Besides, people have studied the theme of Journey to the West. The research of the theme has been pided into different groups including politics, religion and game for a long time, and the opinions varied in the 1990s. Some scholars thought that it was a tragic fiction, some thought it showed a healthy and advanced culture consciousness and aesthetic ideal (Zhuge, 1991: 13-18), while still others believe that the theme of the novel was pursuing the freedom and harmony in the sense of philosophy and aesthetics.文献综述

As for the research of the edition of Journey to the West, the various conclusions were merely inferences due to the lack of new and reliable information. And the discovery of new data and further textual research should be achieved to reach an agreement.

2.2 About The Lord of the Rings

2.2.1 Main Content of The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings series include a total of three books. The first one tells the story that Frodo, together with his faithful partners Sam, Merry and Pippin went on a journey to destroy the Ring in the old Middle Ages. In addition, with the justice power protection and help of ranger Aragorn, the Man Boromir, Elf queen and Legolas the Elf, Gimli the Dwarf, and Gandalf the wizard, the Ring expedition team of Frodo headed off many dangers.

In the second one, Hobbit Frodo and Sam continued to complete the task of destroying the Ring to Mordor Mountain; at the same time, Aragorn, together with other Hobbits, such as Pippin and Merry met with another group of new allied forces and attacked again in Isengard; because the forces of the dark magic king also extended from Middle Earth to the kingdom of Gondor; the war of the Ring began. 

In the third one, to complete the mission of destroying the Ring, Frodo, together with Sam and Gollum went on to Mount Doom, and he would test his loyalty and humanity in all of the strong and weak aspects; at the same time, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli also actively went against Sauron’s attack, and they made joint effort in guarding the Middle Earth; the capital of Gondor Minas Tirith was in danger, so Aragorn picked up the sword of the king, and had a bloody battle in Pelennor Fields; although they faced many crises and challenges in the journey, they still struggled to meet to the most glorious war of the Ring.来*自-优=尔,论:文+网www.chuibin.com

2.2.2 Previous Studies on The Lord of the Rings

In Western countries, more importance has been attached to The Lord of the Rings. Firstly, research on message that The Lord of the Rings reveals. Professor Ralph C. Wood (2003) wrote a book called The Gospel According to Tolkien. Professor Wood shows us that Tolkien’s masterpiece is a deeply Christian work because it does not blink back the horrors of our terrible times but confronts them with startling honesty. Readers keep turning the hope that can be found amidst despair; the charity that overcomes vengeance; and the Faith that springs from the strange power of weakness. Secondly, findings on how Tolkien creates a system of methology. Tom Shippey (2003) explains to us how Tolkien created a new mythology in his book The Road to the Middle-Earth. In the book Tolkien And The Invention of Myth edited by Jane Chance (2004), eighteen authors decode Tolkiens complicated system of mythology from five ingredients.

Though it appeared in 1954, The Lord of the Rings created a trend in China. In China, research covers the following aspects. First, the research is on the religious redemption and mythological metaphors. For example, Xing Yiping and Fu Chaobo (2009: 68-70) analyzed the narrative plot, the religious background, the complicated signs and representations of several main characters in the novel, the authors tried to discuss and analyze the deep internal religious implications, symbols and standards in The Lord of the Rings. They further pointed out Tolkien’s hidden initiatives in creating this novel and the instructions brought about by the creation.