Uses of sound and music: Euphony and cacophony in "The Silmarillion" and other works by JRR Tolkien

Author

Marian Shalander Kaiser

Date of Award

3-1-1996

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

English

First Advisor

Dr. Thomas P. Walsh

Abstract

J.R.R. Tolkien presents music in his Middle-earth mythology (The Silmarillion, The Lord of the Rings, and The Hobbit) as something that simply is--an internal and divine essence existing outside of time and physical measure. In his mythological account of the creation and the evil that subsequently enters into the world, music emanates from God as something eternal, holy, and humanly incomprehensible beyond its incomplete temporal manifestation. Music serves as a vehicle to mirror Christian concepts, reflect the thoughts and motivations of the agents of good and evil, create mood, and elicit reactions from the reader.

Comments

A Thesis Presented to the Department of English and the Faculty of the Graduate College University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts University of Nebraska at Omaha. Copyright 1996 Marian Kaiser.

Recommended Citation

Kaiser, Marian Shalander, "Uses of sound and music: Euphony and cacophony in "The Silmarillion" and other works by JRR Tolkien" (1996). Student Work. 3224.
https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/studentwork/3224