Paisagem sonora e a musicalidade narrativa em O Hobbit, de J.R.R. Tolkien

Abstract

This work analyzes the soundscape in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, based on the theoretical concepts proposed by Raymond Murray Schafer. The research investigates how literature acts as a vital means of recording, preserving, and transmitting sound experiences, even those that are imagined. Methodologically, it is a qualitative study grounded in bibliographic review and textual analysis. The content is organized into four chapters: a literature review of Schafer’s fundamental concepts (such as keynote sounds, sound signals, and soundmarks); a biography of Tolkien highlighting musical influences; and a detailed analysis of sound elements in The Hobbit. The analysis reveals a rich and integrated soundscape where nature sounds, voices, songs, musical instruments, bells, and silence perform symbolic and structural functions in the construction of Middle-earth. The study concludes that Tolkien’s work values rural and preindustrial environments, offering significant pedagogical potential for music education by encouraging critical listening and sound awareness through literature.