The Lord of the Rings

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Key Facts

full title

· The Lord of the Rings

· The Fellowship of the Ring

· The Two Towers

· The Return of the King

leading actors · Sean Astin, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood

supporting actors/actresses · Sean Bean, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Billy Boyd, Brad Dourif, Bernard Hill, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Dominic Monaghan, John Noble, Paul Norell, Miranda Otto, Craig Parker, John Rhys-Davies, Andy Serkis, Harry Sinclair, Liv Tyler, Karl Urban, Hugo Weaving, David Wenham

type of work · Feature film

genre · Epic fantasy

language · English

time and place produced · New Zealand, 1999–2001

awards

· The Fellowship of the Ring (2002)

· Winner, Best Cinematography (Andrew Lesnie)

· Winner, Best Visual Effects (Jim Rygiel, Randall William Cook,

· Richard Taylor)

· and Mark Stetson

· Winner, Best Makeup (Peter Owen, Richard Taylor)

· Winner, Best Original Score (Howard Shore)

· The Two Towers (2003)

· Winner, Best Sound Editing (Ethan Van der Ryn, Michael Hopkins)

· Winner, Best Visual Effects (Jim Rygiel, Joe Letteri, Randall William Cook,

· Alex Funke)

· The Return of the King (2004)

· Winner, Best Picture

· Winner, Best Director (Peter Jackson)

· Winner, Best Adapted Screenplay (Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter

· Jackson)

· Winner, Best Art Direction (Grant Major)

· Winner, Best Set Decoration (Dan Hennah, Alan Lee)

· Winner, Best Costume Design (Ngila Dickson, Richard Taylor)

· Winner, Best Film Editing (Jamie Selkirk)

· Winner, Best Original Score (Howard Shore)

· Winner, Best Original Song (Fran Walsh, Howard Shore, Annie Lennox)

· Winner, Best Makeup (Richard Taylor, Peter King)

· Winner, Best Sound Mixing (Christopher Boyes, Michael Semanick, Michael

· Hedges, Hammond Peek)

· Winner, Best Visual Effects (Jim Rygiel, Joe Letteri, Randall William Cook,

· Alex Funke)

dates of release

· The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

· The Two Towers (2002)

· The Return of the King (2003)

producers · Peter Jackson, Barrie M. Osborne, Fran Walsh

setting (time) · The third age of Middle-earth

setting (place) · Middle-earth

protagonist · Frodo Baggins

major conflict · The major conflict is the battle for Middle-earth between its diverse inhabitants, including humans, elves, dwarves, hobbits, and wizards, and the dark forces of Sauron.

rising action · The war for Middle-earth is largely fought on traditional battlefields between two opposing armies, but the real battle is fought within the hearts of its inhabitants. Symbolizing this internal struggle is Frodo’s quest to destroy the ring of power, which can be accomplished only if he is able to withstand the great temptation the ring represents.

climax · The climax of the film occurs at Mount Doom, as Frodo debates whether to let the ring fall into the fires that created it, thereby destroying it, or to keep the ring for himself.

falling action · The falling action is long and drawn out and includes Sam and Frodo’s rescue from the lava-drenched plains of Mordor, Frodo’s convalescence, the coronation of Aragorn, the hobbits’ return to the Shire, and the departure of Frodo, Bilbo, and Gandalf with the elves.

themes · The king vs. the steward; the limits of fellowship; the Shire as a fantasy of home

motifs · Mordor; the temptation of the ring; journeys

symbols · Water; the ring; Mount Doom

foreshadowing

· Bilbo’s restlessness and his reluctance to give up the ring foreshadow the awesome challenge the ring will pose for Frodo.

· Frodo’s vision in Galadriel’s mirror and Pippin’s vision in the seeing stone predict the fate of Middle-earth should the fellowship fail in its mission.

· Isildur’s failure to drop the ring into Mount Doom anticipates Frodo’s own reluctance.

· Boromir’s attempt to snatch the ring from Frodo anticipates Gollum’s repeated attempts to steal the ring, as well as those of Boromir’s brother, Faramir.

· When Frodo jumps into the water to rescue Sam at the end of The Fellowship of the Ring, the action anticipates the flashback at the beginning of The Return of the King, which shows Sméagol’s friend’s dive for the ring of power.

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