Bombadil = yearning? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Legolas · 11-21-2002, 03:15 PM

"allegory is impossible to escape."

You were referring to people just thinking there is allegory there, right?

What most people confuse as "allegory" in Tolkien's works are usually just parallels/analogies to things they are already aware of and they like to make those connections. For example, the roles of characters. Gandalf is like Jesus in ways, Melkor is like Lucifer in ways, Manwe is like Zeus, Turin is in a situation similar to Oedipus, and on, and on, and on. What Tolkien meant was that when he wrote his story, he didn't have these parallels in mind and did not make any of them on purpose. His story is his own, and its meanings are self-contained.

[ November 21, 2002: Message edited by: Legalos ]

11-21-2002, 03:15 PM	#29
Legolas A Northern Soul Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Valinor Posts: 1,847	"allegory is impossible to escape." You were referring to people just thinking there is allegory there, right? What most people confuse as "allegory" in Tolkien's works are usually just parallels/analogies to things they are already aware of and they like to make those connections. For example, the roles of characters. Gandalf is like Jesus in ways, Melkor is like Lucifer in ways, Manwe is like Zeus, Turin is in a situation similar to Oedipus, and on, and on, and on. What Tolkien meant was that when he wrote his story, he didn't have these parallels in mind and did not make any of them on purpose. His story is his own, and its meanings are self-contained. [ November 21, 2002: Message edited by: Legalos ] __________________ ...take counsel with thyself, and remember who and what thou art.

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