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Old 08-09-2002, 07:28 AM   #596
littlemanpoet
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Location: The Edge of Faerie
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Just by way of a quick reply in general because I don't have much time, a distinction is in order re Tolkien imitation:

On one hand there are the archetypes and formulae of myth and fantasy (which Tolkien used, of course) such as elves, dwarves, dragons, castles, mythic evil, quest, etc.

On the other hand there's the small human-like race of hobbits, the elvish language, the powerful magical artefact to be destroyed, etc.

See the difference?

Thus, Eol, I take exception to your characterization of all of it as childish (I may misunderstand you). The notion that myth and fantasy is Childish is one of the things Tolkien tried in his On Faerie Stories to excise from the mentality of people of his own era, and we hope, later times as well.
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