A Trilogy's Lessons Sarah Daniel

Knowledge is a fickle matter. Some things we learn will stay with us until our deathbed, while others will leave with the speed of a hummingbird's wings. By far the most memorable piece of literature I have ever read is J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. This trilogy is the story of a group of nine companions who set out to destroy a ring that, if brought to the hands of the dark lord Sauron, would bring destruction to the world. It is the tale of how the races of the world, with all their differences, band together for Middle-earth's future, in a final attempt to stay the hand of evil. The books are filled with the usual tales of good versus evil and love conquering all. But on a deeper level, Tolkien's masterpiece is about friendship - sticking together until the very end. This is seen through the last, desperate journey of Frodo and Sam as they crawl slowly towards Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring. It is this loyalty that makes The Lord of the Rings so appealing to readers, generation after generation.

Perhaps most important in the trilogy, however, is the lesson of sacrifices. As Frodo says before he leaves Middle-earth forever, "It must often be so, when things are in danger: someone has to give...