What would LOTR be like without The Silmarillion and The Hobbit? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

The Sixth Wizard · 05-27-2006, 10:17 PM

When J.R.R Tolkien first wrote The Silmarillion and The Hobbit he never intended them to be the same world, adding names like Elrond only for his own enjoyment, I do believe. But what would LOTR be like without the Hobbit's influence? In my own opinion, without The Hobbit , the Lord of the Rings would be most probably like The Silmarillion, interesting, true, but people like me who started out reading the book for its storyline and not the mythological background would never buy it. And without the influence of The Silmarillion what would LOTR be like? Probably just like The Hobbit, more for younger readers? I'm just a newbie to The Silmarillion side of things and that's why I put this thread in the Newcomer forum, but what are your opinions?

davem · 05-28-2006, 01:45 AM

You make an interesting point. All three are interconnected & dependent on each other. So, without all TH & The Sil Tolkien could never have produced LotR.

However, from the reader's viewpoint I don't think all three are 'necessary' - ie, you don't need to have read The Sil to understand & appreciate, even love, TH & LotR. Neither do you need to have read TH & The Sil to love LotR, or The Sil & LotR to love TH. All three works can stand alone for the reader, as they could not have done for the Author.

Lalwendë · 05-29-2006, 10:38 AM

The whole generation of fans who have grown to love Tolkien through the films did not need The Hobbit. I'm sure many of these fans will have gone on to read LOTR as they loved the films so much, but maybe left the Hobbit until later. So, no, you do not need to read The Hobbit, but I would always advise it being any reader's first stop if possible, even before the films.

05-27-2006, 10:17 PM	#1
The Sixth Wizard Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stuck under a rock in Valinor with Ar-Pharazon. Posts: 483	What would LOTR be like without The Silmarillion and The Hobbit? When J.R.R Tolkien first wrote The Silmarillion and The Hobbit he never intended them to be the same world, adding names like Elrond only for his own enjoyment, I do believe. But what would LOTR be like without the Hobbit's influence? In my own opinion, without The Hobbit , the Lord of the Rings would be most probably like The Silmarillion, interesting, true, but people like me who started out reading the book for its storyline and not the mythological background would never buy it. And without the influence of The Silmarillion what would LOTR be like? Probably just like The Hobbit, more for younger readers? I'm just a newbie to The Silmarillion side of things and that's why I put this thread in the Newcomer forum, but what are your opinions?

05-28-2006, 01:45 AM	#2
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	You make an interesting point. All three are interconnected & dependent on each other. So, without all TH & The Sil Tolkien could never have produced LotR. However, from the reader's viewpoint I don't think all three are 'necessary' - ie, you don't need to have read The Sil to understand & appreciate, even love, TH & LotR. Neither do you need to have read TH & The Sil to love LotR, or The Sil & LotR to love TH. All three works can stand alone for the reader, as they could not have done for the Author. __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."

05-29-2006, 10:38 AM	#3
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,750	The whole generation of fans who have grown to love Tolkien through the films did not need The Hobbit. I'm sure many of these fans will have gone on to read LOTR as they loved the films so much, but maybe left the Hobbit until later. So, no, you do not need to read The Hobbit, but I would always advise it being any reader's first stop if possible, even before the films. __________________ Gordon's alive!