Quote:
Originally Posted by tumhalad2
For Tolkien, the function of his fantasy fiction is 'consolation'. If you read his essay 'On Fairy Tales' you find that, for him, central to fantasy is 'the consolation of the happy ending'.
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Not central to "fantasy" (in Tolkien's view), but to a particular form of fantasy called "fairy" stories. That is, stories dealing with the realm of faire (as Tolkien uses the term in his essay to which ref was made).
Quote:
Originally Posted by tumhalad2
He pretends that such a happy ending is something that occurs 'miraculously', 'never to be counted on to recur'. But that pretence of contingency is idiotic, in that immediately previously he claims that 'all complete fairy stories must have it [the happy ending]. It is its highest function.' In other words, far from 'never being counted to recur', the writer and reader know that to qualify as fantasy, a 'consolatory' happy ending will recur in every story
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'never to be counted on to recur' referred to
within the subcreation of the particular fairy story. That is, within the subcreation, the characters (real beings within the context of the subcreation) have no basis to EXPECT the consolation to recur.
Thus, within LOTR, Frodo & Sam have no expectation that they will have a happy ending. Frodo, indeed, professes to have no hope he will even be able to destroy the ring. And, in fact, "HE" isn't able. The unexpected consolation comes in when his (and Bilbo's, and {in fact} Sam's) mercy to Gollum, as well as his enduring in the face of hopelessness, sets up the very circumstance where deliverance comes as Gollum steals the ring and falls into the cracks of Doom. [cf Letter 246].
All the characters in LOTR "can" do is to exercise what the Elves call "Estel", as Tolkien writes in the essay "Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth" thru the mnouth of Finrod Felagund
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There is the thing that men call "Hope", an expectation of good which has some foundation in what is known. Elves call this "Amdir" which signifies "looking up"
But there is another thing, which is founded deeper. "Estel" that is called by elves, meaning "Trust". If we (elves and men) are indeed the Eruhin, the Children of the One, then He will not suffer Himself to be deprived of His own, not by any Enemy, not even by ourselves. This is the uttermost foundation of "Estel".
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