Many philosophers define leisure as the goal of human activity, with leisure being defined as stepping out of the world to re-collect one's self. It is the realm of art and contemplation. My paper will look at the ways Rivendell is a place of leisure throughout the books, as a bookend to adventure and a fitting place to retire to. Being that leisure activities, like art, are done to be enjoyed in and of themselves, they provide an escape from the world. I will also connect Rivendell as a place of leisure to the need for escape that Tolkien discusses in On Fairy-Stories and how that can shape how we view leisure in our modern world.
Ian is a high school religion teacher in Western Kentucky. After reading The Hobbit in high school, he began a lifelong journey in Tolkien's works. An amateur scholar, he often uses Tolkien in philosophy lessons.
