If you're too lazy to read the book . . .

[pegkerr]

In response to misia's recent complaint about people on the Internet who try to pump scholars for information on their homework so they don't have to be bothered with the trouble of doing the work themselves, wolfette posted a link to the following:

One of the often-recurring requests on the newsgroup rec.arts.books.tolkien is from students requesting a synopsis of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic work The Lord of the Rings. The work is extremely long, and because of this many students simply can't find the time to give the work a thorough reading before giving a written report on it. In the interests of cutting down the number of requests for this material, I have written a short synopsis of the three volumes which make up the Lord of the Rings as well as an accompanying synopsis for Tolkien's posthumous book The Silmarillion.

As an added supplement, I have also listed some possible topics for term-papers and book reports for those who don't feel a desire to come up with their own.

Of course, I feel compelled to point out that a much better understanding of Tolkien's work can be achieved by reading the actual books; it's well worth the effort. If you simply don't like to read, however, I'm sure the following synopsis and suggestions will help you make the grades you obviously deserve. (emphasis added)

[An "excerpt" from The Fellowship of the Ring: On the way, their path is repeatedly beset by evil forces. First they are attacked by evil Orcs in the woods; next they are driven into the dark forest of Lothlorien, where they are imprisoned by the beautiful but evil Queen Beruthiel. They make their escape when Beruthiel's good sister, Galadriel, frees them from their prison-cell and floats them down the river in barrels. . .]

Read the rest here . . . and snicker. What a lovely sucker punch.

Comments

[vierran45.livejournal.com]

The site's (http://flyingmoose.org/tolksarc/homework.htm) been around a pretty long time, but what is most amusing is that in the aftermath of the hugely popular films, one British journo, writing forLondon Sunday Times (http://flyingmoose.org/tolksarc/blanchett.htm) fell for it and wrote a serious article based on the "info" at the site :D.

[(Anonymous)]

Was he fired?

[aerden.livejournal.com]

*falls off chair laughing!*

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

Crap, that's funny.

[aerden.livejournal.com]

Hah! Oh, that is brilliant!!!

Having read the books, though, I can sympathize with students who don't want to read the entire four books. I got them as a birthday present when I was 12. I devoured The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring,, but The Two Towers and The Return of the King kept putting me to sleep, except for the Ent bits. For me, seeing the movies was a way of clarifying what was happening during the chapters I tried not to sleep through.

Still, I do think students should at least try to read the books. They're a heck of a lot more interesting to read than Candide, which I had to read four times in college and high school.

Chantal

[markgritter.livejournal.com]

Hmm... but Candide has the advantage of being short, so by the time you get tired of it you're halfway done. (Actually, I liked it, but didn't read it until college, and only once.)

For some reason The Old Man and the Sea appeared on every single book report list in high school, and I think everyone else but me read it--- on the "it's short" theory.

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

That's classic. I can't believe the London Sunday Times used it as reference ...!

[cmpriest.livejournal.com]

wicked.
we loves it, we do.
;-)

[skylarker.livejournal.com]

Fun! (Though it gives the game away too early to call Pippin 'Pipsqueak')