Thanks for the link, Sophia. I think I may revive this thread. I don't have very sophisticated points to give but this is a fascinating discussion, so I hope people will continue it!
OK, I have to agree with whoever said this:
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davem, I wonder, what leads you to so categorically conclude that all the tales and poems of ME are necessarily based on historical events
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How do we know how much of the Sil is "true"? Take Beren and Luthien. Perhaps the shape changing is to be seen as embellishment and what they actually did was to camouflage themselves? This is the kind of tale that springs up in our world- so why not ME too?
In addition, I know lots of people have said this, but LOTR coincides with centuries ago in our world, when their fiction was songs, legends, etc- not Catherine Cookson novels!
Finally, can you imagine the Elves reading novels? I can't, I think they wouldn't be high brow enough, and anyway the Elves like the community "performance" type of tale. Dwarves? I have to say no, it doesn't quite fit. Gondorians? In their troubled lives, would they have the time or inclination? Lets not forget they have to spend a LOT longer doing chores due to lack of washing machines, etc too. The Rohirrim aren't known for being very creative- as Faramir points out when he says Gondor is becoming too like them. Which leaves, pretty much, the Hobbits and Bree dwellers who we get told about in any detail. But not that many Hobbits can read or write, which probably holds true for Bree, as well. So who is going to read ME novels? And if there's no audience why would you create them?