
I Know No Other Way - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 3
From Mythmakers by Oxford Centre for Fantasy
March 19, 2026 · 32 min · Season 8 · Episode 30
About this episode
Julia Golding explores chapter 3 of The Lord of the Rings, revealing insights and writing techniques from an author's perspective.
We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by. (00:00) A Chapter Built Around a Single Decision (02:00) Why the Black Gate Must Be Impossible to Enter (05:00) Mordor as a Living Landscape of Evil (08:00) Frodo’s Resolve and the Stakes of the Quest (11:00) Writing Into Uncertainty and Finding the Way Forward (13:30) Trust, Suspicion, and Gollum’s Divided Nature (17:00) The Hidden Path and Foreshadowing What Lies Ahead (21:00) Tension, Stillness, and Delaying the Decision (26:00) Sam’s Perspective and the Power of Small Hope (29:00) Choosing to Trust Gollum and Moving Forward For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website…
People in this episode
Guest: Julia Golding
Topics covered
- literature
- writing techniques
- The Lord of the Rings
- character analysis
- narrative structure
Keywords
- The Lord of the Rings
- Julia Golding
- writing techniques
- character analysis
- Oxford culture
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Oxford Centre for Fantasy
Books & works: The Lord of the Rings
Places: Oxford
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