An interesting thread [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]
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... the lack of limitations placed on that work by the Author. We should all take a moment to concider that and give thanks that it is so.
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I agree, and that is in a way the basis of my point. Like any great work, Tolkien's LotR draws us in, and we feel both some kind of implicit and personal understanding of, and indentification with, the narrative. And from there comes our analytical interpretation of his words in our own way, and our desire to discuss (and argue) the possible meanings etc. here amongst people who share the respect and admiration for his writing.
To me, in many ways the
mystery and 'lack of limitations' are part of the magic and universality of the books. For example, I have had plenty of arguments on these boards with people who assert that his narratives are explicitly Christian apologia. I may think one thing, and they another, but we are all entitled to hold, and share, our differing views. The point is that they are indeed our views, and sometimes fairly tenuously related to the conceptions of Tolkien himself, which is why I quite like to leave some room for that individual magic, to allow imagination (mine, or any reader's) to make the most of his narratives.
Where the discussion becomes particularly analytical ie. "Tolkien wrote this because he thought that" etc., or "Although Tolkien didn't say so, his work is definitely a Buddhist allegory" etc., [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] then in my view a good solid debate will involve some challenging or oppositional insights. The last thing I want is to join a self-congratulatory clique, and unlike many similar ventures the Barrow-Downs boards are wonderfully diverse and full of clever people (such as you) and argumentative people (such as me [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img] ).
My points in answer to your various posts were really along those lines - that we can of course place our own extended or extrapolated theories upon Tolkien's cosmology, "filling in the gaps", so to speak (and, yours included, these are often thought-provoking and well articulated) - but that this should from time to time be put in the context of the author and his work itself. Partly, simply, to maintain the 'lack of limitations' for which, like you, I am thankful [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]
Compliments again on the intelligent and insightful contributions to this thread [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]
Peace [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]