"The Lord of the Rings" is a long prose narrative, which exerted a great influence on the development of the fantasy literature during the twentieth century. The novelistic style of the book is reflected in the psychological development of the characters, in their thoughts and emotions, in the use of realistic elements that exist in our routine life. At the same time, this modern fantasy novel contains in itself a variety of genres that come up throughout the story. There are fairy-tale creatures, elves and dwarves, trolls and goblins, which surround the men and hobbits and together participate in the development of epic themes like the shift of power or the cosmic war between the good and the evil. There is, as well, a dose of quest-romance within the novel, which comes up in the Aragorn/Arwen relationship, for the narration of which Tolkien used a more poetic style. Yet there is another genre at a further level in the book, the genre of myth. I will explore the important role of the mythical figure, Elbereth, in shaping the historical events on Middle-earth.

In "The Lord of the Rings", the name of Elbereth comes up at several crucial points of the

An interesting feature in the development of the mythical character Elbereth and her role in the story is the fact that she comes to help only Frodo and Sam. Throughout the narration of the quest Tolkien describes of other natural characters who are in deadly need of help. However, Merry and Pippin are not supported by some kind of supernatural force when they are attacked by orcs at Amon Hen. Rather, what saves them is the temperament of the orcs and their bickering. The narrator explicitly shows that this time 'fate' and 'coincidence' do not determine the outcome. He mentions several times the inner greed of the orcs and the lack of trust between them, which eventually saved Merry and Pippin. Therefore, it seems that only Frodo and Sam receive direct help from supernatural and mythical characters.

Tolkien's choice of words in this narration is important in the sense that Frodo does not cry out the name of Elbereth consciously. On the contrary, Frodo "heard himself crying aloud". This sentence structure indicates that some power beyond his level of time and existence forces him to call the name of Varda. Exactly this mythical figure prevents the Enemy from capturing the Ring. The role of providence or fate is exemplified in the fact that this is one of the few scenes in which mythical character takes an active part in a mortal character's life. Again, Tolkien combines the two separate worlds of myth and history into one common reality where supernatural and natural fight together against the common evil.

Tolkien's choice of words in this narration is important in the sense that Frodo does not cry out the name of Elbereth consciously. On the contrary, Frodo "heard himself crying aloud". This sentence structure indicates that some power beyond his level of time and existence forces him to call the name of Varda. Exactly this mythical figure prevents the Enemy from capturing the Ring. The role of providence or fate is exemplified in the fact that this is one of the few scenes in which mythical character takes an active part in a mortal character's life. Again, Tolkien combines the two separate worlds of myth and history into one common reality where supernatural and natural fight together against the common evil.

The first time when the name of Elbereth is mentioned in "The Lord of the Rings" is at the very beginning of the journey, when Frodo and Sam are still in the Shire. As the hobbits sing a "walking-song" (Tolkien, 76), they hear the sound of hoofs coming from the Black Riders. This is a moment of highest tension in the development of the Quest, because the main character experience weakness of his will. Tolkien describes the strong temptation of Frodo as "so strong that, almost before he realized what he was doing, his hand was groping in his pocket."(Fellowship, 77) The author places his character in a position, where Frodo subdues to the evil power, incapable of resisting the temptation. Immediately after the above sited sentence, Tolkien shifts the attention to the role of providence in the outcome of events. The hobbits and the Quest are saved by a song, in which the elves give praise to their beloved Elbereth. For Frodo himself, "[t]his is indeed a strange chance."(Fellowship, 78) Obviously, Elbereth comes to aid when she is called. The myth enters the historical sequence of events and becomes able to shape the fate of the Middle-earth.

"At that moment Frodo threw himself forward on the ground, and he heard himself crying aloud: O Elbereth! Gilthoniel! At the same time he struck at the feet of his enemy." (Fellowship, 191)

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Approximate Word count = 3920
Approximate Pages = 16 (250 words per page double spaced)