Thanks for that link to
Esty's thread,
Balin999. Some good examples there of humorous moments.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mithalwen
I think it is in the Biography that Tolkien admits to having a childish sense of humour. I am sure there is something about him putting his false teeth into the outstretched hands of inattentive shopkeepers ..... tell me I didn't make that up...
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Oh dear! If they were wooden teeth, Tolkien might have been having a laugh at the first American George (who is not to be confused with St. George, nor are any other Georges
).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aiwendil
it seems to me that Tolkien had two more or less distinct modes of literary thought - the high and the comedic. And though he sometimes combined these (e.g. in TH and LotR), he never synthesised them.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by davem
'The Silmarillion is a fundamentally humourous & comical work, but I have deliberately cut out all references to custard pies & rubber chickens. The Sillyness has been absorbed into the story itself...'
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Eomer
I reckon that comedy is the way of breaking down the world.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by narfforc
it involves more than a touch of irony
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Are we setting up a distinction between situational humour or character-driven humour?
Or, is it possible that comedy is part of the music of the Children of Ilúvatar? It is a gift to redeem the darkness imposed by Melkor?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ainulindale
For the Children of Ilúvatar were conceived by him alone; and they came with the third theme, and were not in the theme which Ilúvatar propounded at the beginning, and none of the Ainur had part in their making.
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Could it be that comedy is the secret fire--
Being in the moment of their utterance ?
Eä! Let humor be!.