The Hobbit - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Birdland · 05-19-2002, 10:54 PM

I think the discrepancies you mention are pretty minor, Turin, and some of them aren't really discrepancies at all. I've always thought that the Stone Giants might have had a hand in the attack of the Fellowship on Caradhras, (I think I discussed it in an earlier thread), and Thranduil wasn't so much evil, unless you consider all Elves evil because of their dislike and distrust of the Dwarves. As far as he was concerned, he was protecting his land and people from some rather shady characters.

I guess the greatest difference between The Hobbits and Tolkien's other books is the writing style. It is definitely a children's book. Perhaps it's best to just enjoy it as a "stand-alone" work, and not worry whether it totally follows canon.

I mean, Tolkien did the best he could to try to bring The Hobbit more in line with the doings of LoTR, but there's only so many changes you can do to a book that had become an accepted classic in the twenty years before his greatest work was to be published.

P.S. - Congrats on your title, Joy!

[ May 20, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]

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05-19-2002, 10:54 PM	#3
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	I think the discrepancies you mention are pretty minor, Turin, and some of them aren't really discrepancies at all. I've always thought that the Stone Giants might have had a hand in the attack of the Fellowship on Caradhras, (I think I discussed it in an earlier thread), and Thranduil wasn't so much evil, unless you consider all Elves evil because of their dislike and distrust of the Dwarves. As far as he was concerned, he was protecting his land and people from some rather shady characters. I guess the greatest difference between The Hobbits and Tolkien's other books is the writing style. It is definitely a children's book. Perhaps it's best to just enjoy it as a "stand-alone" work, and not worry whether it totally follows canon. I mean, Tolkien did the best he could to try to bring The Hobbit more in line with the doings of LoTR, but there's only so many changes you can do to a book that had become an accepted classic in the twenty years before his greatest work was to be published. P.S. - Congrats on your title, Joy! [ May 20, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]