The two types of LotR fans - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Holbytlass · 04-22-2005, 07:20 AM

For me , I lean more towards the story. However, I have read Silm and most of the HoME's because I love history. Where my heart truly lies is with the hobbits. I am so a kindred spirit in looks, personality, and eating habits it's not even funny! That's who I relate to the most. And since there are no history of hobbits in Silm and HoME's I'm not into them as much. I like to read The Lost Tales and the Appendices in LOTR for more hobbit lore.
Then again, it is traveling with the Fellowship throughout Middle-Earth that I have come to love the different lands, peoples and cultures.

Arwen Imladris · 06-06-2005, 02:59 PM

I'm definatly a World, at least by that definition. I love reading the Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales (although, it took me a while to get through them the first time!) The story is good, but really, it's just your basic good-vs-evil epic story. For me, it's the way that the story has so much depth to it. That the world is so real. It's the same thing that appeals to me about Star Wars and Harry Potter. The world is carefully drawn out, you can peel back the layers and find more layers. You can read the story again and again and each time pick up something new.

Mad Baggins · 06-06-2005, 04:08 PM

I'm a story-lover. I've read the Sil and part of UT but it just didn't catch me as the books did. I was first fascinated with the movies, and then afterward I read the books and I was hooked.

Bungo Baggins · 06-08-2005, 03:32 PM

For me, it is a combination of the story and the world. I first was intrigued by this whole world that Tolkien created of Middle Earth, but I would not have not continued my fascination had the story been poorly constructed. I think I would have not continued my love affair with the people and places of middle earth.

Elentari_Elbereth · 06-19-2005, 02:04 PM

I could not designate myself as either. I'd have to say I love every ounce of tolkien's works, whether it be the awe-inspiring story, characterization, the actualy writing itself (grammar, wording, vocabulary, etc..) or every little bit of the world itself- the races,( their uniqueness), the geography, the languages, the culture and history.... I can't decide one aspect or another as a favorite!

My younger sister is a story-lover by far...

Thinlómien · 06-20-2005, 06:04 AM

Maybe we all should do like eowyntje does:

Quote:

Very very hard to decide, I think I'm 60% story, 40% world.

So I'm 65% world 35% story...

ohtatyaro · 12-02-2005, 07:04 AM

Can not separate, somehow. Alltogether - characters, language, story, world, (alphabetical order, see?)

The Squatter of Amon Rûdh · 12-02-2005, 07:44 AM

Don't think I'm not onto your game, Bêthberry and Rimbaud. Those are fine verses for a family-friendly barrow.

Now let us read them while we may,
And now, like literate birds of prey,
Swiftly at first these tales devour
Then languish in their slow-chapt power.

Although each story has its own appeal for me, I follow Tolkien in seeing the whole history of Middle-earth, even extending to its author's life, as a single narrative and part of a greater whole. It was the stories that first attracted me, and for me each separate piece, from The Hobbit to the unpublished fragments, has its own unique appeal as a complete story, an episode, a variation or an illustration. Then again, without the world and its details, the stories would have no foundation, and as for the history and details themselves, well, therein lies a tale. Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Tolkien for me is best illustrated by the fact that the alphabet and language of the Noldor is bound up with the sad tale of Fëanor, which is then preserved and retold in the same language. That's the sort of detail that most of us only dream of creating: to know the whole story you have to know the world and vice-versa. I agree with ohtatyaro: the various elements are inseparable.

12-04-2005, 08:32 AM

i am a fan of lotr. my favorite caracter is bilbo and then sammy and i also like pippin a lot but i don't know his real name so i think i shall ask someone.

bye

Lush · 12-04-2005, 05:47 PM

There are three types of fans! Those who can count, and those who can't!

Hardy har har.

I think the line between the 'world' and the 'story' can easily be blurred. They don't exist as two separate entities in my mind. Although it does happen that a thought along the lines of, "boy, it sure would be nice to live in Rivendell, as long as I'm not an Arwen," does pop into my head. I suppose based on that I can say that I somehow am drawn to the 'world' more. (?)

Morsul the Dark · 12-09-2005, 10:14 AM

well all start as a story afterall you cant learn about the world with out the story im more of a world however my scope is more on the world during lotr while other worldies can recite all history names and what not of all ages

Valier · 12-15-2005, 02:29 PM

I personally like all of it. I've watched the movies,read the trilogy more than twice,read the Sillmirillion,and the unfinished tales. I like the whole world I guess J.R R was brilliant!

elfearz1 · 01-02-2006, 10:49 PM

I am definately a lover of the world of Middle Earth. From the moment I found Lord of the rings (since I found it before the hobbit,the Silm. etc) I was captivated. It's so rich in culture and creatures I had never heard of. It has got a deep history like no other fantasy. It was a place my imagination could get lost in and my heart could roam free leaving my problems and the real world behind. I wasted time in math class daydreaming I was off in Mirkwood singing or riding horses. Pretending I was on a journey with the fellowship made walking home everyday bearable. I was seriously stunned with it and found I loved the Hobbit even more than Lotr. Since then I try to soak up as much knowledge about ME and it's history as possible.

Gil-Galad · 01-29-2006, 06:17 PM

hmmm... heres a comic that deals with different LOTR fans

LinkY!!!

Thinlómien · 02-02-2006, 03:27 AM

Nice comic. And I've certainly seen that somewhere before. I'm the yellow.

JennyHallu · 02-02-2006, 08:20 AM

I love the story, but it's dependent on the world for its existence. You can't separate the two...the story without the world would nver have had the depth and mystery and epic feeling, the ability to remind us that our lives are just chapters in a larger story that began before our earliest ancestors were born and will never end. But the world without the story wouldn't have the same power to hypnotize and capture. Those that love Middle-Earth want to go there...

Salacia Deloresista · 03-03-2006, 08:55 AM

I am a world lover, completely and totally. I was never drawn into the plot. For me, the apeal lies in the cultures, the land descriptions, the fact that the books illustrate not just a plot line but a living history as well...

The characters, for me, are only important as far as they show the cultures of their own races, the plot line simply a way to travel through and experience first-hand as many aspects of Middle Earth as possible. That's why the differences between the movies and the books don't bother me so much. I'd have paid just as much to see 3 hours worth of screen shots, or paintings. It's all about the artistry, bringing the world so much to life. *sighs happily and walks off to write more RPG entries*

Essex · 03-03-2006, 10:25 AM

but the plot is the most tightly bound, superbly worked out one I've ever read. Just try and change one small part of the story and it has a domino effect right across the rest of the book.

for example

- hobbits fall asleep by the barrow - merry doesn't get the sword from the barrow. Witch King doesn't die. Minas Tirith may therefore fall - and most importantly the two orcs (one of them a tracker) near sam and frodo wouldn't argue and would no doubt find the two hobbits and the Quest would be over.

just becasue the hobbits fell asleep by the barrow Middle Earth is saved!!!!

But then to add to this, the Characters of the hobbits, the little people, the 'ordinary' guys are close to my heart. I live and breath middle earth through their eyes. I cry and laugh and feel pride and heartache with them every time I read the book.

Legolas in spandex · 03-03-2006, 09:59 PM

I found the world to be very captivating and at times I find myself wishing to be exploring the lands of Middle-Earth in person . It gives me such a sense of adventure and wonder. 'Tis way cool.

Glaurung · 03-08-2006, 01:04 AM

I suppose I myself am a world-lover, though I love the story too...

Maybe I am a 35% story 65% world LotR fan. I think at first I was a story fan (might be because I was very little when LotR was read aloud to me...I suppose nearly all children who read LotR are story-lovers rather than world-lovers, at least in the beginning..)

Mithalwen · 04-03-2006, 11:31 AM

World, totally and overwhelmingly. When I read the hobbit I wanted to know more about Rivendell and the elves and the history. When I came to the LoTR I ground to a halt at the end of the two towers.Partly perhaps because the world was rather horrible at that point and partly I didn't care enough about Frodo and Sam to persist (and clearly it would be ages before theere was any more Legolas!) The story didn't have enough hold to get me to the end at that time. Although I got through the story a year or so later and moved on to the Silmarillion, UT and the early volumes of HoME, LOTR was really a resource book for my fascination with elves and their languages. I really must read LotR properly again but the long haul to Bree is a bit off putting.

Rhod the Red · 05-04-2006, 12:01 PM

I'm both. I love the world of Middle-Earth and the stories.

MatthewM · 08-12-2006, 09:04 PM

I'm in the "Story" group. I haven't read the Silm or even The Hobbit yet. I intend to one day, but I've never had the ambition to like I have with The Lord of the Rings. I'm currently re-reading TLotR, and I'm in love with all things in the story---it's characters, it's places, it's feeling, it's magic....I get so much fulfillment by reading The Lord of the Rings that right now I just don't have the ambition to read the other works.....yet.

That doesn't mean that I don't read the HoMe, though. I have a few of the volumes of it (I will get them all soon), and I also have The Letters, The Reader's Companion, amongst other analtyical Tolkien (and predacessors) on LotR.

SarumanCymraeg · 08-13-2006, 04:37 AM

I very much fit into the 'world' category, and I love all the 'what ifs' and all that and theorising on stuff such as what would happen if Galadriel took the Ring, if Helm's Deep was lost, if there were more Balrogs etc etc etc etc

However, I love the story, but I always wish for more (a full account of the Battle of Dale, of Saruman's devices in Dol Guldur and so forth). It's unquenchable!

Snowdog · 10-02-2006, 01:09 AM

I read the Hobbit for the story, but the world of pipeweed-smoking Hobbits who loved good food appealed to me, and so when I read Lord of the Rings the first time, I was suck into the world, with the story being the catylist that brought it to me.

04-22-2005, 07:20 AM	#1
Holbytlass Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2003 Location: The Party Tree Posts: 1,042	For me , I lean more towards the story. However, I have read Silm and most of the HoME's because I love history. Where my heart truly lies is with the hobbits. I am so a kindred spirit in looks, personality, and eating habits it's not even funny! That's who I relate to the most. And since there are no history of hobbits in Silm and HoME's I'm not into them as much. I like to read The Lost Tales and the Appendices in LOTR for more hobbit lore. Then again, it is traveling with the Fellowship throughout Middle-Earth that I have come to love the different lands, peoples and cultures. __________________ Holby is an actual flesh-and-blood person, right? Not, say a sock-puppet of Nilp’s, by any chance? ~Nerwen, WWCIII

06-06-2005, 02:59 PM	#2
Arwen Imladris Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In a box with a fox Posts: 1,347	I'm definatly a World, at least by that definition. I love reading the Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales (although, it took me a while to get through them the first time!) The story is good, but really, it's just your basic good-vs-evil epic story. For me, it's the way that the story has so much depth to it. That the world is so real. It's the same thing that appeals to me about Star Wars and Harry Potter. The world is carefully drawn out, you can peel back the layers and find more layers. You can read the story again and again and each time pick up something new. __________________ "Wake up! Wake up! Wake up, sleepies, we must go, yes, we must go at once."

06-06-2005, 04:08 PM	#3
Mad Baggins Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: A place where after thunder golden showers come falling like a rain of flowers. Posts: 371	I'm a story-lover. I've read the Sil and part of UT but it just didn't catch me as the books did. I was first fascinated with the movies, and then afterward I read the books and I was hooked. __________________ I like buying snacks from a vending machine because food is better when it falls. Sometimes at the grocery, I'll drop a candy bar so that it will achieve its maximum flavor potential.

06-08-2005, 03:32 PM	#4
Bungo Baggins Animated Skeleton Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The shire Posts: 32	For me, it is a combination of the story and the world. I first was intrigued by this whole world that Tolkien created of Middle Earth, but I would not have not continued my fascination had the story been poorly constructed. I think I would have not continued my love affair with the people and places of middle earth. __________________ "The closer we are to danger, the farther we are from harm. It's the last thing he'll expect."

06-19-2005, 02:04 PM	#5
Elentari_Elbereth Pile O'Bones Join Date: May 2005 Location: North Carolina (moving to Calif.) Posts: 24	cannot choose I could not designate myself as either. I'd have to say I love every ounce of tolkien's works, whether it be the awe-inspiring story, characterization, the actualy writing itself (grammar, wording, vocabulary, etc..) or every little bit of the world itself- the races,( their uniqueness), the geography, the languages, the culture and history.... I can't decide one aspect or another as a favorite! My younger sister is a story-lover by far... __________________ Who shall see a white ship leave the last shore, the pale phantoms in her cold bosom Like gulls wailing? ...Who shall see the last evening?

12-02-2005, 07:04 AM	#7
ohtatyaro Wight Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: here, there, everywhere... Posts: 121	all of that together Can not separate, somehow. Alltogether - characters, language, story, world, (alphabetical order, see?) __________________ Reading this sig costs three Galleons, nine Sickles, and a Knut. Pay up!

12-02-2005, 07:44 AM	#8
The Squatter of Amon Rûdh Spectre of Decay Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Bar-en-Danwedh Posts: 2,178	All tales are one Don't think I'm not onto your game, Bêthberry and Rimbaud. Those are fine verses for a family-friendly barrow. Now let us read them while we may, And now, like literate birds of prey, Swiftly at first these tales devour Then languish in their slow-chapt power. Although each story has its own appeal for me, I follow Tolkien in seeing the whole history of Middle-earth, even extending to its author's life, as a single narrative and part of a greater whole. It was the stories that first attracted me, and for me each separate piece, from The Hobbit to the unpublished fragments, has its own unique appeal as a complete story, an episode, a variation or an illustration. Then again, without the world and its details, the stories would have no foundation, and as for the history and details themselves, well, therein lies a tale. Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Tolkien for me is best illustrated by the fact that the alphabet and language of the Noldor is bound up with the sad tale of Fëanor, which is then preserved and retold in the same language. That's the sort of detail that most of us only dream of creating: to know the whole story you have to know the world and vice-versa. I agree with ohtatyaro: the various elements are inseparable. __________________ Man kenuva métim' andúne?

12-04-2005, 08:32 AM	#9
fairychick101 Guest Posts: n/a	i am a fan of lotr. my favorite caracter is bilbo and then sammy and i also like pippin a lot but i don't know his real name so i think i shall ask someone. bye

12-04-2005, 05:47 PM	#10
Lush Fair and Cold Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the big onion Posts: 1,770	There are three types of fans! Those who can count, and those who can't! Hardy har har. I think the line between the 'world' and the 'story' can easily be blurred. They don't exist as two separate entities in my mind. Although it does happen that a thought along the lines of, "boy, it sure would be nice to live in Rivendell, as long as I'm not an Arwen," does pop into my head. I suppose based on that I can say that I somehow am drawn to the 'world' more. (?) __________________ ~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~

12-09-2005, 10:14 AM	#11
Morsul the Dark Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 3,448	well all start as a story afterall you cant learn about the world with out the story im more of a world however my scope is more on the world during lotr while other worldies can recite all history names and what not of all ages __________________ Morsul the Resurrected

12-15-2005, 02:29 PM	#12
Valier Twisted Taleswapper Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: somewhere between sanity and insanity Posts: 1,706	I personally like all of it. I've watched the movies,read the trilogy more than twice,read the Sillmirillion,and the unfinished tales. I like the whole world I guess J.R R was brilliant!

01-02-2006, 10:49 PM	#13
elfearz1 Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Mirkwood Posts: 259	World. hands down. not that I don't love the story. I am definately a lover of the world of Middle Earth. From the moment I found Lord of the rings (since I found it before the hobbit,the Silm. etc) I was captivated. It's so rich in culture and creatures I had never heard of. It has got a deep history like no other fantasy. It was a place my imagination could get lost in and my heart could roam free leaving my problems and the real world behind. I wasted time in math class daydreaming I was off in Mirkwood singing or riding horses. Pretending I was on a journey with the fellowship made walking home everyday bearable. I was seriously stunned with it and found I loved the Hobbit even more than Lotr. Since then I try to soak up as much knowledge about ME and it's history as possible. __________________ I didn't eat Merry, i just ate his waistcoat!-Horse maidens dream 915/920 miles. On my way to Lothlorien! ^^Elfearz^^

01-29-2006, 06:17 PM	#14
Gil-Galad Psyche of Prince Immortal Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Above a Parapet Obvious exits are: North, South, and Dennis Posts: 4,734	hmmm... heres a comic that deals with different LOTR fans LinkY!!! __________________ Love doesn't blow up and get killed.

02-02-2006, 03:27 AM	#15
Thinlómien Shady She-Penguin Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a far land beyond the Sea Posts: 8,093	Nice comic. And I've certainly seen that somewhere before. I'm the yellow. __________________ Like the stars chase the sun, over the glowing hill I will conquer Blood is running deep, some things never sleep Double Fenris

02-02-2006, 08:20 AM	#16
JennyHallu The Pearl, The Lily Maid Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In my luxury Barrow, snuggled up in a pile of satin pillows, eating fresh fruit. Posts: 1,628	I love the story, but it's dependent on the world for its existence. You can't separate the two...the story without the world would nver have had the depth and mystery and epic feeling, the ability to remind us that our lives are just chapters in a larger story that began before our earliest ancestors were born and will never end. But the world without the story wouldn't have the same power to hypnotize and capture. Those that love Middle-Earth want to go there...

03-03-2006, 08:55 AM	#17
Salacia Deloresista Pile O'Bones Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: in a state of confusion Posts: 22	I am a world lover, completely and totally. I was never drawn into the plot. For me, the apeal lies in the cultures, the land descriptions, the fact that the books illustrate not just a plot line but a living history as well... The characters, for me, are only important as far as they show the cultures of their own races, the plot line simply a way to travel through and experience first-hand as many aspects of Middle Earth as possible. That's why the differences between the movies and the books don't bother me so much. I'd have paid just as much to see 3 hours worth of screen shots, or paintings. It's all about the artistry, bringing the world so much to life. sighs happily and walks off to write more RPG entries __________________ Some may carve through wood and stone to find a thing of beauty, while some may chase their cause around the world for love or duty

03-03-2006, 10:25 AM	#18
Essex Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Essex, England Posts: 886	but the plot is the most tightly bound, superbly worked out one I've ever read. Just try and change one small part of the story and it has a domino effect right across the rest of the book. for example - hobbits fall asleep by the barrow - merry doesn't get the sword from the barrow. Witch King doesn't die. Minas Tirith may therefore fall - and most importantly the two orcs (one of them a tracker) near sam and frodo wouldn't argue and would no doubt find the two hobbits and the Quest would be over. just becasue the hobbits fell asleep by the barrow Middle Earth is saved!!!! But then to add to this, the Characters of the hobbits, the little people, the 'ordinary' guys are close to my heart. I live and breath middle earth through their eyes. I cry and laugh and feel pride and heartache with them every time I read the book.

03-03-2006, 09:59 PM	#19
Legolas in spandex Wight Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 102	I found the world to be very captivating and at times I find myself wishing to be exploring the lands of Middle-Earth in person . It gives me such a sense of adventure and wonder. 'Tis way cool. __________________ "I want to die in my sleep, like my grandfather... not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car."

03-08-2006, 01:04 AM	#20
Glaurung Pile O'Bones Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dancing in rain Posts: 16	I suppose I myself am a world-lover, though I love the story too... Maybe I am a 35% story 65% world LotR fan. I think at first I was a story fan (might be because I was very little when LotR was read aloud to me...I suppose nearly all children who read LotR are story-lovers rather than world-lovers, at least in the beginning..)

04-03-2006, 11:31 AM	#21
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	World, totally and overwhelmingly. When I read the hobbit I wanted to know more about Rivendell and the elves and the history. When I came to the LoTR I ground to a halt at the end of the two towers.Partly perhaps because the world was rather horrible at that point and partly I didn't care enough about Frodo and Sam to persist (and clearly it would be ages before theere was any more Legolas!) The story didn't have enough hold to get me to the end at that time. Although I got through the story a year or so later and moved on to the Silmarillion, UT and the early volumes of HoME, LOTR was really a resource book for my fascination with elves and their languages. I really must read LotR properly again but the long haul to Bree is a bit off putting. __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

05-04-2006, 12:01 PM	#22
Rhod the Red Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: May 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 257	I'm both. I love the world of Middle-Earth and the stories. __________________ Head of the Fifth Order of the Istari Tenure: Fourth Age(Year 1) - Present Currently operating in Melbourne, Australia

08-12-2006, 09:04 PM	#23
MatthewM Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Posts: 628	I'm in the "Story" group. I haven't read the Silm or even The Hobbit yet. I intend to one day, but I've never had the ambition to like I have with The Lord of the Rings. I'm currently re-reading TLotR, and I'm in love with all things in the story---it's characters, it's places, it's feeling, it's magic....I get so much fulfillment by reading The Lord of the Rings that right now I just don't have the ambition to read the other works.....yet. That doesn't mean that I don't read the HoMe, though. I have a few of the volumes of it (I will get them all soon), and I also have The Letters, The Reader's Companion, amongst other analtyical Tolkien (and predacessors) on LotR. __________________ "Loud and clear it sounds in the valleys of the hills...and then let all the foes of Gondor flee!" -Boromir, The Fellowship of the Ring Last edited by MatthewM; 08-12-2006 at 10:24 PM.

08-13-2006, 04:37 AM	#24
SarumanCymraeg Pile O'Bones Join Date: May 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 19	I very much fit into the 'world' category, and I love all the 'what ifs' and all that and theorising on stuff such as what would happen if Galadriel took the Ring, if Helm's Deep was lost, if there were more Balrogs etc etc etc etc However, I love the story, but I always wish for more (a full account of the Battle of Dale, of Saruman's devices in Dol Guldur and so forth). It's unquenchable! __________________ http://rachub.blogspot.com

10-02-2006, 01:09 AM	#25
Snowdog Emperor of the South Pole Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: The Western Shore of Lake Evendim Posts: 666	I read the Hobbit for the story, but the world of pipeweed-smoking Hobbits who loved good food appealed to me, and so when I read Lord of the Rings the first time, I was suck into the world, with the story being the catylist that brought it to me.

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