Deep Past of Middle Earth

[DifficultQueries]

I can't seem to find anything about the deep dark past that Middle-Earth is based on? I had a thought that originally Middle-Earth was the plannet that we live on but many milenia after a nuclear holocost, but I may be confusing my books? Does anyone know the answer?

Thank you. smilies/eek.gif

[Lyta_Underhill]

Welcome to the Downs, DifficultQueries! Great name! If you read the Silmarillion, you will find a history of Ea from the beginning, before thought became form when Eru Iluvatar spoke the world into being, and thus there is no room for Middle Earth to be after anything; rather I believe it is a distant past or alternative reality.

There are plenty of books set in a technologically primitive society that has arisen after a nuclear holocaust; Riddley Walker (by Russell Hoban) is one of my favorite of these and has been compared to both Tolkien and also to Huck Finn...I wouldn't quite go there, but Huck Finn is closer!

I hope this helps! smilies/smile.gif

Cheers,
Lyta

[burrahobbit]

The idea is that Middle-earth exists in a fictional period of our own Earth's history.

Also the Silmarillion, yes. The creation story is in there.

[ September 03, 2003: Message edited by: burrahobbit ]

[Alatariel]

It is my understanding that Tolkien created Middle-earth partly to give people of his native country, England, their own mythology. The geography and landscapes are loosely based on England and other parts of Europe. It is not really meant to have taken place in our history, but more of a mythological story, such as the Greek gods/goddesses.

[burrahobbit]

Partly, originally, but he sort of gave up that idea after a while, before LotR.