I never equated The Shire with anything to do with America. I always thought that Tolkein, being British, had based The Shire on Somerset and Gloucestershire and other Wessex areas. Coming from that area myself, walking around and sitting in pubs around there always reminds me of the shire.
DOn't know what my point is really, but its interesting to know about that student (or teacher) from Kentucky.
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The pain of war cannot exceed the woe of aftermath,
The drums will shake the castle wall, the ring wraiths ride in black, Ride on.
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