What would Tolkien think? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

***Mithadan*** · 02-06-2001, 03:24 PM

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Spirit of Mist
Posts: 576</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE>
Re: hmm...

Let's provide a bit more from the letter Lindil quotes from.

<blockquote>Quote:<hr> "I am not now sure that the tendency to treat the whole thing as a kind of vast game is really good - certainly not for me who find that kind of thing only too fatally attractive. It is, I suppose, a tribute to the curious effect that a story has, when based on very elaborate and detailed workings, of geography, chronology, and language, that so many should clamour for sheer 'information', or 'lore'." <hr></blockquote>

The letter laments his promise to draft appendices to LoTR, because he worried they would not provide sufficient information to satisfy everyone, and might upset those who like the tale as a simple "romance" with "unseen vistas".

From this letter we can see or can infer JRRT: (1) would understand our attraction to the "game" of deducing "lore"; (2) enjoyed the game himself; and (3) was not sure whether the desire for more information concerning ME was a good thing. However, as a stickler for detail, he might not appreciate erroneous speculation.

--Mithadan--
"The Silmarils with living light
were kindled clear, and waxing bright
shone like stars that in the North
above the reek of earth leap forth." </p>

02-06-2001, 03:24 PM	#4
*Mithadan* Spirit of Mist Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Tol Eressea Posts: 3,397	<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Spirit of Mist Posts: 576</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE> Re: hmm... Let's provide a bit more from the letter Lindil quotes from. <blockquote>*Quote:*<hr> "I am not now sure that the tendency to treat the whole thing as a kind of vast game is really good - certainly not for me who find that kind of thing only too fatally attractive. It is, I suppose, a tribute to the curious effect that a story has, when based on very elaborate and detailed workings, of geography, chronology, and language, that so many should clamour for sheer 'information', or 'lore'." <hr></blockquote> The letter laments his promise to draft appendices to LoTR, because he worried they would not provide sufficient information to satisfy everyone, and might upset those who like the tale as a simple "romance" with "unseen vistas". From this letter we can see or can infer JRRT: (1) would understand our attraction to the "game" of deducing "lore"; (2) enjoyed the game himself; and (3) was not sure whether the desire for more information concerning ME was a good thing. However, as a stickler for detail, he might not appreciate erroneous speculation. --Mithadan-- "The Silmarils with living light were kindled clear, and waxing bright shone like stars that in the North above the reek of earth leap forth." </p> __________________ Beleriand, Beleriand, the borders of the Elven-land.