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Old 07-25-2005, 08:57 AM   #66
alatar
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Feanor of the Peredhil
Since canonicity is [and always has been] based on the reader, then I am entirely accurate in saying that there's not a lick of free will in Middle Earth, since that's how I perceive it.
Not sure what you mean. Maybe this is close; maybe not, but having written some fiction now and again (besides my "what I did at work all day" logs, that is ), there something that I found to be strange. I'd start off writing a story, think that I had a good idea where it would go and how it would all end up. I knew what I wanted the main character(s) to do, where they would begin and end on their story 'arc,' and what I considered to be enough of their histories to be able write the short story that I had in mind.

But a funny thing happened to the pen on the way to the paper...

I'd end up with a completely different story! The character(s) would take off, as I started to breathe life into them, and I would be come less and less the creator of the story and more the observer/recorder of the event. Personal histories would have to be written and rewritten just for my eyes (I always like Tolkien's use of the "Cats of Queen Berúthiel" and what he did to throw that line in the dialogue) so that the character's present state would make more sense, and it was like I needed to ask the character, "So why are you you?" The process would become interactive, and in my less lucid moments I would be having mental discussions/arguments with the characters.

Okay, so I have a few issues...but anyway, does free will exist on the written page? My experience would indicate that it does.

And, as another example, this post started out making some sense, and now look where we are...
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