Reading Lord of the Rings could help prevent war, says prof

Ananova ^ | February 18, 2003 | Ananova

[MadIvan]

A leading German literature professor says that reading Tolkien's Lord of the Rings could help prevent war.

Thomas Kullmann, a 42-year-old professor from the University of Osnabrueck, said: "If adults read children's literature more often then we would probably live in a much more peaceful world.

"Fairy tales and other works for children may not be one-to-one with reality but they help excite the imagination. They give the reader new ideas that could even help solve political problems.

"Children's books can definitely help adults rethink a situation and help them assess political situations on a higher and even wiser level."

He added: "Tolkien's Lord of the Rings is a good example of a children's book that could help.

"It shows, in a spectacular way, how destroying an object can prevent world domination from one person or side."

[MadIvan]

I thought Lord of the Rings showed that one had to knuckle under and destroy evil, how it was one's duty to do so. Oh well, maybe it loses something in the translation into German.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[American in Israel]

Obviously the professor did not read the book, or did and did not understand anything. How much do they pay this guy?

[frmrda]

I'm re-reading these books now for the first time since 7th Grade. The message I am getting is that evil must be destroyed even though there is great risk. I see that many times during the journey some characters think of just walking away or "hiding" the ring somewhere it won't be found for many years, thus making their lives better in the short run. Then, they realize that putting off doing unpleasant things till tomorrow will only make things worse for everyone else in the long run.

It also gives the message that the good people are not "warmongers", but people who turn to violence only when it is the last resort in destroying evil.

[conservativemusician]

"It shows, in a spectacular way, how destroying an object can prevent world domination from one person or side."


In this case the object is Iraq's dictator.

[NewHampshireDuo]

Obviously the professor did not read the book, or did and did not understand anything. How much do they pay this guy?

Methinks he flunked "Reading for Comprehension" but aced "Creative Thinking." Nevertheless, maybe we should mail a copy to Saddam.

[ancient_geezer]

"It shows, in a spectacular way, how destroying an object can prevent world domination from one person or side."

Sure looked like there were a lot of good folks doing alot of dying to assure that object could be destroyed.

The good professor seems to have missed something in his glance at the book.

[HairOfTheDog]

maybe it loses something in the translation into German.

Heh! - I think so!

Ecurbh ping.

[SamAdams76]

The good guys had to kill an awful lot of Orcs in order to destroy that object. Come to think of it, the Orcs in those movies have an uncanny resemblance to radical Muslim extremists.

[Frank_Discussion]

This "professor" also calls it a children's book; the reading level is a leeeetle bit higher than that. The dork hasn't read the book, IMO. I think he's trying to take a trendy book/movie and tag it as pacifist for the masses experiencing it.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I consider "The Hobbit" a children's book.

"The Lord of the Rings" is not a children's book. It sounds as if the good Prof hasn't even read it.

[Uncle Miltie]

"A leading German literature professor says that reading Tolkien's Lord of the Rings" shows how appeasing Orcs / Nazis / Baathists leads to the near destruction of Freedom.

[July 4th]

Obviously the professor did not read the book, or did and did not understand anything.

Saying what this professor said is like reading a book about the French in WWII, and praising their resolve.

[Frank_Discussion]

Heck, even the Hobbit requires a reading acumen somewhere above young children, perhaps 12 years old or above.

[Tulsa Brian]

"If adults read children's literature more often then we would probably live in a much more peaceful world."
I personally recite One Fish Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish before losing my temper...

[rightwingreligiousfanatic]

Islamofascists heading for a rendevous with....
An alliance of free peoples... LET'S ROLL!.....BRING IT ON!

[Frank_Discussion]

NICE Screen Shot!!

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

"It shows, in a spectacular way, how destroying an object can prevent world domination from one person or side."

The prof is an idiot. It wasn't domination from one side that mattered, it was the fact that Sauron was evil incarnate and had to be destroyed. Now if the Hobbits had dominated MiddleEarth, what would have been the harm? Curly hair and great vegetables??

[Corin Stormhands]

"Children's books can definitely help adults rethink a situation and help them assess political situations on a higher and even wiser level."

Unlike the mush in this guy's head, children's books (as well as LOTR, which is not "children's" literature) clearly distinguish the difference between good and evil.

Good wouldn't bomb the WTC. Good wouldn't gas their own people or execute people for not bowing down to it.

The perfesser needs to keep reading.

[js1138]

I suspect that taking LOTR literally could also lead to a world without all those pesky wimen.

Besides, I always assumed that wars were the result of men trying to get rich quick so they could buy wimen stuff, so...

Oh, nevermind.