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mark12_30 · 01-12-2003, 09:40 AM

Merri, I like this topic. I admire Tolkien and his works for a vast number of reasons, but I think this one stands out:

Tolkien set out to create a myth, one which presented virtue, truth, beauty, goodness, and lots of other wonderful things in a palatable story form, but in such a way that we fall in love with beauty, truth, nobility, etc etc through his story. He tells the story in such a way that those who read the story can be called higher by it. I think he succeeded in what he set out to do. And I think nobility and purity and truth does, in fact, shine through his work, luminously, beautifully, and in such a way as for them to awaken the desire in our hearts to be, to do, and to know more beauty, truth, and nobility. He successfully calls us higher-- simply by telling a wonderful, enjoyable, "rollicking good" story.

Hence, he succeeded in creating an enduring, ennobling myth. And I so admire him for that. If one believes in heaven (which I do) then I think part of Tolkien's reward (biblically, "crown") is seeing how many lives he has enriched and transformed and ennobled-- simply by writing his stories.

01-12-2003, 09:40 AM	#2
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	Merri, I like this topic. I admire Tolkien and his works for a vast number of reasons, but I think this one stands out: Tolkien set out to create a myth, one which presented virtue, truth, beauty, goodness, and lots of other wonderful things in a palatable story form, but in such a way that we fall in love with beauty, truth, nobility, etc etc through his story. He tells the story in such a way that those who read the story can be called higher by it. I think he succeeded in what he set out to do. And I think nobility and purity and truth does, in fact, shine through his work, luminously, beautifully, and in such a way as for them to awaken the desire in our hearts to be, to do, and to know more beauty, truth, and nobility. He successfully calls us higher-- simply by telling a wonderful, enjoyable, "rollicking good" story. Hence, he succeeded in creating an enduring, ennobling myth. And I so admire him for that. If one believes in heaven (which I do) then I think part of Tolkien's reward (biblically, "crown") is seeing how many lives he has enriched and transformed and ennobled-- simply by writing his stories. __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.