If you could ask J.R.R. Tolkien One (1) Question, what would it be?

[Merri]

I could stick with one question to ask him, but I wouldn't like it. From the one letter of his that I've read, it seems like he was a fascinating person that I'd be able to talk with for hours and not get bored. Anyway, here's the question I'd ask him:

At any point in the course of writing the novels, did you ever just feel like giving up, and if so, what helped you continue?

Because Lord of the Rings is pretty lengthy. I think most people would be daunted by the idea of writing a work like that, but that could just be me . . .

Oh, and I'd ask him, once and for all, whether he meant for Lord of the Rings to be anything more than an adventure story.

[ December 29, 2002: Message edited by: Merri ]