Bethberry --
We managed to cross post. Mine was quite lengthy, plus I am typing with one hand and also racing around the house preparing to take in some folk who've been called in off the rigs. (We are under a tropical storm warning.)
I can see that we both like the poem with the reference to Earendil! Strangely enough, I have managed to refer to several things you mentioned in your earlier post, but generally within a context totally different than your own. Let me think about onions, and trees and roots. That merits further attention.
My own experience has been perhaps different than your own. When I first begin a project, I often have one central concept or motive in mind, one true reason I'm willing to put in the time and effort. There may be other things in my head as well, but these are usually secondary.
I think this holds true for many feats in life, including the writing of tales. Once the actual writing begins, however, things quickly become more complex. You evolve. The story evolves. And everything takes off with a life of its own.
Tolkien had devoted most of his waking hours to the study of the ancient northern languages as a young man. For this reason, I find it believable that he should feel great frustration that his country, out of all the others, had managed to "lose" its old tales, and that he would set himself to rectify that.
There is the famous quote in the Letters in 1951.
Quote:
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Do not laugh! But once upon a time (my crest has long since fallen) I had a mind to make a body of more or less connected legend.....--which I could dedicate simply to: England; to my country"
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People have interpreted this in many different ways, but, interestingly, if it is taken at face value, it supports the argument Shippey is making regarding the original motive for the Legendarium (and myself by implication on his coattails).
sharon
[ October 02, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]