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Two Arguments Against Young People Reading The Hobbit

Two Arguments Against Young People Reading The Hobbit. For your last essay chose and deal with one of them. Some Points About Argument. Christ-like Methods of Debate. Assume the best not the worst of your opponents—they are also God’s children so do not use Inflammatory language

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Two Arguments Against Young People Reading The Hobbit

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  1. Two Arguments Against Young People Reading The Hobbit For your last essay chose and deal with one of them.

  2. Some Points About Argument Christ-like Methods of Debate • Assume the best not the worst of your opponents—they are also God’s children so do not use • Inflammatory language • Ridicule without support (an idea can be laughed at but not a person) • Condescension towards the person—they are of value. • Deal with the issue they raise, either by • showing faulty data, • faulty logic, or • concede the point but show how in a larger framework your position is the best. • Use emotion as support but not as a primary response

  3. A “Christian” Argument Against • The world view described as Middle Earth has no God nor Jesus. • Children need to be protected accepting this. • “Luck” rather than God is the main source of help. • The main character of wisdom is a Wizard and God’s attitude towards necromancers is clear from Deuteronomy 18:10-12. • Gandalf is not a reliable moral compass—he lies and uses trickery to get his way. He also abandons the party when they seem to need him most.

  4. Gandalf tricks Bilbo into entering the adventure which almost costs him his life and his home. He also tricks Beorn into giving hospitality • Beorn is a shape shifter—a man filled with an animal spirit who is yet listed on the side of good. • Biblo achieves his greatest successes via theft and cheating. • He may not like it but he is a burglerworkting with the dubious moral argument that the one he is stealing from is bad.

  5. A Social Argument Against • The narrating voice represents a world view which is no longer viable in current cultural understandings. • Children need to be protected from accepting this. • Assumes a paternal role of power with not demonstration of a right to do so. • Judges characters within the narrative with a condescending voice, treats Biblo as foolish and silly.

  6. Shows clear qualities of racism • Biographical note that Tolkien connected the Dwarves with Jews (supposedly for their experience of language and culture within a dominant culture) • Large noses and a love a gold that is true of a whole race • Comments that one should not expect too much from dwarves—even decent folk like Thorin and Co. • The assumption that the race of Goblins and Wargs have no claim upon the treasure is never questioned • Their brutal destruction by eagles and Beorn is always seen as positive

  7. Your Task • Choose one of these arguments and respond to it—demonstrate that it, however well intended, in error. • Do so by drawing from the text.

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