166. Is Evil Really in Control? : Children of Húrin #4

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Is evil REALLY in control? Tolkien pursues this in this chapter–for the first and only time Morgoth reveals himself in a long discussion… and the results are….? We dissect this showdown on a hill of bones and discover why it is unlike anything else in Tolkien’s works, what it reveals about free will, evil, and despair, and how Húrin’s stubborn defiance sets the stage for all the tragedy to follow.

We also cover:

• Brandon Sanderson’s “five ingredients” for epic fantasy
• The real meaning behind Morgoth’s boasts about fate and power
• Where Tolkien slips myth, theology, and “eucatastrophe” right into the dialogue
• Free will or predestination… is there an answer here?

In our extended episode (available via our Exploring Tolkien App or for our site’s members–), we go deeper on:

• Did Tolkien “ruin” fantasy by setting too high a bar? Why so much modern fantasy struggles in his shadow
• How much control did Morgoth really have over Húrin (and Turin)?
• More listener questions: the flame from Fingon’s helm, the Doom of Mandos, and the limits of fantasy as a genre

🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member using our Exploring Tolkien app, or  become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month).

Image Credit: The Words of Húrin and Morgoth by Alan Lee

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The Children of Húrin
The Story of Kullervo
The Silmarillion
Unfinished Tales

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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Húrin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat