21st Century Tolkien

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by davem

I'm sure our medieval ancestors would have favoured The Sil over LotR, because TS is a High Epic of Gods & Heroes, whereas LotR (&TH) are stories of ordinary blokes doing extraordinary things. So, for me, Sam is Tolkien's greatest hero. He's who we are at our best - or what we'd like our best to be. Sam 'earths' the whole Legendarium & gives it meaning. The world of TS is too 'distant', the world of the Hobbits still feels as if its 'just round the corner'. They are what provide the link to the world of TS, & what give it whatever attraction it has for me.

Hmm. I'm not so sure that our medieval ancestors would necessarily have gone always for High Epic of Gods & Heroes. Think of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Some of the most boring stories--and told at the expense of their pilgrim tellers--are the high ones. And The Miller's Tale with all its ribald humour was quite popular, as is The Wife of Bath's prologue and tale. And the most scurrilous pilgrim tells the most pious tale. I don't think a medieval audience would have looked askance at Sam. There's much there with his pans and his conies that would have fit right in with medieval life--not the Arthurian kind maybe, but Arthur's Round Table is not necessarily the most representative of the art of the time.

Gosh, elempi, there we go again.