Tolkien's 'Smith of Wootton Major' & George MacDonald's 'Phantastes': A Comparison

[Folwren]

Interesting topic, Elempi. I have very little to say because I read both those stories some time ago and don't remember either of them very well.

However, my opinion on this:

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

SWoM is said to be allegorical. Is that also true of Phantastes? Are there degrees of "purposed domination by the author"?

Pop and my older sister have both read Phantastes and both like it and I am pretty sure that they both saw some sort of allegory in it, but I have to admit that it escapes me. However, I will say that I can't imagine MacDonald writing anything without some allegorical meaning to it.

Have you read Lilith, Elempi? I think Pop and my sister liked that one even better than Phantastes.

As for me, I prefer SoWM to Phantastes, so far as I recall.

Do you think that Tolkien, as well as Lewis, learned from and used some of MacDonald's writings and teachings and lessons?

-- Folwren