Roverandom - J.R.R. Tolkien

Summary

Roverandom is a charming children's fantasy novel about a little dog named Rover who, after an unfortunate encounter with an irritable wizard, is magically transformed into a toy dog. Rover's journey to become a real dog again takes him on an incredible adventure, first to the Moon with a friendly seagull, where he encounters the Man in the Moon and his enormous dog, the Great White Dragon. From there, he travels to the bottom of the sea, meeting various fantastic creatures, a grumpy sea-wizard named Uin, and the Mer-king. Throughout his adventures, Rover learns about different kinds of magic and the reasons behind the wizards' temperaments. His quest to reverse the spell eventually leads him back to the original wizard, Artaxerxes, who, having been reunited with his lost magic wand, finally restores Rover to his true form, allowing him to be reunited with the boy who loved him as a toy.

Book Sections

Section 1

The story begins with a small, excitable white terrier named Rover who lives with a little boy and his mother. Rover is a playful and somewhat mischievous dog, deeply fond of his rubber ball. One day, while chasing his ball in the garden, he encounters a peculiar old man with a long nose and a funny hat. This man is a wizard named Artaxerxes, who is very particular about his garden and easily irritated. Rover, in his excitement, accidentally runs over the wizard's foot and, worse, bites the wizard's magic wand, which he mistakes for a stick. Enraged, the wizard turns Rover into a toy dog. Now small and stiff, Rover is left in the garden until he is found by the boy's mother and given to a different little boy named Two-Eyes.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Rover	Small white terrier, playful, curious, a bit mischievous, excitable.	To play, chase his ball, be a real dog again after the spell.
Artaxerxes	Elderly wizard, easily irritated, powerful, forgetful.	To maintain order in his garden, punish those who annoy him, find his lost wand.
Two-Eyes	A young boy, kind, loves his new toy dog.	To play with and care for his toy dog.
Rover's Boy	A young boy, Rover's original owner.	To play with his dog.
Rover's Mother	Caring adult.	To find the toy and give it to a deserving child.

Section 2

As a toy dog, Rover is unhappy and longs to be real again. He still has his doggy thoughts and feelings but is trapped in a stiff, immobile body. He spends time with Two-Eyes, who loves him dearly, but Rover's desire for freedom and his true form grows stronger. One summer's night, he is accidentally left outside. A friendly, kind-hearted seagull spots him and, mistaking him for a lost puppy, offers to take him to the Man in the Moon, who is known for his wisdom and ability to perform powerful magic. Rover agrees, and the seagull carries him high into the night sky, flying towards the Moon.

Section 3

The seagull successfully carries Rover to the Moon. Upon arrival, Rover is introduced to the Man in the Moon, a grand and somewhat eccentric figure. The Man in the Moon is delighted to have a new visitor and introduces Rover to his own dog, a colossal, majestic creature known as the Great White Dragon (or sometimes just the Man in the Moon's Dog). Rover is initially intimidated by the Dragon's size but soon finds him to be friendly and wise. Rover explains his predicament and asks the Man in the Moon for help. The Man in the Moon explains that reversing such a powerful spell requires finding the original wizard's lost wand, which is somewhere on Earth, and that Artaxerxes is currently grumpy because he lost it. He gives Rover a small piece of moon-cheese as a magical aid for his journey back.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Seagull	Friendly, helpful, observant, kind-hearted.	To help lost creatures, transport Rover to a place of help.
Man in the Moon	Wise, powerful, grand, eccentric, a benevolent ruler of the Moon.	To entertain, offer wisdom, help those in need, enjoy company.
Great White Dragon	Enormous, majestic, wise, friendly, loyal to the Man in the Moon.	To guard the Man in the Moon, be a companion, share wisdom.

Section 4

The Man in the Moon tells Rover that the key to reversing the spell lies with the Sea-wizard, Uin, and that Artaxerxes's missing wand might be at the bottom of the sea. Rover is then carried by another creature, a giant whale, down into the depths of the ocean. He marvels at the strange and beautiful world beneath the waves, encountering various sea creatures and underwater landscapes. Eventually, he reaches the kingdom of the Mer-people.

Section 5

Rover arrives at the magnificent palace of the Mer-king and is presented before him. The Mer-king is a benevolent ruler of the underwater realm. Rover explains his quest, and the Mer-king directs him to the dwelling of the Sea-wizard, Uin. Uin is portrayed as a rather grumpy and formidable figure, much like Artaxerxes, but he possesses immense magical power related to the sea. Rover learns that Artaxerxes's lost wand had indeed fallen into the sea and was found by Uin. Uin explains that he found the wand after Artaxerxes, in a fit of pique after losing it, caused a great storm that disrupted the ocean. Uin kept the wand, thinking it best not to return it to the irritable Artaxerxes until he learned to control his temper. Uin agrees to help Rover, but only after Artaxerxes shows he has learned a lesson. Uin uses his magic to transport Rover back to the land, closer to where Artaxerxes might be found.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Mer-King	Benevolent, wise, ruler of the underwater kingdom.	To maintain peace and order in his realm, assist those in need.
Uin	Grumpy, powerful Sea-wizard, keeper of the ocean's balance.	To protect the sea, teach irresponsible wizards a lesson, keep powerful magic out of temperamental hands.

Section 6

Rover is returned to the land, still a toy dog. He is eventually found by a little girl and then by a gardener, who is none other than Artaxerxes, though he doesn't recognize Rover in his toy form. Artaxerxes is still very grumpy, having been without his powerful wand for so long. Rover, with the help of the moon-cheese and his own cleverness, manages to orchestrate a series of events that lead to Artaxerxes finding his lost wand, which Uin had subtly guided back towards him. Upon regaining his wand, Artaxerxes's good humor slowly returns. Seeing the toy dog, and perhaps remembering his earlier folly, he finally reverses the spell, turning Rover back into a real dog. Rover, overjoyed, then finds his way back to Two-Eyes, who is immensely happy to have his beloved toy dog back, now in his real, lively form. Rover's adventures come to an end, and he lives happily ever after as a real dog with Two-Eyes.

Literary Genre

Children's Fantasy, Adventure, Fairy Tale.

Author Facts

• Full Name: John Ronald Reuel Tolkien.
• Birth/Death: Born January 3, 1892, in Bloemfontein, Orange Free State (now South Africa); Died September 2, 1973, in Bournemouth, England.
• Profession: English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor.
• Famous Works: Best known for his high fantasy works, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
• Academic Career: Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University from 1925 to 1945, and Merton Professor of English Language and Literature from 1945 to 1959.
• Languages: He was a gifted linguist, having studied and invented several languages, most notably Elvish languages (Quenya and Sindarin) for his fictional world.
• Inspiration: Much of his work was inspired by mythology, folklore, and linguistics, particularly Old English and Norse sagas.

Morale of the Book

The central morale of "Roverandom" revolves around the themes of patience, understanding, and the consequences of one's actions. It teaches that even powerful individuals (like wizards) can be flawed and that anger and temper can lead to negative outcomes. Rover's journey highlights perseverance and courage in overcoming adversity. The story also subtly suggests that true happiness comes from being oneself and finding one's rightful place, as Rover desperately seeks to return to his true dog form and reunite with the boy who loves him. It's a reminder that kindness and helpfulness (like the Seagull's) can be found in unexpected places.

Curiosities of the Book

• Origin: "Roverandom" was originally told by J.R.R. Tolkien to his son, Michael, in 1925, to console him after Michael lost his favorite toy dog on a beach. This personal origin makes the story particularly charming and heartfelt.
• Publication: Despite being written in 1925, the story remained unpublished during Tolkien's lifetime. It was finally published posthumously in 1998, edited by Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond, becoming a beloved addition to his bibliography.
• Connections to Middle-earth: While "Roverandom" is a stand-alone children's story, some scholars and fans enjoy looking for subtle thematic links or early ideas that might have later developed into elements of Tolkien's more famous Middle-earth legendarium, though these connections are much looser than with The Hobbit.
• Illustrations: The published version of "Roverandom" often includes Tolkien's own charming illustrations, which add to the book's whimsical atmosphere and provide a direct insight into the author's visual imagination for the story.
• Character Inspiration: The grumpy wizard Artaxerxes is thought to be partly inspired by Artaxerxes Farday, a fireworks manufacturer and a real person known to the Tolkien family. The "Man in the Moon" is a figure Tolkien revisited in other writings and poems, notably "The Man in the Moon Stayed Up Too Late," a poem later set to music in The Lord of the Rings.