Elric is Turin! - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

***Sharkû*** · 08-15-2002, 11:25 AM

"How could an author who so hates Tolkien churn out a character which is almost an exact copy of the author he is so bored by?"

I blame it on Tolkien's obvious greatness, and fine sense for creating a highly tragic and intriguing character like Túrin by using both traditioned elements and new fictitious twists of his own. The tale of Túrin is of course in turn greatly inspired by sources such as the Kalevala and its Tale of Kullerwoinen (Kullervo) the Hapless (from which Túrin's dialogue with his sword is almost verbatim taken).

Some elements appear most tragic, or accursed, or evil to us in general, for example the slaying of near kin, or wantonness therewith. If done unintentionally by the character, it appears tragic. Not having read Moorcock, though, I would still say that getting inspiration from a more or less established system of ideas and psychological archetypes need not constitute copying -- it certainly did not in Tolkien's case.

08-15-2002, 11:25 AM	#4
*Sharkû* Hungry Ghoul Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 1,719	"How could an author who so hates Tolkien churn out a character which is almost an exact copy of the author he is so bored by?" I blame it on Tolkien's obvious greatness, and fine sense for creating a highly tragic and intriguing character like Túrin by using both traditioned elements and new fictitious twists of his own. The tale of Túrin is of course in turn greatly inspired by sources such as the Kalevala and its Tale of Kullerwoinen (Kullervo) the Hapless (from which Túrin's dialogue with his sword is almost verbatim taken). Some elements appear most tragic, or accursed, or evil to us in general, for example the slaying of near kin, or wantonness therewith. If done unintentionally by the character, it appears tragic. Not having read Moorcock, though, I would still say that getting inspiration from a more or less established system of ideas and psychological archetypes need not constitute copying -- it certainly did not in Tolkien's case.