or to Grow Apart: The Long Sorrow of the Ents and Marriage in The Lord of the Rings To Grow Together

Explores Tolkiens thoughts on love and marriage as expressed through the Ents and Entwives. Our understanding of their relationship and long sundering is enriched by considering Lewiss thoughts in The Four Loves on philia and eros, yet in the end both Tolkiens lived experience of marriage and parenthood and his Catholic background enhance his picture of the Ents with more realism than Lewiss somewhat (pre-Joy) theoretical approach.

To Grow Together, or to Grow Apart: The Long Sorrow of the Ents and Marriage in The Lord of the Rings Academic Article