The Two Towers: Why The Ents Are Not as Annoying as the Ewoks

Essay Version:

Introduction (hook, context, thesis): What do Ewoks and Ents have in common? Ewoks are protagonists in The Return of the Jedi, one of the first Star Wars films. A fundamentally peaceful, woodland people, the Ewoks help the main protagonists outmaneuver and overcome the bad guys. The Ents, quite literally a woodland force (they resemble trees), supply equal help in defeating evil in J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy, The Lord of the Rings. In both cases, these unexpected helpers turn the tide. The Ewoks, however, are far less believable than the Ents.

Body Paragraph (topic sentence followed by specific evidence): The Ewoks are unbelievable. They are cute and play clever tricks on the antagonists. For example, they use slingshots and other such devices to trick and tie up the Empire's stormtroppers. The Empire created a moon-size device that blew up a planet. Nevertheless, the audience is supposed to believe that cute and clever tricks can overwhelm and "outgun" the adversary. The suspension of belief regarding the Ewoks is too difficult to muster.

Body Paragraph (topic sentence followed by specific evidence): The Ents, however, are far more believable. The Ents go up against a corrupt wizard, Saruman. A force of nature, they destroy his dam and flood his compound, Isengard. In fact, they are galvanized initially by Saruman's destruction of their forest. In the book, specifically, they confer and come to a thoughtful and organized resolution: Saruman must be stopped. The Ents' patience and deliberate action makes them a formidable force demanding respect. 

Conclusion (restatement of thesis and points followed by a call to action): Although both Ewoks and Ents play important roles in their respective franchises and are also both linked to nature, Ents are ultimately more believable. The fact is, the sheer force of nature, from blizzards to volcanoes to floods, has played a role in human endeavors. Both Napoleon's and Hitler's armies came up against Russian winter and found themselves in less than advantageous positions. Some military historians believe that the English army won at Agincourt mostly because of English superiority with the long-bow but also because of the incessant rains. The ground was so muddy and churned up, the French horses never got up enough speed. They were taken out before their superior speed could reach the English lines (and this despite the English being fatigued and ill from those same rains). Cleverness is cute but the sheer impact of a blizzard on supplies or a flood on a home or a volcano on an entire mountainside makes nature a far more powerful force. The Ents not only use this force, they are this force. To find out more about Ents, check out Peter Jackson's second movie in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Two Towers, and read the source of inspiration, the book with the same title. You can find the book at the Portland Public Library and online at Powell's Bookstore.

Blog Version:

In both cases, a small force of innocent non-war-like beings go up against a powerful military force. 

The Ewoks are wholly annoying. They are cute and play clever tricks on the bad guys. Somehow the audience is supposed to believe that these cute and clever tricks can outwit and outmaneuver and "outgun" people who blew up a planet. 

Yeah, right. 

The Ents go up against Saruman. A force of nature, they destroy his dam and flood his compound, Isengard. 

And it's believable. 

The fact is, the sheer force of nature, from blizzards to volcanoes, has played a role in human endeavors. Both Napoleon's and Hitler's armies came up against Russian winter and found themselves in a less than advantageous position. 

Some military historians believe that the English army won at Agincourt mostly because of English superiority with the long-bow but also because of the incessant rains. The ground was so muddy and churned up, the French horses never got up enough speed. They were taken out before their superior speed could reach the English lines (and this despite the English being fatigued and ill from those same rains). 

And don't get me started on the problem of feeding an army! If weather keeps the food away...

Forget toilet paper--when a blizzard clears the local grocery store of all perishables within 24 hours, the message is clear: 

Nature don't care what anybody thinks. Supplicate it all you want. When the volcano blows...

Mount St. Helens, 1980