the War of Independence and the Revolutionary War, Benjamin Franklin once said, “Gentlemen, we must all 8)hang together or we will surely all hang separately.” And I think that idea of 9)solidarity 20, of solidarity with the cause of The Shire and Gondor and Rohan not just looking to their own borders but seeing the big picture, that’s what Gandalf is all about.

Helm's Deep VS Agincourf
Fight for the 10)fortress 21 of Helm’s Deep is a battle against an overwhelming enemy. There is 11)despondency in the castle, some of its defense 22 is in the hands of boys and old men. Fear grows as the vicious Uruk-hai march relentlessly 23 toward them. But Aragorn refuses to give in to despair. A kind of optimism runs through The Lord of the Rings, it is a refusal to give in no matter what. This same spirit was behind one of the greatest victories in English history. At Agincourt in 1415, the English King Henry V, like Aragorn at Helm’s Deep, is facing a fight against impossible odds.

Dr. Areyah Musbacher (Royal Military Academy Sandhurst): When King Henry starts to march toward Calais he has got six thousand, seven thousand, that’s it. And as he looks across the River Somme at the French army he sees an army that is 25, 26, 27 thousand, four times the size of his army.

Henry, like Aragorn, fights from the heart, he must motivate his men or they could be 12)annihilated. And as the battle nears Henry 13)rallies his tired troops with a speech immortalized in Shakespeare’s play.

King Henry: I see you stand like greyhounds in the 14)slips, 15)straining upon the start. The game’s 16)afoot, follow your spirit and upon this charge, by God, for Henry, England and 17)Saint George!

Like Henry’s speech, the arrival of the 18)formidable Elvish archers 25 of the last minute, inspires the defenders 26 of Helm’s Deep. The power of the bow is critical at Agincourt too. The English archers unleashed 27 19)volley after volley of their deadly accurate arrows, up to ten a minute into the French army, darkening the sky like a cloud. Henry wins the day achieving one of the greatest battlefield 20)reversals of all time.    

(Aragron inspires his soldiers before attacking Mordor.)

Aragorn: Hold your ground! Hold your ground! Sons of Gondor! Of Rohan! My brothers! I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we 21)forsake 28 our friends and break all bonds of fellowship. But it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the age of men comes crashing down. But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear, on this good earth, I 22)bid you stand! Men of the west!

Frodo Baggins&Samwise Gamgee VS Robert Peary&Matthew Henson
One of the themes of the trilogy is that ordinary men can be heroes. The journey changes all those of the fellowship, but perhaps Sam is the character that changes most.

(On Mount Doom 29, Sam carries Frodo for the final charge.)

Sam: Do you remember The Shire, Mr. Frodo? It’ll be spring soon, the orchards 30 will be in blossom and the birds will be nesting in the hazel thicket 31 and they’ll be sowing the summer barley 32 in the lower fields and eating the first of the strawberries with cream. Do you remember the taste of strawberries?
Frodo: No, Sam, I can’t recall the taste of food, nor the sound of water, nor the touch of grass. Naked in the dark, there’s nothing: no field between me and the 23)wheel of fire. I can see it with my waking eyes.
Sam: Then let us be rid of it, once and for all. Come on, Mr. Frodo, I can’t carry it for you but I can carry you! Come on!

Perhaps one of the most profound conversions 33 from ordinary to extraordinary involved a man called Matthew Henson. He was the son of black 24)sharecroppers but left the farm to go off to sea. He went to work for a navy officer Robert Peary, a determined 34 explorer with his heart set on being the first man to reach the North Pole. Peary was impressed by Henson’s skills as a mechanic, carpenter and navigator. Over the course of several attempts on the Pole, Henson saved Peary’s life on many occasions. He also carried him to safety when 25)frostbite claimed most of Peary’s toes. In the brutal 35 climate of the Arctic, the rules of a 26)segregated society fell away. 

Robert Peary Stafford (Great-Grandson): Sam is assigned to take care of Frodo and Peary hires Henson. In each case they grow in the role to the point where they assume a far more partnership 37 type of relationship, with their 27)putative 38 masters, if you will. In Peary’s case it might have been a little bit more 28)grudging 39: he sort of had to come to realize how important Henson was to him.

After 22 years together they would make one last attempt to reach the Pole. Finally in April 1909 the stars and stripes floated over what they believed was the North Pole. Peary and Henson stood with their 29)Inuit guides at the 30)apex 40 of the earth. They had faced danger, hardship and death: a white 31)admiral and a black seaman 41, partners.

Myths rely on truth for their power, if The Lord of the Rings is powerful it is because it honestly portrays 42 the struggles of man. The reluctant leader who earns the trust of his peoples through sacrifice. Wise councilors who dispense 43 advice when it is needed, battles against all odds where soldiers fight for love not hate. Perhaps most compelling the power of friendship, which can only be ended by death. Though fantastical it is not a fairytale but a relentlessly truthful 44 story and ultimately it is a story of hope and it’s worth fighting to the end. These are the touchstones of any culture, of any great story.

注释：
1) flinch 3 [flintF] v. （从危险、困难或不愉快处）退缩
2) uncharted [7Qn5tFB:tid] a. 未知的，未经探测的
3) loom 5 [lu:m] v. 隐约地出现
4) shun 6 [FQn] v. （因讨厌、提防等原因）避开，躲开
5) mantle [5mAntl] n. 披风；笼罩
6) dashing [5dAFiN] a. 潇洒的
7) dispense [dis5pens] v. 分配；实施
8) hang together 团结一致
9) solidarity [7sCli5dAriti] n. 团结；休戚相关
10) fortress [5fC:tris] n. 堡垒；要塞
11) despondency [di5spCndEnsi] n. 因失望而消沉
12) annihilate 24 [E5naiE7leit] v. 歼灭，消灭
13) rally [5rAli] v. 激励；振奋（精神）
14) slip [slip] n. 泥浆，稀泥
15) strain [strein] v. 拉紧
16) afoot [E5fut] ad. 在进行中
17) Saint George 圣乔治，英格兰守护神
18) formidable [5fC:midEbl] a. 强大的
19) volley [5vCli] n. （箭、子弹等）群射，齐发
20) reversal [ri5vE:sEl] n. 逆转
21) forsake [fE5seik] v. 放弃，舍弃
22) bid [bid] v. 命令，吩咐
23) wheel of fire 这里指黑魔王索隆的魔眼
24) sharecropper [5FZEkrCpE] n. （交租谷种田的）佃农
25) frostbite [5frCst7bait] n. 冻疮；冻伤
26) segregate 36 [5se^rE7^eit] v. 隔离，分离
27) putative [5pju:tEtiv] a. 推断的，假定的
28) grudging [5^rQdViN] a. 勉强的，不愿的
29) Inuit [5inju:t] n. 因努伊特人（居住于北美最北部自阿拉斯加北部至加拿大东部及格陵兰一带的爱斯基摩人）
30) apex [5eipeks] n. 最高点；山（顶）
31) admiral [5AdmErEl] n. 海军上将

魔戒终结篇：王者无敌
史实交错看魔戒

    五十年前托尔金写下的《魔戒》，不仅读起来像现今的作品，即使在五百年前，也能引起当时读者的共鸣。这与我们的生活与历史有什么关系呢？是什么激励本无壮志的主人公终于成长为英勇的领袖，摆脱过去的阴影，领导子民继续前行？是什么令人们不畏艰难险阻，无惧死亡的威胁投入前线战斗？对友情和忠诚的执著追求真的是创造成功奇迹的关键？这些品质是否正是美国西进运动之所需？也许我们的历史要比我们想象的更接近这一神话。现在让我们超越电影，看看《魔戒》这一传奇如何与历史契合呼应。

阿拉贡VS威廉·华莱士
    在《魔戒》中，随着中土世界的命运之战愈演愈烈，围绕领袖的问题凸显。这是个比任何时候更需要伟大领袖的年代，可是冈多的王位继承人阿拉贡因先祖为权力而腐败的前车之鉴，选择放弃王位。
阿拉贡的心不甘情不愿令人意外，但其实他和许多不愿意承担领袖重任的历史人物没有两样，其中最典型的就是好莱坞打造的经典--威廉·华莱士，一部《勇敢的心》使其名闻遐尔。在苏格兰的斯特林外至今依然屹立着这位自由斗士的纪念碑。13世纪末的苏格兰正争取脱离英国的统治，草根阶层出身、既无财富又无头衔的华莱士拒绝向英国王室屈膝。和阿拉贡一样，他追求的从来不是权力或者荣耀。
阿拉贡同样为了同胞更大的利益而抗争莫都的统治，对他而言，履行职责和应尽的义务比权力更重要。

迪奥纳·沃森博士（历史学家）:我认为，在和权力的关系上，华莱士和阿拉贡有可比性。华莱士是一名非同寻常的历史人物，因为他追求的并非权力本身。

(在影片的结尾，刚多尔夫为阿拉贡戴上王冠，阿拉贡最终成为冈多的国王。)

刚多尔夫:现在王者归来的日子总算到来了，祝福吾国！

阿拉贡:这一天不仅仅属于一个人，而是属于整个人类！我们一起来重新建造这个世界，共享太平。

阿拉贡与阿尔温 VS 伊莉沙白女王与罗伯特·达德利
阿拉贡明白，要成为一国之君，个人必须做出重大牺牲。他的挣扎与英国一位国君的一段历史相似，因而更扣人心弦。英国历史上最伟大的女王之一伊莉沙白一世在即位之初便明白到权力的代价，和阿拉贡一样，她重职责先于爱情，重子民先于自我。
伊莉沙白选择了英俊潇洒的罗伯特·达德利做她的马术教练，负责其安全，他的魅力令年轻的女王难以抗拒。同样，阿拉贡爱上了精灵公主阿尔温。但是他明白，为了冈多和中土的自由，将不得不放弃两人的感情。
    对于伊莉沙白而言不幸的是，达德利乃是有妇之夫，当他的妻子死于意外时，关于他谋杀发妻的谣言甚嚣尘上。虽然谣言缺乏根据，但是女王意识到她不能冒丑闻之险，为了国家政局的稳定，她惟有牺牲爱情。事实上，伊莉沙白已经准备好为了国家永守处子之身。

迈克尔·德劳特教授（托尔金专家）：阿拉贡和伊莉沙白都必须为了更伟大和更重要的事业，而牺牲儿女私情和爱人。

刚多尔夫VS本杰明·富兰克林
    尽管刚多尔夫智慧超凡，但在历史上却的确能找到一个与之旗鼓相当的智者，他就是本杰明·富兰克林，一位美国独立战争动荡年代中的外交家、科学家、发明家和政治家。在早年还是一名印刷工的时候，富兰克林已是经常妙语连珠。至今人们对他所著的《穷理查的农民历》一书中的格言仍然津津乐道：“鱼和访客在三天内都会惹人讨厌”，“早睡早起使人健康、富裕和聪明”。
刚多尔夫同样能针对各种情况道出至理名言。

(守卫冈多的一场鏖战过后，刚多尔夫激励皮平看到希望。）

皮平：我从没想过会这样结束。
刚多尔夫：结束？不。旅程并没有在这里结束。死亡只是另一条道路，我们每个人都必须走的一条路。笼罩这个世界的灰色雨帘将卷起来，变成银色的玻璃，那时你会看到的。
皮平：什么，刚多尔夫？看到什么？
刚多尔夫： 白色的海岸，除此之外，一个年轻的国家正在冉冉升起。
皮平：除非它（魔戒）彻底被烧毁。
刚多尔夫：不，事情并不是这样。
刚多尔夫不仅能为君主出谋划策，其智慧更足令他担当所有中土人士之师。同样，富兰克林成为不仅仅是某一个人，甚至是一个新生国家的智慧源泉。和刚多尔夫一样，他重公众利益先于权力和私利。
迈克尔·德劳特教授（托尔金专家）：在美国独立战争期间，富兰克林曾经说过：“先生们，我们必须团结一致，否则我们终将被分别绞死。”我认为团结一致的信念，以及霞尔、冈多和罗翰超越自身国界的大视野，正是刚多尔夫所竭力追求的。

海尔姆深谷 VS 阿金库尔
    “海尔姆深谷”之役是一场敌强我弱的背水之战，城内连男童和老叟都要上阵，绝望的情绪在蔓延。当邪恶的乌拉凯兵团步步逼近的时候，恐惧更是不可遏止地滋长。但是阿拉贡拒绝向绝望屈服，他那种永不言败的乐观精神贯穿《魔戒》的始终。这一精神同样成就了英国战争史上其中一次最伟大的胜利。如同“海尔姆深谷”之役中的阿拉贡，在1415年的阿金库尔，英王亨利五世面对着一场力量悬殊的恶战。
阿里耶·马斯巴克博士(英国皇家军校）：亨利国王带领仅六、七千士兵向加来进军，而当他望向索姆河对岸的法军时，发现对方足有二万五、六、七千多人，是他兵力的四倍。
亨利像阿拉贡一样全力以赴，他必须鼓舞军中士气，否则就会被敌人歼灭。在开战前夕，亨利向疲惫不堪的军队发表演说，他的讲词被莎士比亚写入戏剧，成为传世经典。
亨利五世: 尔等如蓄势以待之猎犬，如箭在弦，整装待发。神明在上，佑我冲锋。英伦万岁，圣乔治万岁！
正如亨利国王的激昂言辞，强大的精灵弓箭手的及时赶到为海尔姆深谷的守军注入强心剂。在阿金库尔战役中，弓箭也起了关键作用。英军以约每分钟十支的频率，向法军发射精准的致命连环箭，漫天的箭雨像乌云一样令日月无光。亨利终于成就了一场历史上罕有的以少胜多的战役。

(进攻莫都前，阿拉贡鼓舞士气。)

阿拉贡: 坚守阵线！坚守阵线！冈多和罗翰的子民们，你们都是我的兄弟。从你们的眼中，我看到你们和我一样的恐惧，这种恐惧令我心惊胆战。或许有一天，人类变得畏缩懦弱，舍弃朋友、断绝友谊。但今天绝不会这样。或许某个时刻，豺狼入侵、盾牌粉碎，人类因此被灭绝，但今天绝不会这样！今天我们誓死奋战！我以你们在这世上所珍视的一切的名义命令，奋勇杀敌！西方的勇士们！

弗拉多·巴金斯与山姆·甘姆齐 VS 罗伯特·皮尔里与马修·亨森
《魔戒》三部曲的主题之一是凡人也可成为英雄。漫漫征途改变了所有的人，山姆可能是其中改变最大的一个。

(在厄运山上，山姆背起弗拉多发起最后的冲刺。)

山姆：你还记得霞尔吗，弗拉多先生？春天马上就要到来了，果园很快就百花盛开了，鸟儿也很快就要在榛树丛里筑巢了，它们还会在地势低一些的田野上撒播夏天的大麦种， 伴着奶油吃上第一茬草莓。你还记得草莓的味道吗？
弗拉多：不，山姆，我无法记起食物的味道，也无法记起流水的声音，还有触摸草地的感觉。我在黑暗中全无保护，什么也没有。在我和火轮之间没有任障碍何分隔，用我醒着的眼睛都可以看到它。
山姆：那么让我们摆脱掉魔戒吧，永远地！来，弗拉多先生，我不能帮你携带它，但我能扛得动你！来吧！
在现实中把从平凡到不凡的转变演绎得最为深刻的，马修·亨森也许要算一个。他是黑人佃农的儿子，离开农场去航海，为一名叫罗伯特·皮尔里的海军军官打工。皮尔里是名意志坚定的探险家，立志成为踏足北极第一人。亨森在机械、木工和航海方面表现出的高超技能深得皮尔里的赏识。在远征北极的途中，亨森多次挽救了皮尔里的生命，并背着脚趾几乎全部冻坏的皮尔里逃出生天。种族隔离制度在北极的酷寒中完全被消融。

罗伯特·皮尔里·斯塔福德(曾孙):山姆受命照料弗拉多，而皮尔里雇佣了亨森。他们在各自的职责中成长，成为和“主人”并肩作战的伙伴。对于皮尔里来说这有些勉强：他最后才终于意识到亨森对他来说有多重要。
    经过22年的朝夕相处之后，两人决定最后一次尝试远征北极。终于在1909年的4月，他们和因努伊特向导一起站在了地球的终端，在他们以为是北极的地方插上星条旗。一个白人军官，一个黑人水手，共同出生入死，成为合作无间的伙伴。
    神话从现实中汲取力量。如果说《魔戒》力透纸背，那是因为它真实地描绘了人类的挣扎：本无壮志的国君以奉献赢得子民的信任；足智多谋的忠臣在关键时候道出诤言；士兵们为爱而非恨，不畏艰险、英勇作战。也许最荡气回肠的是友情的力量，惟死亡可将之终结。《魔戒》虽然虚幻但不是神话，而是一个真实却残酷的故事，追根到底它是一个关于希望的故事，值得我们追看到底。这一切都是任何一种文化、任何一个伟大故事的试金石。