Tolkien and philosophy - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Bombadil · 05-20-2004, 05:12 PM

Perhaps it is so easy for us to apply our life situations to Tolkien's writing because he has truly captured human emotion and behavior. With his study of so many different languages and cultures I believe he gained an overall understanding of the human essence.

What seperates the literature of Tolkien and that of many other fantasies is his creation of languages and geography. Of in-depth history. With this he created a foundation. There was much room for building up from the foundation, but there were still limits, as one cannot build outside a foundation. I see these limits to be of a human nature - that by creating something that is so essential to our living, he laid down a strong foundation that kept him form leaving the reality of humanity.

But to connect this with the thread, I believe Tolkien could've written this applicably symbolic novel without need of trying to, because staying within that foundation created a relationship between the readers and the characters.

(It's very hard to explain what I'm getting at, so sorry if it sounds like a bunch of crazy talk!)

05-20-2004, 05:12 PM	#11
Bombadil Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Old Forest Posts: 488	Perhaps it is so easy for us to apply our life situations to Tolkien's writing because he has truly captured human emotion and behavior. With his study of so many different languages and cultures I believe he gained an overall understanding of the human essence. What seperates the literature of Tolkien and that of many other fantasies is his creation of languages and geography. Of in-depth history. With this he created a foundation. There was much room for building up from the foundation, but there were still limits, as one cannot build outside a foundation. I see these limits to be of a human nature - that by creating something that is so essential to our living, he laid down a strong foundation that kept him form leaving the reality of humanity. But to connect this with the thread, I believe Tolkien could've written this applicably symbolic novel without need of trying to, because staying within that foundation created a relationship between the readers and the characters. (It's very hard to explain what I'm getting at, so sorry if it sounds like a bunch of crazy talk!) __________________ "'Eldest, that's what I am... Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn... He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.'"