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Warfare History

Lost Generation: 15 Ways J.R.R. Tolkien’s Novels Reveal The Tragedy of WWI

Darren April 22, 2026 8 min

10. The Theme of Small Acts of Bravery

10. The Theme of Small Acts of Bravery
Celebrating the quiet heroism of Samwise Gamgee and ordinary soldiers’ courage in wartime.

Tolkien emphasizes seemingly insignificant courage—common among ordinary soldiers. Samwise Gamgee’s steadfastness echoes the quiet heroism that WWI diaries so often record. For an in-depth exploration of this theme, see the article “The Unexpected Heroism of Samwise Gamgee” in The Atlantic (theatlantic.com).

Written by
Darren

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