Off the Map

[Raynor]

In the LotR nomenclature, there are several "genuine English surnames" that appear in the book, where their meaning is related to the story (Bracegirdle, Brockhouse, Fairbarns, Sackville). Places found in the real world (or other writtings) too are Archet, Bamfurlong, Bree, Crack of Doom, Mirkwood. For things' names, we have Lithe and Yule (and all the other Shire Calendar month names) and possibly Pukel.

[davem]

Hmmm

But the interesting thing to my mind is the way this shows how the world of M-e was always in flux. Clearly Tolkien never saw the world as 'finished'. He would add in Inns & streams & such when the inspiration took him, & something as simple as a correspondent's name could lead to new additions to his world.

As I said, what interests me is the way such 'little' things could produce new aspects of his world, go into the leaf mould of the mind.

Of course, we're all familiar, as I pointed out, with the 'big' things that went into the 'soup', but aren't the little things intriguing too? And how many of these sources will be forever hidden? Its easy to write essays, even whole books, on Tolkien's inspirations - The Eddas, the Kalevala, the Sagas of Icelanders & such, but what were the little things - & were they, in their way, just as important? What if Miss Honeybourne hadn't written that letter - because even if Tolkien didn't put the 'Honeybourne' stream/watermeadow into another map, even if he forgot the whole idea a few hours after penning that letter, for a short time at least there was a spot in The Shire where a little stream of sweet water ran through flowery meadows.... And before he received that letter it hadn't. It came into being purely because she wrote to him.

[Raynor]

Originally Posted by davem

But the interesting thing to my mind is the way this shows how the world of M-e was always in flux. Clearly Tolkien never saw the world as 'finished'.

I agree and I believe you are not implying revision here. He did state that the work itself was finished, that he cannot substantially alter it. Adding some new names on a map, in a manner that would not alter the story, would not contradict this statement from letter #131.

[davem]

Originally Posted by Raynor

I agree and I believe you are not implying revision here. He did state that the work itself was finished, that he cannot substantially alter it. Adding some new names on a map, in a manner that would not alter the story, would not contradict this statement from letter #131.

Aah, but the thing about Middle-earth is that the world seems to exist apart from the story that happens in it. And that's what interests me (though actually he did make small alterations to the story after it was first finished - 1st edition refers to the Golden House of Finrod, 2nd to the Golden House of Finarfin, however, I digress...). The story may have been finished, but the world, in small ways at least, was not - he could add - or perhaps we should say 'discover' new places as the whim took him.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

1st edition refers to the Golden House of Finrod, 2nd to the Golden House of Finarfin, however, I digress

Not exactly. The 2nd edition retained "Finrod" in that line. It's so given in my ca. 1970 printing. Changed first to Finarphin and then Finarfin post- 1973 on Christopher's recommendation. And "Gildor Inglorion of the House of Finrod" has never been emended.

[davem]

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hickli

Not exactly. The 2nd edition retained "Finrod" in that line. It's so given in my ca. 1970 printing. Changed first to Finarphin and then Finarfin post- 1973 on Christopher's recommendation. And "Gildor Inglorion of the House of Finrod" has never been emended.

I stand corrected. I only have a 1965/6 first edition & a 1992 second ed along with the fifthieth anniversary h/b's.