LotR - Foreword - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

***Mister Underhill*** · 06-13-2004, 06:25 PM

Regarding Tolkien's attitude on over-zealous fans and his creation: I know from a personal standpoint, I too often fall into the trap of trying to boil down Tolkien's attitude on any particular topic, such as this one, into a single pat answer.

But JRRT was a complex person who lived a long life. Like the rest of us, his opinions were subject to change according to what time in his life and under what circumstances you asked him.

I think there were times when he was flattered and happy to have moved so many people; then I'm sure there were other days -- say, after some rabid, half-psychotic "Frodo" had invaded his garden -- that he wondered if he hadn't done more harm than good.

In short, I think JRRT had a very complex relationship with LotR (and its impact on fans and the literary world), one that isn't easily boiled down.

06-13-2004, 06:25 PM	#32
*Mister Underhill* Dread Horseman Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Behind you! Posts: 2,744	Regarding Tolkien's attitude on over-zealous fans and his creation: I know from a personal standpoint, I too often fall into the trap of trying to boil down Tolkien's attitude on any particular topic, such as this one, into a single pat answer. But JRRT was a complex person who lived a long life. Like the rest of us, his opinions were subject to change according to what time in his life and under what circumstances you asked him. I think there were times when he was flattered and happy to have moved so many people; then I'm sure there were other days -- say, after some rabid, half-psychotic "Frodo" had invaded his garden -- that he wondered if he hadn't done more harm than good. In short, I think JRRT had a very complex relationship with LotR (and its impact on fans and the literary world), one that isn't easily boiled down.