The Autobiographical Tolkien - 'Leaf by Niggle'... - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

littlemanpoet · 08-31-2002, 08:20 PM

Estelyn Telcontar, the eucatastrophe is indeed hard to locate in Smith. I think it's because, though this is a Fairy Tale, it is just as much an Elegy. If there was one, I think it is to be found in that Smith was given the right to name his heir to the Star. I don't know if the letters shed any light on Tolkien's life in this regard, but I think that JRRT did not have or name an heir apparent. Really, even thought Alf grants Smith the honor of naming his heir, it was ultimately up to Alf, who apparently would have overturned Smith's choice had it been a bad one (which, of course, it could not be if he truly had been affected by Faerie as profoundly as the story suggests). I do think that Tolkien expected there to be someone who took up the Star, maybe not in his lifetime. I'm afraid I haven't seen it yet though, not in terms of an author of his power and scope of vision. No, I think JRRT was unique and the Star that came to him seems to have been divided into bits and handed piecemeal to those who could make what they could out of a little bit of the dream, wonder, what have you. There are a number of us who are really trying to recapture the spirit of Tolkien in fantasy, but it's an uphill struggle.

08-31-2002, 08:20 PM	#1
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	Estelyn Telcontar, the eucatastrophe is indeed hard to locate in Smith. I think it's because, though this is a Fairy Tale, it is just as much an Elegy. If there was one, I think it is to be found in that Smith was given the right to name his heir to the Star. I don't know if the letters shed any light on Tolkien's life in this regard, but I think that JRRT did not have or name an heir apparent. Really, even thought Alf grants Smith the honor of naming his heir, it was ultimately up to Alf, who apparently would have overturned Smith's choice had it been a bad one (which, of course, it could not be if he truly had been affected by Faerie as profoundly as the story suggests). I do think that Tolkien expected there to be someone who took up the Star, maybe not in his lifetime. I'm afraid I haven't seen it yet though, not in terms of an author of his power and scope of vision. No, I think JRRT was unique and the Star that came to him seems to have been divided into bits and handed piecemeal to those who could make what they could out of a little bit of the dream, wonder, what have you. There are a number of us who are really trying to recapture the spirit of Tolkien in fantasy, but it's an uphill struggle.