Tolkien the naturalist - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Laurinquë · 08-30-2008, 03:38 AM

I agree with Nogrod's statement, Tolkien was more of a "make things stay the way they were when I was a kid" kind of person verses an environmentalist. It's not really bad thing, it's better than nothing.

And, on line with what William Cloud Hicklin said, Tolkien seems to be much more appreciative of well-tilled earth than wetlands and wilderness. Notice how the wetlands mentioned are made out to be bad places, the Dead Marshes, the Midgewater Marshes, and how wild areas are seen to be dark and dangerous. It's a very natural way to think, but these days that thinking seems a bit back wards.

I'd also like to know why you think so many fantasy books take place in some pre-industrial/medieval era. That has always puzzled me.

08-30-2008, 03:38 AM	#10
Laurinquë Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 347	I agree with Nogrod's statement, Tolkien was more of a "make things stay the way they were when I was a kid" kind of person verses an environmentalist. It's not really bad thing, it's better than nothing. And, on line with what William Cloud Hicklin said, Tolkien seems to be much more appreciative of well-tilled earth than wetlands and wilderness. Notice how the wetlands mentioned are made out to be bad places, the Dead Marshes, the Midgewater Marshes, and how wild areas are seen to be dark and dangerous. It's a very natural way to think, but these days that thinking seems a bit back wards. I'd also like to know why you think so many fantasy books take place in some pre-industrial/medieval era. That has always puzzled me.