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Lyta_Underhill · 03-01-2003, 01:45 AM

Thanks for the extra-erudite explanation, Mister Underhill! I know I, for one, and most other regular readers of fiction, will miss subtle hints until something large happens to reinforce them and draw a sudden but strong web through the entire story, making everything fall into place, no matter how ridiculous it may seem to one who only sees the isolated "DEM" event. That is, indeed, the Holy Grail of storytelling, for it gives an internal consistency within the reality drawn by the writer. If the writer has done a good job, the web will suddenly appear, but will be as if it were a blanket that had been over your eyes the entire time, but only now do you feel its light touch. If the writer has failed to provide this narrative consistency, then the catastrophic event that draws your attention fails to illuminate the structural web of the story, and all the reader sees is an isolated ridiculous DEM.

I'd rather have it said I did it as the "bird to the audience" than as a result of my own ineptitude in storytelling if I were to be accused of using the DEM! As for Bombadil being a DEM, didn't Frodo call for him, using the song Tom taught them? Tom is not just magically appearing, he is being called by Frodo.

As for Gandalf's reincarnation, well, that IS the Hand of God, but not something I would totally disbelieve, for what kind of death did he die? Perhaps he was in the grey area, had the NDE and believed Eru had called him back for a purpose. But I choose to believe in the supernatural explanation, because, after all, this is Gandalf we're talking about! And he WAS literally called back for a purpose, the destruction of Sauron, and, once it was achieved, he left again! He did not tarry along the way to help the hobbits out with their little problem in the Shire (which some people I know are very angry with him for not doing!) but retired and then went on over the Sea. He was consistent, at least! But I ramble on again. Forgive me for my long-windedness, and thanks very much for your indulgence!

Cheers,
Lyta

03-01-2003, 01:45 AM	#37
Lyta_Underhill Haunted Halfling Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: an uncounted length of steps--floating between air molecules Posts: 841	Thanks for the extra-erudite explanation, Mister Underhill! I know I, for one, and most other regular readers of fiction, will miss subtle hints until something large happens to reinforce them and draw a sudden but strong web through the entire story, making everything fall into place, no matter how ridiculous it may seem to one who only sees the isolated "DEM" event. That is, indeed, the Holy Grail of storytelling, for it gives an internal consistency within the reality drawn by the writer. If the writer has done a good job, the web will suddenly appear, but will be as if it were a blanket that had been over your eyes the entire time, but only now do you feel its light touch. If the writer has failed to provide this narrative consistency, then the catastrophic event that draws your attention fails to illuminate the structural web of the story, and all the reader sees is an isolated ridiculous DEM. I'd rather have it said I did it as the "bird to the audience" than as a result of my own ineptitude in storytelling if I were to be accused of using the DEM! As for Bombadil being a DEM, didn't Frodo call for him, using the song Tom taught them? Tom is not just magically appearing, he is being called by Frodo. As for Gandalf's reincarnation, well, that IS the Hand of God, but not something I would totally disbelieve, for what kind of death did he die? Perhaps he was in the grey area, had the NDE and believed Eru had called him back for a purpose. But I choose to believe in the supernatural explanation, because, after all, this is Gandalf we're talking about! And he WAS literally called back for a purpose, the destruction of Sauron, and, once it was achieved, he left again! He did not tarry along the way to help the hobbits out with their little problem in the Shire (which some people I know are very angry with him for not doing!) but retired and then went on over the Sea. He was consistent, at least! But I ramble on again. Forgive me for my long-windedness, and thanks very much for your indulgence! Cheers, Lyta __________________ “…she laid herself to rest upon Cerin Amroth; and there is her green grave, until the world is changed, and all the days of her life are utterly forgotten by men that come after, and elanor and niphredil bloom no more east of the Sea.”