Tolkien the Matricide - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Birdland · 04-18-2002, 06:45 AM

Good points, King C. and Nefer.

Mho - yes, you did site other instances, but then you try to negate the question by stating that "people die". Yes, stuff happens, but we're talking about a specfic literary conceit that is shared by most Heroes in folklore.

C of 7.A - I can't believe I'm saying this: I disagree with you! Because, again it ignores the point that so many other authors choose to eliminate the mother figure from their heroes' lives. Though I don't doubt that Tolkien was profoundly effected by his loss. (Regarding Primula's demise. Yes, it makes Hobbit's seem to be a blood-thirsty lot. I just put it down to them being people living in a safe, insulated, "boring" society, who were trying to spice up life with a good piece of gossip. Not the most noble of hobbit or human traits, but natural.)

So it seems that I'm not just imaginging this. But I wonder if this is purely a European convention, or if folklore in other cultures demand that the hero be a "motherless chile"?

04-18-2002, 06:45 AM	#8
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	Good points, King C. and Nefer. Mho - yes, you did site other instances, but then you try to negate the question by stating that "people die". Yes, stuff happens, but we're talking about a specfic literary conceit that is shared by most Heroes in folklore. C of 7.A - I can't believe I'm saying this: I disagree with you! Because, again it ignores the point that so many other authors choose to eliminate the mother figure from their heroes' lives. Though I don't doubt that Tolkien was profoundly effected by his loss. (Regarding Primula's demise. Yes, it makes Hobbit's seem to be a blood-thirsty lot. I just put it down to them being people living in a safe, insulated, "boring" society, who were trying to spice up life with a good piece of gossip. Not the most noble of hobbit or human traits, but natural.) So it seems that I'm not just imaginging this. But I wonder if this is purely a European convention, or if folklore in other cultures demand that the hero be a "motherless chile"?