*listens to the many interesting posts on this topic*
Thank you,
Tigerlily Gamgee, for raising this topic. I am tempted to say much, but will restrain my enthusiasm to just one question, which might arise because of cultural differences. Coming from the Old Forest (ie, Canada), I have an historical perspective different from that of many Americans.
Here's an historical reference which I have seen twice in the last week here at Barrow-Downs:
Quote:
|
The (Edwardian) hobbits of the Shire, reflecting a late 19th century sensibility, valued community, family, knowledge, oh, and food.
|
Now, to me, 'Edwardian' refers to the opulence and self-satisfaction which were cultural keynotes of the reign of Edward VII, king of England from 1901-1910. A '19th century sensibility' would refer to the reign of Queen Victoria, from 1837 - 1901, a reign which saw the Industrial Revolution , um, revolutionize life in England, moving production of goods and services out of the home and guilds and small business into large factories. So I have great difficulty seeing The Shire described by either of those historical periods. Must be because I am a subject [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] of Elizabeth II.
*curtsies politely to all*
Bethberry
PS. I have always understood that little interchange between Ioreth and Aragorn over
athelas/kingsfoil to represent a difference between ancient male learnedness (read, Greek and Latin) and the womanly culture of oral lore (read, English). After all, it is Ioreth who remembers the old saying that the hands of the King are the hands of a Healer, and Gandalf rightly acknowledges her wisdom. (chapter ref, "The Houses of Healing")