New Style...Why? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Turin · 02-28-2005, 08:02 AM

It is true that it is more difficult to place LoTR into a particular category, since its "style" is accessible to people of most ages, whereas TH is primarily a children's book and probably only adult fans of JRRT would probably want to read it as they get older.

The Hobbit was only published accidently; JRRT had (I believe) lent it to someone who knew someone.. etc). Therefore, when he wrote it, he didn't really have a clear thought in his mind about his reading audience, since he was writing purely for pleasure with the view to entertain his children.

Of course, the LoTR was created from a direct result of the unexpected popularity of TH. Therefore, JRRT had a purpose in mind: to write a sequel (supposedly another children's book) for an anticipating audience. Indeed, as others have mentioned, the initial style that JRRT used was similar to the style of TH. However, he soon became inspired and suddenly the sequel took a different path. As a perfectionist, Tolkien realised that with the type of story that he had in mind would reqiure a different strategy. LoTR was to be bigger, more character-centred, more plot driven, more detailed, more serious etc. It was to encompass the simplistic "hobbit-like" style of TH, with the more "adult" style from his own private mythology.

02-28-2005, 08:02 AM	#8
Turin Animated Skeleton Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Birmingham, England Posts: 37	It is true that it is more difficult to place LoTR into a particular category, since its "style" is accessible to people of most ages, whereas TH is primarily a children's book and probably only adult fans of JRRT would probably want to read it as they get older. The Hobbit was only published accidently; JRRT had (I believe) lent it to someone who knew someone.. etc). Therefore, when he wrote it, he didn't really have a clear thought in his mind about his reading audience, since he was writing purely for pleasure with the view to entertain his children. Of course, the LoTR was created from a direct result of the unexpected popularity of TH. Therefore, JRRT had a purpose in mind: to write a sequel (supposedly another children's book) for an anticipating audience. Indeed, as others have mentioned, the initial style that JRRT used was similar to the style of TH. However, he soon became inspired and suddenly the sequel took a different path. As a perfectionist, Tolkien realised that with the type of story that he had in mind would reqiure a different strategy. LoTR was to be bigger, more character-centred, more plot driven, more detailed, more serious etc. It was to encompass the simplistic "hobbit-like" style of TH, with the more "adult" style from his own private mythology. __________________ Master of Doom!!!