LOTR and your Weltanschauung - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

mark12_30 · 12-12-2003, 03:28 PM

Mr. Underhill, what a great thread. Fascinating to read how many lives are shaped by the Legendarium...

Listing my major cultural influences, I'd say 5% (perhaps less) "Once and Future King", 10% "Chronicles of Narnia", 20% "Star Trek" (including my dad's deep critical analyses of Kirk's decisions) and the rest-- about 65%?-- Tolkien.

I read the trilogy at 12 or 13 yrs of age.

Elves, elves, elves. Lothlorien was The Place to Be, Rivendell was pretty good too; and there one found Virtue, Holiness, Truth, Honesty, Justice, Sincerity, Love of what is Good. The natural beauty, the harmony with nature, and the singing (in the trees! under the stars!) didn't hurt either. Aragorn, and Frodo, and Faramir, showed such integrity, I always admired and trusted them. Gondor showed valor as did Rohan.

What wasn't affected by this during my teenage years? Not much. Art, music, writing... elvish or Gondorian, or Rohirric. I majored in physics because I wanted to be an astronomer; love of the stars, which came from the elves. Ballet and flute were a direct result of "Tinuviel was dancing there to music of a pipe unseen." Celtic music; harp (I made one from scrap lumber). The clothes I chose, the jewellry... what I listened to. Anything that reminded me of Tolkien musically: celtic I mentioned already. Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell haunted me with a few Tolkienish songs. Moody Blues and Tuesday afternoon. Tschaikovsky was especially ultra-cool because all of his music was obviously about elves and hobbits; you could tell just by listening. Anything that reminded me of Tolkien's elves and hobbits was intriguing.

Naturally I tried to find more books of that caliber. But of all the other realms I looked into, none ever really "held water" after Lord of the Rings. I kept hoping to find that integrity, love of truth and goodness, holiness, virtue. I tossed many fantasy novels aside in sheer disgust. Nothing came close.

Eventually, I found those things in The Gospels, and recognized there what I had loved from the first. And the more I read the Letters of Tolkien, the more I believe that that is exactly what he intended; that his sub-creation myth would point to what he called "The One True Myth": incarnation, death, resurrection, new creation.

In that (rather evangelical) sense, Tolkien was the most effective element drawing me toward the gospel and the savior. I hope someday I can tell him "thanks."

(Edit: do I think I would be a different person without Tolkien's influence? Vastly.)

mark12_30 · 08-31-2004, 06:21 AM

A treasure hidden deep.... Up it comes.

Encaitare · 08-31-2004, 11:46 AM

I would say that LotR has most definitely changed my view of the world. When I first read it I was going through that typical early-teen period of self-discovery and a whole lot of self criticism. I hated my life (now that I look back -- okay, it's not that far back! -- I can't even remember why) and was generally going through a difficult time. Around that time I had a major spiritual revelation that has changed my life so much for the better, and reading LotR then helped me shape my views. It has taught me tolerance, love, and respect for all people and for nature, which are key to my personal beliefs. It has also taught me that everything is fleeting, and even the most beautiful things must eventually pass away, so we should enjoy them while they are still here.

On a slightly more mundane basis, it has only served to increase my love for reading and my interest in poetry. It's exposed me to works such as Beowulf which inspired LotR, and has made me a much better writer.

Imladris · 08-31-2004, 11:47 AM

Well, I can't really say that Lord of the Rings has changed me. I read it when I was young (before the teen years), and I think it gave shape to the idea of nobility and self sacrifice. It was real to me, and I could see the beautiful things of our world fade like it did in Middle Earth.

I must say that it also got me hooked on fantasy...

12-12-2003, 03:28 PM	#1
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	Mr. Underhill, what a great thread. Fascinating to read how many lives are shaped by the Legendarium... Listing my major cultural influences, I'd say 5% (perhaps less) "Once and Future King", 10% "Chronicles of Narnia", 20% "Star Trek" (including my dad's deep critical analyses of Kirk's decisions) and the rest-- about 65%?-- Tolkien. I read the trilogy at 12 or 13 yrs of age. Elves, elves, elves. Lothlorien was The Place to Be, Rivendell was pretty good too; and there one found Virtue, Holiness, Truth, Honesty, Justice, Sincerity, Love of what is Good. The natural beauty, the harmony with nature, and the singing (in the trees! under the stars!) didn't hurt either. Aragorn, and Frodo, and Faramir, showed such integrity, I always admired and trusted them. Gondor showed valor as did Rohan. What wasn't affected by this during my teenage years? Not much. Art, music, writing... elvish or Gondorian, or Rohirric. I majored in physics because I wanted to be an astronomer; love of the stars, which came from the elves. Ballet and flute were a direct result of "Tinuviel was dancing there to music of a pipe unseen." Celtic music; harp (I made one from scrap lumber). The clothes I chose, the jewellry... what I listened to. Anything that reminded me of Tolkien musically: celtic I mentioned already. Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell haunted me with a few Tolkienish songs. Moody Blues and Tuesday afternoon. Tschaikovsky was especially ultra-cool because all of his music was obviously about elves and hobbits; you could tell just by listening. Anything that reminded me of Tolkien's elves and hobbits was intriguing. Naturally I tried to find more books of that caliber. But of all the other realms I looked into, none ever really "held water" after Lord of the Rings. I kept hoping to find that integrity, love of truth and goodness, holiness, virtue. I tossed many fantasy novels aside in sheer disgust. Nothing came close. Eventually, I found those things in The Gospels, and recognized there what I had loved from the first. And the more I read the Letters of Tolkien, the more I believe that that is exactly what he intended; that his sub-creation myth would point to what he called "The One True Myth": incarnation, death, resurrection, new creation. In that (rather evangelical) sense, Tolkien was the most effective element drawing me toward the gospel and the savior. I hope someday I can tell him "thanks." (Edit: do I think I would be a different person without Tolkien's influence? Vastly.) __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve. Last edited by mark12_30; 11-26-2004 at 10:11 PM.

08-31-2004, 06:21 AM	#2
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	A treasure hidden deep.... Up it comes. __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.

08-31-2004, 11:46 AM	#3
Encaitare Bittersweet Symphony Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: On the jolly starship Enterprise Posts: 1,814	I would say that LotR has most definitely changed my view of the world. When I first read it I was going through that typical early-teen period of self-discovery and a whole lot of self criticism. I hated my life (now that I look back -- okay, it's not that far back! -- I can't even remember why) and was generally going through a difficult time. Around that time I had a major spiritual revelation that has changed my life so much for the better, and reading LotR then helped me shape my views. It has taught me tolerance, love, and respect for all people and for nature, which are key to my personal beliefs. It has also taught me that everything is fleeting, and even the most beautiful things must eventually pass away, so we should enjoy them while they are still here. On a slightly more mundane basis, it has only served to increase my love for reading and my interest in poetry. It's exposed me to works such as Beowulf which inspired LotR, and has made me a much better writer. Last edited by Encaitare; 08-31-2004 at 11:52 AM.

08-31-2004, 11:47 AM	#4
Imladris Tears of the Phoenix Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Putting dimes in the jukebox baby. Posts: 1,453	Well, I can't really say that Lord of the Rings has changed me. I read it when I was young (before the teen years), and I think it gave shape to the idea of nobility and self sacrifice. It was real to me, and I could see the beautiful things of our world fade like it did in Middle Earth. I must say that it also got me hooked on fantasy... __________________ I'm sorry it wasn't a unicorn. It would have been nice to have unicorns. I'm your huckleberry.