The last and darkest period of Frodo's journey clearly represents the writing-up stage, as he struggles towards Mount Doom (submission), finding his burden growing heavier and heavier yet more and more a part of himself; more and more terrified of failure; plagued by the figure of Gollum, the student who carried the Ring before him but never wrote up and still hangs around as a burnt-out, jealous shadow; talking less and less even to Sam. When he submits the Ring to the fire, it is in desperate confusion rather than with confidence and for a while the world seems empty.
Continued….

Very rapidly, things go wrong. First, Gandalf disappears and has no more interaction with Frodo until everything is over. (Frodo assumes his supervisor is dead: in fact, he's simply found a more interesting topic and is working on that instead.) At his first international conference in Lorien, Frodo is cross-examined terrifyingly by Galadriel and betrayed by Boromir, who is anxious to get the credit for the work himself. Frodo cuts himself off from the rest of his
team: from now on, he will only discuss his work with Sam, an old friend who doesn't really understand what it's all about, but in any case is prepared to give Frodo credit for being rather cleverer than he is. Then he sets out towards Mordor.
Continued..

After Frodo has completed his first project, Gandalf (along with Head of department Elrond) proposes that the work should be extended. He assembles a large research group, including visiting students Gimli and Legolas, the foreign postdoc Boromir and several of Frodo's own friends from his undergraduate days. Frodo agrees to tackle this larger project, though he has mixed feelings about it. ("I will take the Ring", he says, "although I do not know why.")
continued....

Lord of the Rings as an allegory for a PhD.

The story starts with Frodo: a young hobbit, quite bright, a bit dissatisfied with what he's learnt so far and with his mates back home, who just seem to want to get jobs, settle down and drink beer.

He's also very much in awe of his tutor and mentor, the very senior professor Gandalf, so when Gandalf suggests he take on a short project for him (carrying the Ring to Rivendell), he agrees. Frodo very quickly encounters the shadowy forces of fear and despair which will haunt the rest of his journey and leave permanent scars on his psyche, but he also makes some useful friends. In particular, he spends an evening down at the pub with Aragorn, who has been wandering the world for many years as Gandalf's postdoc and becomes his advisor when Gandalf isn't around.
Continued…..

Went to see Keane at Notts last night and they were fantastic!!!!
Anyone else seen/going to see?? Second row in in standing and was sooo close to the gorgeous Tom....*sigh*

Classic!!!!
Yep sounds like a normal day here too
Mmmm really must mind map now at least I will have produced something then

Feel free to yummy my hubby...he is gorgeous and scrummy!!! (But Patrick Stewart is a close second!!!)

alibi hubby also commented it may be an understanding issue and that they just don't understand or have the background (could your sup. not refer you to someone in your field for more support?) I think maybe clarification is a better word than confrontation. I have just drafted out my lasted understanding of my research based on my most recent reading so will present that to them so they can feedback on it at next weeks session (which I am dreading as I know the work they set and I have done is crap as i've been distracted by reading).
I really wish I'd taken the job not the PhD!!!

Cheers guys, really had a bad one yesterday, (topped off by a burst pipe and flooded bathroom/kitchen last night).
Zelda My hubby is with you and says I need to be more assertive. I have tried to look at other approached but everything I read makes perfect sense when framed within a post-mod post-struc perspective...I guess when they read the same thing it fits into their epistomolgy too...but thats the point I guess and like you said as long as I can defend it.

Oh no I like star trek (although it is generations with sexyful Patrick Stewart)...I've never thought of myself as geeky...maybe a bit nerdy I spose...what the heck does my hubby see in me???

You see thats the crux of it Exactly whos PhD is it???!!!!!
They got the funding with their proposel but when I won the studentship they said that it was now my baby and as long as I followed the proposel outline I could do with it what I will...in fact he stressed that it was MY PhD...now it seems they were not as ready to let go of it as they implied but at the same time they don't state what it is they want exactly.
I wish they would either tell me what it is they want and I will do that OR let me follow my own path and guide me!!!!
I hate confrontation and I know this is where it is headed.

Better than the Monty Python one!!! he he thanks xxxxx

(puts hand up in shame) I confess I love time team but do agree that its not the best way to go about a dig with a whooping big digger!
I will slink away now back to my qwyzzle puzzle...I mean critical review

Anything but. I was a mediocre child then went loopy at 15 years of age and left school with next to no qualifications!! Got married and had a family whilst young then thought I had better get my act together and did an access course which actually shown I was quite bright much to my surprise. I do know my IQ but am embarressed by it so won't reveal *blush*
Don't think my brain capacity will change the world though!! My eldest 3 kids all do ok and I do think my twins are very bright and will be trying to channel their talents as far as possible...but no way to an extent like some of the parents on the TV were!!!

Everytime I want to explore something they call time on it!
Jus found a theory I would really like to follow, not so much for the PhD itself but it may well have implications for the recommendations, just pitched it to them with a link to relevent articles and I have been told not to pursue it...this happens everytime. Whe I annonced my theoretical framework as being from a post modern perspective they told me I can't base my thesis on something I can't prove exists........I am getting really despondent. I know this was their proposel and I've only been brought in to do it but when I took it I was told this will be your PhD for you to persue as you see fit yet they keep guiding me to their theories and ways of working....I've even had to change my writing style as it wasnt as they wanted it.
I am soooooooo dissillusioned I feel like telling them to write their own flippin thesis!!!!
Does anyone else have these type of problems and what do I do about it?????