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Interactive Tool Visualizes Tolkien's Works

Posted by samzenpus on from the get-your-herd-on dept.

dsjodin writes "Last year, LotrProject brought us extraordinary statistics on the population of Middle-Earth. Now, they have released an interactive tool for analysis of the Silmarillion, the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings. With keyword frequency search, character mentions, sentiment analysis and network diagrams of character interactions it is a beautiful set of data visualizations and fascinating for fans and non-fans alike. The site can for example be used to find out that bacon is mentioned seven times in the Hobbit while only two times throughout the entire the Lord of the Rings."

2 of 33 comments (clear)

  1. I love the idea by Kirkman14 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    because I for one have always wondered just how many times they talk about bacon in a book/movie with dragons / eyes that live on top of mountains and rings that turn you invisible.

    Seems like it would be useful in exploring how the styles of his books changes. The Hobbit, LOTR, and the Silmarillion each have different tones and vocabularies.

    1. Re:I love the idea by sed+quid+in+infernos · · Score: 5, Interesting
      I know this is just a joke, but it did remind me of Tolkien's snarky letter to the Nazis in response to their demand he prove his Aryan extraction. In part:

      Thank you for your letter. I regret that I am not clear as to what you intend by arisch. I am not of Aryan extraction: that is Indo-Iranian; as far as I am aware none of my ancestors spoke Hindustani, Persian, Gypsy, or any related dialects. But if I am to understand that you are enquiring whether I am of Jewish origin, I can only reply that I regret that I appear to have no ancestors of that gifted people.