Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Bęthberry
I'm not sure if this is the place to ask this, but I am curious about how you will answer. If the subcreation is or should be read "as if real", how are we readers to take the various passages which refer to LotR's nature as story? The example which most recently comes to my mind is Sam's and Frodo's conversation in the chapter "The Stairs of Cirith Ungol."
Is this Tolkien's way of incorporating in his story his thoughts from "On Fairy Stories"? Is this his way of suggesting that LotR must be read as a real history come out of the past legends? For myself, this does not destroy any of the great magic of Tolkien's writing but it does bring to the fore thoughts about the differences between story and real life.
Any thoughts?
|
Bb-- there's a difference? .....I'm only half kidding.
The telltale phrase for me is " 'The Author of the Story' (by which I do not mean myself.) "
What serious gardener maintains a careful separation between soil and plants?