help me understand - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

haltred · 03-25-2004, 05:01 PM

I do not believe that JRRT had spefic places in mind for each place in Middle Earth. Though one might think Shire = England and so forth. BUT I think Tolkien was reaching back to the legends of most of Europe . Those of Roland , of the Viking sagas , of the Wagnerian ring cycle, those of Arthur and Alfred.
And the lands could be anywhere in Europe but I don't think he planned it that way. I think it is what our imaginaton makes it.

03-25-2004, 05:01 PM	#14
haltred Pile O'Bones Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Victoria BC Canada Posts: 20	I do not believe that JRRT had spefic places in mind for each place in Middle Earth. Though one might think Shire = England and so forth. BUT I think Tolkien was reaching back to the legends of most of Europe . Those of Roland , of the Viking sagas , of the Wagnerian ring cycle, those of Arthur and Alfred. And the lands could be anywhere in Europe but I don't think he planned it that way. I think it is what our imaginaton makes it. __________________ In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit