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CURRICULUM AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT  * 1 HOUR * LEVEL 2

Teaching with Tolkien

Good Vs Evil

Page 8
The battle between good and evil is often at the forefront of fantasy literature. Though in many other genres it is present, it tends to be glaringly obvious in fantasy. The evildoer is often a goblin or witch or something that looks or feels evil or bad when read about. The do-gooder is usually, but not always, the main character who battles the evil force and overcomes it. The symbolism is obvious throughout the text in that good overcomes evil. This is not always the case with all fantasy fiction, but does occur more often than not.
In the case of The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins reluctantly sets off from his life of comfort on an adventure to assist a group of dwarves in regaining their kingdom years after it is conquered and stolen from them. Bilbo experiences many moral quandaries as he comes face to face with cave dwelling creatures, internal conflict, physical strains and more. Not only is there ultimately a battle between good and evil, but there is also a sequence of events that cause him to question his loyalty and the intentions of others. This is parallel to every day struggles that all people experience.
For school-age children, these works of fantasy help to strengthen their moral judgement and support their growing sense of right and wrong. 
It may also assist them in identifying with characters who overcome major struggles both inward and outward.