I believe
jallanite may have posted this (or at least made some remarks about it). Yes, here we go:
http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showpos...&postcount=151
I eventually did watch Drout's lecture and while I wouldn't go so far as
jallanite did in that thread (describing it as "nonsense") I don't recall finding what he said necessarily something I agreed with. His take on it is still interesting, and I certainly agree with you
Squatter regarding
The Ruin. Perhaps he didn't dwell on it too much because Tom Shippey already made the connection?
I actually had a short section on
The Ruin in a (scrapped) chapter of my PhD thesis (which I submitted last week, incidentally, hooray). It's interesting to observe how that poem, much like some of Professor Tolkien's works, rejects Classical notions of man's mastery over nature.
Personally, I try to avoid reading Professor Tolkien's work as a kind of quasi-medieval text, because it isn't medieval, it's modern. I prefer to read it as a modern work with modern connections and themes.
Nonetheless I enjoy Drout's style to an extent, although I seem to recall finding parts of it a touch too facetious. I believe he references They Might Be Giants, one of my favourite bands, which is nice.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Squatter of Amon Rūdh
I'm reminded of Yeats:
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You've quoted my favourite Yeats poem there (and Yeats happens to be my favourite poet). I've always had a soft spot for "Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven". It's not unlike Professor Tolkien's remarks about exposing his heart to be shot at, is it not? Although Yeats' is rather about an unrequited love, I believe.