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It strikes me that most of the critics Shippey is referring to don't actually know what Tolkien was talking about. They can't get beyond the 'Elves & Dwarves' - which to them are the same as the 'Pixies & Gnomes' of bad children's stories. Hence, because they can't see beneath the surface they assume there are no depths.
Its not so much that they don't like or approve of what Tolkien is saying, - they've simply convinced themselves he's not saying anything. I suspect they're looking in the light because they don't believe the sixpence is genuine - they've convinced themselves its play money, & that even if they found it it wouldn't be worth anything, so why bother?
I've yet to come across one critic of Tolkien who could actually say what he was on about.
Or maybe they're just looking in the light 'cos they're scared of the dark (where the Goblins are......)
Cross-posted with LMP
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