Leaf by Niggle, etc... - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Nar · 07-08-2002, 02:52 PM

Thanks Estelyn, it's been a long while since I read that. I did think Niggle had moved on to a better place, but I thought it was a higher level of purgatory and he still had further to travel as the story ended. I thought that shift in the middle of the story was an amazingly gutsy plot twist. I'll have to read it again-- a very haunting story. I'll never forget Tolkien's image of that single leaf that represented the huge and beautiful tree.

I've read Smith of Wooton Major, Littlemanpoet, it's a strange, cool, silvery tale. Yes, I remember the passing of the 'gift' of faerie-- through a Christmas cake! We should all treat that fruitcake with more respect. (Ok, it wasn't exactly a fruitcake, it was frosted. But it might well have had fruit in it, traditional christmas cakes usually did. It could have been the fruitcake of faerie!) The image of the star on the forehead as a sign of the gift was lovely. I think I'll have to read that one again also. As I recall, most of Smith's adventures in the land of faerie weren't described. Tolkien concentrated on his entry into the land and the passing of the gift. It was very much about stages of life and initiations.

I believe I have read the poem of Bilbo's last journey, Sharon, somewhere on the web it must have been. More transitions-- studio to purgatory to heaven, ordinary life to faerie world to sage by the fireplace, Middle Earth to Sea to Tol Eressea and on. Even Tom has a transition in his 'Adventures' --finding Goldberry and giving up the bachelor life. Doesn't seem to dimn his spirits any, obviously enigmas are good at transitions.

[ July 08, 2002: Message edited by: Nar ]

07-08-2002, 02:52 PM	#13
Nar Wight Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 228	Thanks Estelyn, it's been a long while since I read that. I did think Niggle had moved on to a better place, but I thought it was a higher level of purgatory and he still had further to travel as the story ended. I thought that shift in the middle of the story was an amazingly gutsy plot twist. I'll have to read it again-- a very haunting story. I'll never forget Tolkien's image of that single leaf that represented the huge and beautiful tree. I've read Smith of Wooton Major, Littlemanpoet, it's a strange, cool, silvery tale. Yes, I remember the passing of the 'gift' of faerie-- through a Christmas cake! We should all treat that fruitcake with more respect. (Ok, it wasn't exactly a fruitcake, it was frosted. But it might well have had fruit in it, traditional christmas cakes usually did. It could have been the fruitcake of faerie!) The image of the star on the forehead as a sign of the gift was lovely. I think I'll have to read that one again also. As I recall, most of Smith's adventures in the land of faerie weren't described. Tolkien concentrated on his entry into the land and the passing of the gift. It was very much about stages of life and initiations. I believe I have read the poem of Bilbo's last journey, Sharon, somewhere on the web it must have been. More transitions-- studio to purgatory to heaven, ordinary life to faerie world to sage by the fireplace, Middle Earth to Sea to Tol Eressea and on. Even Tom has a transition in his 'Adventures' --finding Goldberry and giving up the bachelor life. Doesn't seem to dimn his spirits any, obviously enigmas are good at transitions. [ July 08, 2002: Message edited by: Nar ]