Good day, readers. Today is January 3rd, the 3rd day of the year 2024, with 363 days remaining.
Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.
William James
Today in Literary History:
On this day in 1892, J.R.R. Tolkien, English writer, poet, philologist, and professor, was born. Tolkien is best known for his classic high fantasy works, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. His books have not only sold millions of copies worldwide but have also profoundly influenced the fantasy genre in literature and popular culture.
Notable Birthdays:
Cicero, born on January 3, 106 BC, was a Roman statesman, orator, and writer. His works on rhetoric, politics, and philosophy were instrumental in the development of Latin prose and have had a lasting impact on European literature and ideas.
Today’s Readings:
From The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien: “All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost.”
Literary Fact of the Day:
On January 3, 1924, British Egyptologist Howard Carter discovered the sarcophagus of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings, near Luxor, Egypt. This monumental find not only sparked a global interest in ancient Egypt but also inspired numerous literary and cinematic explorations of Egyptian mythology and history.
Poem of the Day:
“Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley:
I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed:
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
This poem captures the inevitable decline of all leaders and empires, no matter how powerful, through the description of a ruined statue in a barren desert, conveying themes of impermanence and the hubris of man.
Advice for Writers:
Inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s imaginative world-building, consider how detailed settings and intricate backstories can enrich your narratives. Crafting a vivid world not only captivates readers but also adds depth and realism to your stories, inviting them to fully immerse themselves in the environments you create.
Have an impactful and thoughtful day, dear readers. Until tomorrow, may your contributions to the world be meaningful and your journeys through literature be enriching.