Did Miriel see what was coming? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

davem · 11-22-2003, 03:51 AM

Perhaps it was an experience of Post Natal/Partum depression that inspired Tolkien. I think its a big, unanswered question to what extent Tolkien is 'inventing' everything, in a kind of detached way, & to what extent he is 'mythologising' his own personal experiences in the Legendarium. In the Great War thread I set out John Garth's idea that many of the themes & images in the Legendarium were a mythologising of his experiences in WW1 - 'tanks' at the Fall of Gondolin, etc. Tolkien did have a tendency, in Garth's phrase, to see the world 'through enchanted eyes'. I suspect, though, that we can only speculate on this matter - unless Christopher is willing to release the rest of the Letters, & his father's diaries.

11-22-2003, 03:51 AM	#7
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	Perhaps it was an experience of Post Natal/Partum depression that inspired Tolkien. I think its a big, unanswered question to what extent Tolkien is 'inventing' everything, in a kind of detached way, & to what extent he is 'mythologising' his own personal experiences in the Legendarium. In the Great War thread I set out John Garth's idea that many of the themes & images in the Legendarium were a mythologising of his experiences in WW1 - 'tanks' at the Fall of Gondolin, etc. Tolkien did have a tendency, in Garth's phrase, to see the world 'through enchanted eyes'. I suspect, though, that we can only speculate on this matter - unless Christopher is willing to release the rest of the Letters, & his father's diaries. __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."