Quote:
Originally Posted by Thinlómien
Elves and dwarves were not his own. They existed in folk tales long before Tolkien himself was born. And they exist in tales after his death. Tolkien fashioned the archetype Elves and Dwarves for modern fantasy, just as - for example - Finns of old times fashioned Kullervo who Tolkien took to his own and named Túrin (of course changing him like the modern authors have changed his Elves). So I doubt he would disapprove. He would see it as recycling good old ideas, just like he did when making up his wonderful stories.
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Good point. I think Tolkien would have objected to other author's 'lifting' his Elves & Dwarves lock, stock & barrel - as so many writers of fantasy do - but not to other writers going back to the original sources.
Of course the problem is that too many writers of fantasy know that Tolkien drew on ancient sources for his Elves & dwarves, Trolls & Goblins, & think that he used them 'as is' - & that if they write about the kind of Elves in his works they aren't stealing from him but drawing on the old tales themselves. What they don't realise is that he didn't simply take those creatures from the old tales, but effectively made them into new & unique races. Elves & Dwarves may people old tales but they aren't Tolkien's Elves & Dwarves.
That said, Tolkien's works aren't original, & he took many things from old tales but he s made them his own. Too many writers of fantasy think they can 'do a Tolkien' by simply copying him (& too many readers of fantasy seem only to want a copy of Tolkien). I've said (too) many times that if you're looking for something in the same mould as Tolkien's work you should skip past the fantasy section & head for the 'Classics' section & pick up some Sagas - heroes, monsters, magic & epic tragedy: 'cool and clear, ... redolent of our ‘air’ (the clime and soil of the North
West, meaning Britain and hither parts of Europe….)
This is a good piece:
http://www.reflectionsedge.com/archi...05/dtw_sm.html