More in keeping with what Estelyn and Rimbaud have suggested is one value of Tolkien are these comments from academicians who are journeying to Toronto, Canada for The Gathering of The Fellowship for the next three days.
Quote:
As one of the so-called purists, Wages added, she wanted to ensure there was a healthy dose of academe in the conference lineup. Panel discussions include
everything from "Tolkien and Beowulf" to "Harry Potter is a Hobbit" to the role of women in Middle Earth.
Michael Drout, associate professor of English at Wheaton College in Massachusetts, says he agreed to come to the event "mostly because the people who asked me were so nice." Added Drout, "I've studied Tolkien, and I'm a specialist in Anglo-Saxon literature, and the one thing I've learned is that no matter how deeply you work, there is always someone out there who knows more about Middle Earth than you do. Some of the very best Tolkien scholars are not associated with any university."
Jane Chance, recognized in Tolkien circles as one of the first academics to initiate serious Tolkien studies, is also flying to Toronto. Reached in her hometown of Atlanta, she explained that she's making the journey because she loves to hobnob with like-minded people.
"I'm very curious about what mix of people will be there, and what will happen," says Chance, a professor at Rice University in Texas. "For 25 years, I've been studying medieval sources for much of what Tolkien created, among other things," she said. "And I love these events. I think Tolkien fans bring to their subject not only an enthusiasm and passion, but also a real commitment to their literature. They're like no other students I've taught in my life. I know of no other readers who read so willingly and so passionately as Tolkien readers."
All the proceeds from the event will be donated to ProLiteracy Worldwide's National Book Scholarship Fund and Laubach Literacy of Canada.
As far as Prof. Chance is concerned, the mass appeal of Tolkien ? to people from all walks and corners of life ? is simple. "He's a great literary salesman. He sells you his world, and you believe in it."
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A first article can be found here about
The Gathering of the Fellowship
What I am curious about, in terms of the
Guardian article, is the
. After all, who knows what we all look like? And who plays with us?
<font size=1 color=339966>[ 8:37 PM December 13, 2003: Message edited by: Bęthberry ]