What would Tolkien think?

[Child of the 7th Age]

To me, the question posed by Mithadan is an intriguing one. In this particular thread, posters went galloping off in one direction (among many they might have chosen to go). But I wanted to draw the question up again, and restate it in its original form:

What might the professor think of all our interpretations and hair splitting (of which I myself will confess great guilt!) rather than simply appreciating the tales as a form of entertainment? Do we take ourselves, and these writings too seriously? Or would you argue perhaps that society as a whole doesn't take them seriously enough?

sharon, the 7th age hobbit

[ September 09, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]