Mortality and death are constantly present throughout the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Ruin and doom are inevitable motifs, as Tolkien asks the question of where life's journey ultimately leads. In the poem “I Sit by the Fire and Think,” Bilbo not only reflects on his travels, but also recognizes that the journey goes beyond himself and continues even after the end of his life. Additionally, Bilbo's poems connect with each other as the poem “The Road” is alluded to in “I Sit by the Fire and Think” when he mentions “the door” to indicate a circular flow of life. Death is a necessary part of life. When one life ends, there is space for another to begin. However, the current situation of Middle-earth in the novels creates an ambiguous future for future generations. Tolkien ends the novel without a clear indication that good or evil will prevail. Through his poetry, Tolkien reinforces a theme of the Lord of the Rings trilogy that, although an individual's journey and life must eventually end to make way for future generations, the natural world will continue and those generations will carry the same burden of their lives. ancestors of the continuous struggle between good and evil. In the poem "I Sit by the Fire and Think", Bilbo recalls his past travels and expresses disappointment at not being able to embark on the next adventure. His journey has come to an end, so all he has left to do is sit back and think about everything he has seen. Tolkien uses an anaphora with the opening line, "I sit by the fire and think," to emphasize the warm, comfortable environment he remembers. The atmosphere in which he remembers is a reflection of the happiness he feels towards... middle of paper... egan, and reflects on the purpose of the trip. Tolkien's work carries with it the thesis of why God created mortal humanity, and on the road and during the journey the purpose and destination are not always made clear. These questions that Tolkien asks do not always have an answer. He is neither a true pessimist nor an optimist in the ending, instead he is realistic that there will always be the possibility of evil in the world. Past generations may attempt to rid the world of evil to make the future a better place, but it is inevitable that each generation must continue the fight for good. Tolkien recognizes the necessity of mortality and death in his poetry so that life can continue in others. The end of one life or journey is always the beginning of another. Works Cited Tolkien, JRR The Lord of the Rings. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004.