Orwell and Tolkien lived and worked during the same time period, in the same country (for the most part). Both witnessed tragedy on a societal scale, with wars and political upheaval, and on a personal scale, with the death of loved ones. Both experience joy as well. They are both fathers and both have literary success during their lifetimes. Yet, if we look at their seminal works, 1984 and The Lord of the Rings, we see men who view the world in very different ways: one through a lens of hopelessness, and one with a more hopeful heart. Discuss how their works overlap, and how they differ, and how the concept of hope factors into their worldview. What are the greater implications for us as Christians?