성서의 신화와 그 변용 - 『호빗』에 나타난 요행과 은총

Abstract

This article represents an investigation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit in the light of his theory of "fairy-story." The study first describes Tolkien's view of the fairy-story as an echo of the Christian gospel and the idea of eucatastrophe as one of its chief characteristics. It goes on to examine The Hobbit in some detail to see the development of eucatastrophe in it. After tracing the motif of luck, a disguised version of Christian grace, the study demonstrates how it serves as the transforming power for Bilbo, the hero of the story. The third section describes how the book can be read as an expression of Christian notion of God's providential grace for the undeserved creatures.