Eurytus. Looking at some of those passages that you have quoted in isolation, I can see what you mean. But they have never stood out to me when I have read the Book. When read in context, they do not jar at all to my mind.
With one exception. I have never really "got" Tom Bombadil. And the two chapters in which he features have always jarred with me. His rather ridiculous poetic verse always seemed to me to be at odds with the obvious power that he has. And he does seem "out of place" in the world in which the story unfolds. The explanation, I suppose, which I have learned since coming to this forum, is that he was a pre-existing character based on a doll who JRRT wanted to incorporate into his story. And so Toliken describes him as an intentional enigma, perhaps realising that he did not really fit in with the world.
But, of course, some people love him and (unlike me) lament his absence from the film. Which brings me back to my consistent point on this thread. It is all a matter of opinion. There are parts of LotR which I would regard as less than perfect. But overall, I certainly consider it as (for me) the best book ever written. Many people would disagree with me. They are of course entitled to. As others are entitled to disagree with my views on Tom Bombadil, or other parts of the Book which do not quite ring true to me (overly fortunate coincidences, for example).
But, in the final analysis, Lirodendron is, to my mind, absolutely right:
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I see the criteria as sell/doesn't sell. LoTR's seems to have passed with flying colors.
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LotR does seem to be one of the most consistently popular Books ever written. Chronos can only tell whether it will stand his test, but it looks to be doing pretty well so far. [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img] [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]
Edit: Technically, Tom appears in three chapters, but I always liked the Barrow-Downs. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]
[ November 07, 2003: Message edited by: The Saucepan Man ]