Quote:
Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc
Hi VarTalman,
your point about parallels between LotR and some other literary works, namely the Bible, is of course valid. There have certainly been pages and pages filled with musings about those parallels, how much or how close they are, which are the most "striking" ones etc.
|
Thank you for your thoughful response.
(I attempt an answer a paragraph at a time and clarify that aim specifically at the Bible - not any other literary work as equal or mixed in.)
It seems possible that Tolkien found another creative way to present the Biblical narrative in his works. More than merely inspiration or history, but a re-telling of much more than themes. There is quite an encompassing timeline that compares to the Biblical age-wise. (Pardon for painting with the broadest strokes possible.)
- First Age of Middle Earth = parallels = the Golden Age of Heaven & Creation
- Second Age of Middle Earth = parallels = the Fall of Angels and later Man & Old Testament times
- Third Age of Middle Earth = parallels = the New Testament time of Jesus, the Church & Apocalypse
- Fourth Age of Middle Earth = parallels = the Millenium of Peace
- Fifth Age of Middle Earth = parallels = the Last Battle & End of Evil
- Sixth Age of Middle Earth = parallels = the New Heaven & Earth
- Seventh Age of Middle Earth = parallels = Eternity
There is good reason to call it "myth" because there is actual recorded history wrapped up in it along with some stretched conjecture as to what happens in the times not accounted for. Tolkien could have really been out to tell the whole story of what has and will happen in actual human history (like the followers of Jules Verne)