Back to Middle-earth Month 2009

Think of the most dangerous situation you can face. Have you ever been in such serious danger? What is the greatest danger that you have experienced? Think or write briefly about your experiences (or lack of experiences!) with danger. 

Write a story, poem or create an artwork where the characters face a great danger
or
where characters reflect on their reaction to a great danger.

What is the most tedious, routine work that you have to do? Write down a few tedious or routine tasks that you're sometimes required to perform. How does doing routine work make you feel? Would you like to have somebody do it for you?

Now write a story, poem or create an artwork where characters have to deal with tedious jobs.

In two or three sentences, write about the happiest moment you've experienced in the past two days.

Create a story, poem, or artwork based on the circumstances, experiences, or feelings associated with that moment.

What is a role model to you? Do role models require certain qualities for you? How should people relate to their role models?

Write a story, poem or create an artwork based on characters who are role models for their people.

Consider something that you regret: something that you did and wish you could undo, something you didn't do and wish that you had. Think or write briefly about what you would do if you had a second chance and how you think your life might be different without that regret.

If your character would have a chance to start anew and with a clean slate, what would he or she do with such a chance? Write a story, poem or create an artwork where this is offered to them or how they execute such a chance.

"Music can name the unnamable and communicate the unknowable."
-Leonard Bernstein, American composer

Write a story, poem or create an artwork where this quote is validated.

Imagine this! You are walking in the woods and sudden a tree whispers to you ...

What does it say? What is your reaction?

Capture this moment in a story, poem or piece of art.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Is it? And ugliness? Is it also relative?

Write a story, poem or create an artwork where the contrast beauty/ugliness plays a central role.

Think of a person that you admire. The person can be someone from history, from fiction, or someone that you know--anyone!

Write down three to five adjectives that describe why you find that person admirable.

Now write the opposites of those three to five adjectives.

Write or draw something from the point-of-view of a character who displays some or all of the "negative" adjectives on your second list.

In your opinion, what are the qualities that a hero must possess? Write down at least three of these qualities.

Now write a story, poem or create an artwork that shows those qualities in action.

"Traveling is a fool's paradise. We owe to our first journeys the discovery that place is nothing."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Write a story, poem or create an artwork that proves or disproves this quote.

How do you define your sense of humor? Is your sense of humor something can be universally appreciated? Think or write briefly about a time when your attempt at humor was misunderstood, or when you misunderstood another person's attempt at humor.

Write a story, poem or create an artwork that shows different views of humor.

How would you define innocence? Write down at least three words or phrases that represent innocence for you.

Write a story, poem or create an artwork where one observes or realises the innocence of herself or himself, someone else, or a group.

What makes you the most afraid? How would you react if you had to face this situation? Think or write briefly about your greatest fear and how you would face it.

Now write a story, poem or create an artwork where the characters have to confront their greatest fears.

What is your favourite season? Why?

Create your own story, poem or piece of art which shows what you like the most about your favourite season and how your character would appreciate (or not) the same things.

In T.S. Eliot's poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," the speaker in the poem poses the following question:

"Do I dare disturb the universe?"

Over the course of the poem, the speaker answers this question. Show a scene or experience in a character's life where she or he answers this question.

Are you an adventurous person? Think or write briefly about the greatest adventure in your life.

Write a story, poem or create an artwork where the characters share an unexpected adventure.

What are your limits? What some things that you can't do? Won't do? Write down at least two of each and consider how you discovered these limits.

Write a story, poem or create an artwork where a character discovers his or her limits, manages to respect his or her limits, or is pushed over his or her limits.

A stereotype is a generalization, usually exaggerated or oversimplified and often offensive, used to describe a group. Think about a group that you identify with, either in your real life or in Tolkien's works, and write down at least three stereotypes that do or might exist about that group.

Write a story, poem or create an artwork where characters break stereotypes.

If you could pass on three pieces of wisdom to future generations, what would they be?

Now, from the point of view of a character, what three things would this character want to pass on to his or her children and grandchildren? How similar are they to yours?

Write a story, poem or create a piece of art which reflects this.

We all have experienced this. Due to illness, a family event, work, you didn't have as much time to study for an important test as you needed or finish a project you promised to do. Think of a specific event that you went through of which you felt unprepared for and write briefly about the preparation that you were able to do, the reasons that you didn't get to prepare as well as you wanted, and of course, the outcome.

Write a story, poem or create a piece of art where a character is unprepared.

Describe a big storm from your memory and place it in Tolkien's world.

Write a story, poem or create a piece of art that reflects this impressive moment.

According to the Romans, the basic principle of the law is that agreements should be respected under all circumstances. Do you agree with this? Is there a time in your life when you had to break this principle? When someone broke an agreement with you?

Now write a story, poem or create an artwork where characters are forced to break this principle.

You find an old dusty bottle and, when you pick it up, a genie pops out! What three wishes would you make and why?

Now, imagine that your character bumps into a genie (or a Middle-earth variation of it) and she offers to grant your character three wishes. What are the wishes and why would he and she wish for them?

Create an artwork, story or poem how your character mulls it over or goes about it.

What is the greatest sacrifice you can be asked to make? Think or write briefly about this.

Write a story, poem or create an artwork where the characters make their greatest sacrifice.

Choose your favorite line or quotation from a non-Tolkien source. It can be a book, movie, poem--anything you can think of!

Write down that quote.

Now create a story, poem, or work of art that relates to it somehow, either the quote itself or the meaning that you take from it.

What are your fondest memories of your childhood? And the saddest? Write briefly about a memory that is particularly powerful, whether it is happy or sad.

Write a story, poem or create an artwork based on those feelings and experiences
or
based on a character's memories.

Think of a teacher who played a key role in your life. What qualities about this person influenced you? Write briefly about this person: a short character sketch, scene, or conversation involving her or him.

Write a story, poem or create an artwork about a character who educated his people in some way.

Imagine this, a relative of your chosen characters passes on and lives your character a trunk. He or she opens it when...

Capture that moment in a piece of art, be it a drawing, story or poem.

What's your favorite month of the year? Consider or write briefly about why this month is special.

Picture your character during this month, his or her activities or reflections. Try to cover this in a story, poem or piece of art.

Bob Dylan says "Don't criticize what you don't understand." Do you agree with this? Have you ever been criticized by someone who didn't understand you? Think or write briefly about this experience.

Now write a story, poem or create an artwork where unfounded criticism plays a central part.