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That boy's own image was voiced by Edwin Muir in the Observer in 1955, and Tolkien was as scornful of it then as he would be today: "Blast Edwin Muir and his delayed adolescence. He is old enough to know better. It might do him good to know what women think of his 'knowing about women', especially as a test of being mentally adult. If he had an M.A. I should nominate him for the professorship of poetry - a sweet revenge." I wonder how those panelists would feel if they were to read that their opinions had been ridiculed by the author half a century ago. It certainly doesn't say much for their originality. Or perhaps Edwin Muir is now accepted as an academic authority, despite his lack of a higher degree.
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Why should the panellists feel bad that their opinions had been ridiculed by the author half a century ago? The fact that Tolkien disagreed with Muir’s opinion does not invalidate said opinion. As far as I am concerned Muir got it right in respect to the boy’s own aspects of the story.
There is no real realisation of the true horrors of a global conflict, despite minor character’s deaths and Frodo’s saga cruise, none of the characters suffers too much. And as for any real sense of relationships between the sexes? Let’s face it, the courtships in Mallory were about as realistic.
I am also confused at the fact that you sneer at Muir because he does not have a “higher degree”. I was not aware that one needed to be an academic authority or to have a higher degree to criticise literature. Anyone who can read a book is more than able to criticise a book, and their criticisms will be no less valid for it.