LotR, an Edwardian Adventure Story?

[littlemanpoet]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

Well, it seems to me that there is some kind of concensus here that the description of Tolkien's work as Edwardian is flawed.

Quite. Flawed but worth discussing, even if the book is not readily available, which is a problem.

Originally Posted by Bb

A good thing, too, as most paradigms are limiting. Also, to see his work in light of the Edwardian values concerning the upper classes would, I think, prompt the tendency to see the elves as members of an aristocratic class that had little interest in other denizens of Middle earth and which was shortly to be swept away by the rising hoards of workers, aka the hobbits and men. Not something that I think Tolkien had in mind.

This would be a misconstruction of what Lobdell had in mind, according to my (perhaps just as flawed) reading. The Elves in LotR would be comparable to the extraordinary that the "we happy few" confront in their travels. The fellowship starts in a familiar, Edwardian locale, which it leaves behind for strange places where the extraordinary is found.

I would have to agree that Englishness as preaching seems a bit narrow, if not downright unfortunate.

This is some ways away from Edwardian literature, but perhaps something can be found in Lobdell's theory concerning the relationships of boys and men, an aspect which Tolkien would have found in both his ancient sagas and Edwardian literature.

Pray might you consider informing us less well informed, as to what you are implying?

Here are a few links for those who care to pursue them: the first is another book by Lobdell, more recent (2005), which appears as if it may be an improvement upon his 'Edwardian adventure story' thesis of 1981.

A note I discovered, which does not surprise me considering some of the things Lobdell says: he is a Barfieldian. Which I am as well. To understand what that means, check out Mythic Unities in LotR.

Finally, here's a little note that serves (at least a little) to 'bio' this Tolkienite/Barfieldian Lobdell.