The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post

***Gilthalion*** · 06-13-2001, 06:15 PM

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hobbitus Emeritus
Posts: 423</TD><TD><img src=http://home.att.net/~robertwgardner/lotrmap.gif WIDTH=60 HEIGHT=60></TD></TR></TABLE>
Re: Book of the Century?

<blockquote>Quote:<hr> I dislike Allegory – the conscious and intentional allegory...<hr></blockquote>

The Fairy Tale, the Heroic Epic suffused with the (religious) morality of the man, is, I think, the UNCONSCIOUS and UNINTENTIONAL allegory.

For example: the debate concerning the Ring being an allegory for the Atom Bomb. Certainly it was not. But, because of the Truths contained in the tale of the Ring, its story is APPLICABLE to the horrible choices of wielding such a terrible weapon.

Likewise, I think, it is fair to say that Tolkien was writing a work that was (and I really must find the quote) religious (specifically Catholic) in its nature. The beauty and the genius of LOTR is that it is not OVERTLY religious. I think it is INTRINSICALLY so. It does not preach. It demonstrates.

<center> ~~~</center>

I think that the issue (paraphrasing) "few if any can remember all the literature of the century so you can't pick one work over the others" is irrelevant.

I do not need to have been alive (and reading) in 1901 to compare GONE WITH THE WIND to LORD OF THE RINGS. Or with any other book of comparable cultural impact. There are relatively few books that have had such an impact. The fact is that LOTR tops, or is near the top, of every such list compiled.

They say that the last person in Western Civilization who might have read every available book that was worth reading was Erasmus, back in the 15th century(?).

While I can't claim to have read all of the available literature of the 20th century (This evening, I walked past a gross of romance literature(?) in the drugstore that I will surely never read!), I am fairly certain that the vast majority of it all can be dismissed.

One need only be concerned with works of fiction that have had great impact upon the culture. Tolkien (practically) singlehandedly created the modern Fantasy genre.

What other author of the 20th Century has done as much?

Since we need only consider works of that magnitude, the list is rather short.

And I am still waiting for someone to make a case for a better or greater work! It's all well and fine and open-minded to say that there must have been a better one written in the last century, but I submit that I ain't read it! I don't think I've even heard of it! If you have, then by all means, turn me on to it! (Even if I disagree, if it's comparable, then I want to read it one day. It's bound to be better than the hackneyed trash that the industry pumps out just to fill space on shelves!)

But in the absence of submissions of a work of comparable impact, majesty, truth, and beauty, I'll stick to my vote for Tolkien's work as the best of the 20th century!

<center><font face=verdana size=1> http://www.barrowdowns.comBarrow-Downs</a>~http://www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000Bare Bones</a>~http://pub41.ezboard.com/btarostineruhirTar Ost-in-Eruhir</a>~http://www.geocities.com/robertwgard...ilthalion.htmlGrand Adventures</a>~http://www.barrowdowns.com/fanfichobbits.aspThe Hobbits</a>~http://www.tolkientrail.comTolkien Trail</a> </center></p>

06-13-2001, 06:15 PM	#18
*Gilthalion* Hobbitus Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: South Farthing Posts: 635	<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hobbitus Emeritus Posts: 423</TD><TD><img src=http://home.att.net/~robertwgardner/lotrmap.gif WIDTH=60 HEIGHT=60></TD></TR></TABLE> Re: Book of the Century? <blockquote>*Quote:<hr> I dislike Allegory – the conscious and intentional allegory...<hr></blockquote> The Fairy Tale, the Heroic Epic suffused with the (religious) morality of the man, is, I think, the UNCONSCIOUS and UNINTENTIONAL allegory. For example: the debate concerning the Ring being an allegory for the Atom Bomb. Certainly it was not. But, because of the Truths contained in the tale of the Ring, its story is APPLICABLE to the horrible choices of wielding such a terrible weapon. Likewise, I think, it is fair to say that Tolkien was writing a work that was (and I really must find the quote) religious (specifically Catholic) in its nature.* The beauty and the genius of LOTR is that it is not OVERTLY religious. I think it is INTRINSICALLY so. It does not preach. It demonstrates. <center> ~~~</center> I think that the issue (paraphrasing) "few if any can remember all the literature of the century so you can't pick one work over the others" is irrelevant. I do not need to have been alive (and reading) in 1901 to compare GONE WITH THE WIND to LORD OF THE RINGS. Or with any other book of comparable cultural impact. There are relatively few books that have had such an impact. The fact is that LOTR tops, or is near the top, of every such list compiled. They say that the last person in Western Civilization who might have read every available book that was worth reading was Erasmus, back in the 15th century(?). While I can't claim to have read all of the available literature of the 20th century (This evening, I walked past a gross of romance literature(?) in the drugstore that I will surely never read!), I am fairly certain that the vast majority of it all can be dismissed. One need only be concerned with works of fiction that have had great impact upon the culture. Tolkien (practically) singlehandedly created the modern Fantasy genre. What other author of the 20th Century has done as much? Since we need only consider works of that magnitude, the list is rather short. And I am still waiting for someone to make a case for a better or greater work! It's all well and fine and open-minded to say that there must have been a better one written in the last century, but I submit that I ain't read it! I don't think I've even heard of it! If you have, then by all means, turn me on to it! (Even if I disagree, if it's comparable, then I want to read it one day. It's bound to be better than the hackneyed trash that the industry pumps out just to fill space on shelves!) But in the absence of submissions of a work of comparable impact, majesty, truth, and beauty, I'll stick to my vote for Tolkien's work as the best of the 20th century! <center><font face=verdana size=1> http://www.barrowdowns.comBarrow-Downs</a>~http://www.geocities.com/robertwgardner2000Bare Bones</a>~http://pub41.ezboard.com/btarostineruhirTar Ost-in-Eruhir</a>~http://www.geocities.com/robertwgard...ilthalion.htmlGrand Adventures</a>~http://www.barrowdowns.com/fanfichobbits.aspThe Hobbits</a>~http://www.tolkientrail.comTolkien Trail</a> </center></p> __________________ Please read my fan fiction novel THE HOBBITS. Wanna hear me read Tolkien? Gilthalion's Grand Adventures!