Episode 16: Extremely Specific Middle-earth Q&A with The Tolkien Professor--Corey Olsen

In part two of my interview with Corey “The Tolkien Professor” Olsen, we discuss several extremely specific questions about Middle-earth, including: What is “magic” in The Lord of the Rings? Whogiddy-what is Tom Bombadil exactly? Do the good consequences of Eowyn’s disobedience to Theoden justify her actions? Are orcs—possessing free will but seemingly evil by nature—metaphysically coherent? Links Signum University https://signumuniversity.org/ Mythgard Institute (Signum’s free programs for the public) https://mythgard.org/ The Tolkien Professor Podcast https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tolkien-professor/id320513707?mt=2 Corey Olsen’s website https://tolkienprofessor.com/ Timestamps Corey Olsen 2:06 The ambiguity of “magic” as used by different beings and races in The Lord of the Rings 12:13 Is Tom Bombadil God or a Christ-figure? What does it mean that “he is,” and that he is “the Master”? Is Tom a Maia? West vs. east and resurrection in the barrow-wight episode 35:04 Does Eowyn’s fulfillment of prophecy in slaying the Witch-King justify her abandonment of her duties to stay behind and rule/protect her people in the King’s absence? Simplistic feminist misinterpretations of Eowyn; Rohan’s vs. Gondor’s cultural values 44:26 Eowyn’s despair vs. Sam’s; different kinds of hope; Sam’s attitude towards his duty and the sense in which he lacks hope 59:38 More on Eowyn, Rohan's debased cultural values 1:07:02 How Tolkien developed in his concept of flat vs. round Middle-earth 1:09:17 Are orcs evil by nature? How can that be if they have free will? 1:15:22 What is the basis of the differences/superiorities/inferiorities among the races of Middle-earth, and how is it different from real-world racist theories? 1:26:16 This week’s reading: J.R.R. Tolkien, “On Fairy-Stories” https://amzn.to/2Cgo9Pm This podcast is a production of CatholicCulture.org. If you like the show, please consider supporting us! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio