RT Article
T1 Hobbits, Ents, and Pope Francis' "Laudato Si'": Environmental Echoes and Religious Resonances from J. R. R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings"
JF Journal for the study of religion, nature and culture
VO 19
IS 4
SP 495
OP 519
A1 Galang, Joseph Renus F. ca. 20./21. Jh.
LA English
YR 2025
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1948410060
AB This paper describes how the environmental perspectives of Hobbits and Ents in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings is echoed in and resonates with Pope Francis's teachings in Laudato Si'. The study also demonstrates how modern fantasy literature can be used as a resource to open dialogues regarding religious and theological ideas. Employing a narrative criticism of The Lord of the Rings trilogy and Laudato Si', this study finds that Tolkien and Francis stand on common ground regarding their environmental perspectives. While Francis discusses the cry of the earth, the gospel of creation and stewardship, a critique of the technocratic paradigm, and an integral ecology, Tolkien animated similar ideas through the figures of Hobbits and Ents and their interactions. Ultimately, both works leave in their readers with a profound sense of mission to implement change, recognizing that the shared home of all living beings is in great peril.
K1 Ents
K1 Fantasy Literature
K1 Hobbits
K1 Laudato Si
K1 Laudato Si'
K1 Pope Francis
K1 PopeFrancis
K1 The Lord of the Rings
K1 Environment
DO 10.1558/jsrnc.32908