Eutytus, your quote
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But it’s not just when describing their words is it? Suddenly they are describing events and even landscapes in a very different way and it simply does not ring true.
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One of the main themes of the story is the CHANGE to the hobbits, what they have gone through and how they have grown. They were little more than adolescents when the book starts. Through the events of the War of the Ring we see them develop into adults. We can clearly see this in the Scouring of the Shire when they take control of the situation and defeat Saruman. They have been totally affected by the situations that unfolded in the book. How can you categorically state that their style of writing and language did not change? They spent 2 months in Rivendell, 1 month in Lorien, they spent time with the people of Gondor and Rohan, rubbed shoulders with the Great of these lands - how could they NOT be affected by this?
As Mr Saucepan puts
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For my own part, I had never previously noticed the difference in styles (on a conscious level at least), so it clearly didn't jar with me. And reflecting on it now, I can appreciate the way in which this serves to assist the reader in the journey from the cosy world of the Shire to the wider world and the great events that are unfolding there.
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I agree totally. Though (mainly as the film is coming out but partly because of this thread) I am re-reading the book again (for the umpteenth time and still enjoying it) and am taking your (Eurytus) main points here into consideration. I think the BBC Radio adaptation hits the nail on the head when you can hear Strider’s disguised West Country accent when speaking in Bree, and he slowly changes it as events unfold at the Prancing Pony and we leave towards Weathertop. We have the language of the Shire and the lands west of the Misty Mountains and move onto a different style as we approach the lands of Gondor and Rohan.
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The book makes it pretty clear that when Frodo hands the book to Sam it is nearly complete. Can you see Sam editing his beloved master’s words? No, not easy is it.
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No, but I can see his descendants doing this. Written history is always being updated as we move forward in time, is it not? I have a set of Britannica on a shelf next to me here. It explains many of the same situations it did 100 years ago, but is very different to the original.
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If you do not view it with a critical eye how can you explore its intricacies?
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I can accept all your other points as valid opinions, but cannot except your point that people cannot explore the intricacies of the book because they can see very little wrong with it! I get a different view every time I read the book and study it’s plot, language, history etc. It has the ability show something new every time I read them. This time I’m noticing the many weaknesses of the Nazgul as I read. I must have read lotr 10 times before I read the Silmarillion and some of the Histories of Middle-earth, and on re-reading lotr it had another level to explore. So please, don’t say that people who (to you) have a non critical view of the great qualities of Tolkien’s work cannot grasp the intricacies of Tolkien's work.
[ November 05, 2003: Message edited by: Essex ]
[ November 05, 2003: Message edited by: Essex ]
[ November 05, 2003: Message edited by: Essex ]
[ November 05, 2003: Message edited by: Essex ]