Fragment of
Foreward to Lord of the Rings.
Quote:
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Other arrangements could be devised according to the tastes or views of those who like allegory or topical refrence. But i cordially dislike allegory in all its manefestations, and i always have done so since i grew old and wary enough to detect its presence. I much prefer history, true or feigned, with its varied applicability to the thought and experience of readers. I think that many confuse 'applicability' with 'allegory'; but the one resides in the freedom of the reader, and the other in the purposed domination of the author.
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And another essential quote
Quote:
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By 1918 all but one of my close friends were dead. Or to take a less grieveous matter: it has been supposed by some that 'The Scouring of the Shire' reflects the situation in England at the time when i was finishing my tale. It does not. It is an essential part of the plot, foreseen from the outset, though in the event modified by the character of Sauruman as developed in the story without, need I say, any allegorical significance or contemporary political refrence whatsoever.
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Quotes from Tollkien's Foreward to Lord of the Rings
As you can see, Tolkien feels very strongly on the topic of allegory regarding his work. If you have the Extended Fellowship of the Ring DVD set, i reccomend watching the 'The Tolkien Doccumentary' on the first disc of the Appendecies, in full. It states many points about his [Tolkien's] views on 'allegory' in his works. Also as Burrahobbit suggested, read the
Foreward to Lord of the Rings in full to get a better understanding.
[ January 28, 2003: Message edited by: Iargwath ]