In this episode of the Christ in Classics podcast, Colton Moore engages with Dr. Holly Ordway, a prominent scholar on Tolkien, to explore the themes of heroism in The Hobbit. They discuss Dr. Ordway's personal journey with Tolkien's works, the role of literary criticism, and how “Hobbitness” shapes heroism throughout Tolkien’s book for children, discussing the natural development of Bilbo into a hero, his overt expressions of heroism, and especially his heroism as a moral example; Bilbo, in short, is a courageous, honest, and faithful figure. The discussion also touches on the character development of Thorin and Gandalf, as well as the broader literary tradition of “underdog” heroes. Ultimately, they highlight the profound impact of Tolkien's storytelling on readers and the moral lessons embedded within his narratives.

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Dr. Holly Ordway is the Cardinal Francis George Professor of Faith and Culture at the the Word on Fire Institute and Visiting Professor of Apologetics at Houston Christian University. She holds a PhD in English from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and is a Subject Editor for the Journal of Inklings Studies. 

Her book Tolkien’s Modern Reading: Middle-earth Beyond the Middle Ages (Word on Fire Academic, 2021) received the 2022 Mythopoeic Society Scholarship Award in Inklings Studies:

https://www.amazon.com/Tolkiens-Modern-Reading-Middle-earth-Beyond/dp/1943243727/

Her newest book is Tolkien’s Faith: A Spiritual Biography, which was released in time for the 50th anniversary of Tolkien’s death on September 2nd, 2023: 

https://www.amazon.com/Tolkiens-Faith-Spiritual-Holly-Ordway/dp/1685789919/