Representation of Masculinity in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings

This bachelor thesis deals with various types of masculinity as represented by male characters in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and their comparison with stereotypical gender roles and the portrayal of male characters in the fantasy literature genre. The first part focuses on Tolkien's life and the influences on his writing and gives a review of the criticism of Tolkien's work. It also introduces the debate of sexism related to the stereotypical portrayal of female characters and their scarcity in the story. The second part is a brief introduction to the gender studies of femininity and masculinity, and the fantasy genre. The third part is the analysis of the main races of Middle-earth and selected characters - Aragorn, Samwise Gamgee, Frodo Baggins, and fraternal pair Boromir and Faramir - in the context of masculinity