Bethberry: The discussion you relate in that 19th century book refers to an archetype, of the Homemaker or Serving Woman, or some such name (Nar probably can identify the precise archetype). Goldberry does indeed draw from this archetype, but it is not the only one from which she draws. For me, she draws from the Homemaker, the Faerie-maiden (Riverdaughter), AND the Honored Matron/Mother-of-all. Tolkien has indeed packed a lot into her.
Reginald Hall: Actually, I think Tolkien wrote the Shire section quite early, such as in the late 30's or early 40's. It was only later, when he was writing the scene of Weathertop, that the story took on the powerful and deep mythic and epic tone. For more on this you might want to check out Christopher Tolkien's publications, entitled something like "History of the War of the Ring," or something.
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