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***Gilthalion*** · 06-11-2001, 06:20 AM

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Re: Book of the Century?

I think the exact quotes can be dug up from Tolkien's Letters, but for now, I'll confirm that, yes, the author himself saw it as a Christian, and especially Catholic, body of work.

Obviously, he didn't think it directly so.

Rather, he thought that the Fairy Tale, as a genre, had as its purpose, a quest for Truth. He viewed his own work in this light. I think one can look at the criticism his work receives, and see that Tolkien's critics agree that the work is filled with Decency and Morality and Virtue.

This is IMHO their primary motivation for despising it! To them, literature should be all about flawed character, darkness, perversion, and depravity, or it is not worth writing. To them, Tolkien's anti-modernist, absolutist, Good vs. Evil views are outmoded and dangerous.

Nevertheless, Tolkien's work does exactly what he intended it to do. It resonates with the Truth he knew and the Higher sense of Duty and Purpose resonate within the reader as well.

Even those who have as yet rejected the religion of the author, are forced to confirm or confront the great facts of Good and Evil. The magic of storytelling, the suspension of disbelief, the catharsis of being caught up in a great tale and feeling the emotions of persons caught up in the grand war of Light and Darkness, these are what ultimately happen to the reader of such literature.

The critics of Tolkien, who prefer works that celebrate Darkness while denying the truths of moral absolutes, would deny this great author and his tales their rightful place in the literary "canon." (They must even borrow such terms from the very religion they deny!)

The success of Middle-earth, despite all that the intelligentsia can do to suppress it's worth in a Politically Correct age, demonstrates not only its greatness (and it is great because it is good), but the stunted vision of those who would decide for us what is worth reading and watching, and what is not.

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06-11-2001, 06:20 AM	#8
*Gilthalion* Hobbitus Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: South Farthing Posts: 635	<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hobbitus Emeritus Posts: 419</TD><TD><img src=http://home.att.net/~robertwgardner/lotrmap.gif WIDTH=60 HEIGHT=60></TD></TR></TABLE> Re: Book of the Century? I think the exact quotes can be dug up from Tolkien's Letters, but for now, I'll confirm that, yes, the author himself saw it as a Christian, and especially Catholic, body of work. Obviously, he didn't think it directly so. Rather, he thought that the Fairy Tale, as a genre, had as its purpose, a quest for Truth. He viewed his own work in this light. I think one can look at the criticism his work receives, and see that Tolkien's critics agree that the work is filled with Decency and Morality and Virtue. This is IMHO their primary motivation for despising it! To them, literature should be all about flawed character, darkness, perversion, and depravity, or it is not worth writing. To them, Tolkien's anti-modernist, absolutist, Good vs. Evil views are outmoded and dangerous. Nevertheless, Tolkien's work does exactly what he intended it to do. It resonates with the Truth he knew and the Higher sense of Duty and Purpose resonate within the reader as well. Even those who have as yet rejected the religion of the author, are forced to confirm or confront the great facts of Good and Evil. The magic of storytelling, the suspension of disbelief, the catharsis of being caught up in a great tale and feeling the emotions of persons caught up in the grand war of Light and Darkness, these are what ultimately happen to the reader of such literature. The critics of Tolkien, who prefer works that celebrate Darkness while denying the truths of moral absolutes, would deny this great author and his tales their rightful place in the literary "canon." (They must even borrow such terms from the very religion they deny!) The success of Middle-earth, despite all that the intelligentsia can do to suppress it's worth in a Politically Correct age, demonstrates not only its greatness (and it is great because it is good), but the stunted vision of those who would decide for us what is worth reading and watching, and what is not. <center><font face=verdana size=1> http://www.barrowdowns.comBarrow-Downs</a>~http://www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000Bare Bones</a>~http://pub41.ezboard.com/btarostineruhirTar Ost-in-Eruhir</a>~http://www.geocities.com/robertwgard...ilthalion.htmlGrand Adventures</a>~http://www.barrowdowns.com/fanfichobbits.aspThe Hobbits</a>~http://www.tolkientrail.comTolkien Trail</a> </center></p> __________________ Please read my fan fiction novel THE HOBBITS. Wanna hear me read Tolkien? Gilthalion's Grand Adventures!