Quote:
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Originally Posted by Tolkien via Bethberry
About them [ie, the Yavanna and Aule] fared a great host who are the sprites of trees and woods, of dale and forest and mountain-side, or those that sing amid the grass at morning and chant among the standing corn at eve. These are the Nermir and the Tavari, Nandini and Orossi, brownies, fays, pixies, leprawns, and what else are they not called, for their number is very great: yet must they not be confused with the Eldar, for they were born before the world and are older than its oldest, and are not of it, but laugh at it much, for had they not somewhat to do with its making, so that it is for the most part a play for them; but the Eldar are of the world and love it with a great and burning love, and are wistful in all their happiness for that reason.
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That's lovely (you can always encounter something in Tolkien that catches your eye differently...amazing) and makes me want to go and read this part through again for myself. And makes me think of certain folk songs, themselves based on folk tales, such as John Barleycorn - where the crop itself is personified. No doubting that Tolkien of course knew these songs and knew more than most about the old folktales, and genus loci.
There's an urge to try and explain/understand and categorise for Tolkien fans and it's just not possible when Tolkien threw in aspects that do not fit into any hierarchy. Makes me think of how there has always been a blurring of boundaries, certainly for the most ordinary of people, between the pre-Christian and the more modern world - the former being chaotic in nature, the latter more structured. That's reflected in what Tolkien wrote down, throwing us characters like Tom along with Elves, packaged (more or less neatly) into 'castes', and having to be taught their place in a world that also included Maiar and Ainur.
But anyway, I like to at least try to
explain/understand, even if the urge to categorise is less strong for me
These sprites of nature, and Tom himself, are all very fond of singing and chanting - and the world was created with Music. I have to think they have something to do with how the world was crafted, it's too nice an idea to ignore!
Amazing though...Tolkien's creation was a kind of Faerie, and within it, he created another Faerie...