“Bare and Leafless Day”: The Function and Poetic Structure of the Poems in The Lord of the Rings
“Bare and Leafless Day”: The Function and Poetic Structure of the Poems in The Lord of the Rings

Summary/Abstract: Poetic texts form an integral part of the epic world of The Lord of the Rings. These poems and songs (ballads, epic poetry, riddles, various folk and popular songs, etc.) function as elements in the formation of the fictional word as well as a system of transmitting knowledge of the past, contributing to the development of cultural traditions related to the peoples (Hobbits, Ents, Elves, and Dwarves) and regions (Gondor, Rohan, Mordor) in the novel. In my essay, I attempt to outline some possible functions of the poems in The Lord of the Rings, in order to point out the fact that these parts of the text have a crucial role in the interpretation of the novel, apart from the atmospheric contribution they provide. I am convinced that the origin myth of Tolkien’s world is a useful starting point for this kind of study, because in this myth the form of song (and singing) has a fundamental role in the formation of the world’s structure.

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