lmp, I've started readnig David Day's book Tokien's Ring; and in the first chapter, Day states his opinion that Tolkien is agressively rewriting all sorts of stuff. I found it an interesting perspective, and rather intriguing; so although I'm not that familiar with Arthur's departure, you could easily convince me that Tolkien was determined to show "how it should have been done." Kind of like Macbeth, Birnham wood, and the Huorns...
As a writer, I find that refreshing. Generally speaking, folk frown on "rewriting the classics"; but while he may be quite indebted to them, Tolkien did so many things "better" than so many of his predecessors... such as, again, Birnham wood.
It makes me relax a bit about tapping into old stories myself; something that seemed a bit-- well-- plagiaristic...? I'm still struggling for a foothold there, I guess. What amount of re-use is acceptable, what's not.
Soooo... lmp, are there other sections of Frodo's quest (especially during book 3, and his winding down from the quest) that holler "rewrite" to you? Now I'm intrigued.
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...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.
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