A little help needed...

[Witchking]

I'm writing a paper(?) on LotR, and I need a little bit of help:
I've read somewhere, that Tolkien said LotR took place about 6000 years ago. Is this right, and if so, where does it say so?
Any help are appreciated.

[markgossett]

I am not sure about that. I read somewhere also (though this is obviously unsupportable as I have no proof) that it did take place in an area kind of like olde England. As far as 6000 years that would seem right, but again I am not sure. I do know I did a paper on Tolkien and used a lot of comparisons as to what I thought it meant. Historically we know the ideas came from the war and the people and locations he was familiar with. AS to the time frame I cannot be sure. I don't know if this helps.

[Androndo the Thoughtfull]

Yes, he actually wrote that:

"I imagine the gap [between LOTR and now] to be about 6000 years; that is we are now at the end of the Fifth Age, if the Ages were of about the same length as S[econd] A[ge] and T[hird] A[ge]. But they have, I think, quickened; and I imagine we are actually at the end of the Sixth Age, or in the Seventh."

But, i don't think he thought of creating his own religion - he was a christian you know smilies/smile.gif

[ February 12, 2002: Message edited by: Androndo the Thoughtfull ]

[Witchking]

Could you tell me exactly where you found it? Book and pagenumber?
Thanks

[Androndo the Thoughtfull]

Well, actually i read it in the Encyclopaedia of Arda (witch i am currently translating into rigsdansk)...

You can see the whole story here. (http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/f/fourthage.html)

The only clue we get on that page is it is written in 1958. In "DISCLAIMER & BIBLIOGRAPHY" they write they used "The letters of J.R.R. Tolkien" to make their site. So it's probably in there somewhere!

[Androndo the Thoughtfull]

Try look at this site:http://www.daimi.aau.dk/~bouvin/tolkien/anotherplanet.html. it describes the case very well... (and it is of course written by a dane :-)

[Carannillion]

I read a book by David Day, which I think was called "A Tolkien Encyclopaedia: The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth" (or something). It had a decent explanation about it, and also to the places of ME and where they "are" today. Unfortunately, it was in the public library, and now it's stolen or something! smilies/mad.gif ! smilies/mad.gif ! smilies/mad.gif ! smilies/mad.gif

[Witchking]

Thanks for the help.
Androndo the Thoughtfull, it sounds like you have your hands full, if youre going to translate that smilies/smile.gif