The Tower of Words: Michael D. C. Drout on Tolkien

Prof. Michael D. C. Drout explains that for J.R.R. Tolkien, words work on different levels: there is pleasure in sound patterns, but real power is in the way words act on people & how people act. Words are not magical. Drout talks about Saruman’s voice, lying, and how both left-wingers and right-wingers claim Tolkien is on their side: each revolts against domination. Fantasy cannot provide consolation for loss, but can give shape to grief and point to a world where there is comfort. * Prof. Drout’s faculty page * Prof. Drout on Tolkien Gateway * The Tower and the Ruin on Bookfinder (buy used! buy local!) * If you like this work, please support it by joining my Author’s Circle * If you’re a writer, hire me as your Consulting Editor * If you want more thoughts on politics, subscribe to my Substack