Are There Any Valid Criticisms? (aka Kalessin's Rant) - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

littlemanpoet · 11-11-2004, 08:34 PM

My opinion is that Tolkien designed the hobbits as figures to amuse the reader. Amusement involves belittlement; hobbits are diminutive. The only times we read of hobbits with wonder are when Bilbo is first introduced in The Hobbit, in which case he newness outshines his silliness, or when one of the hobbits surpasses his hobbitness.

I think that this tendency in the fantasy genre to shoot for amusement instead of wonder, is a criticism worth leveling at both writers and their publishers. The publishers can hardly be blamed if they're getting nothing better. The writers who are getting published may not dare to attempt wonder, since it is very difficult to achieve consistently; or perhaps they don't really understand what wonder is about. All guesses, of course, but isn't that what this thread is all about?

11-11-2004, 08:34 PM	#27
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	My opinion is that Tolkien designed the hobbits as figures to amuse the reader. Amusement involves belittlement; hobbits are diminutive. The only times we read of hobbits with wonder are when Bilbo is first introduced in The Hobbit, in which case he newness outshines his silliness, or when one of the hobbits surpasses his hobbitness. I think that this tendency in the fantasy genre to shoot for amusement instead of wonder, is a criticism worth leveling at both writers and their publishers. The publishers can hardly be blamed if they're getting nothing better. The writers who are getting published may not dare to attempt wonder, since it is very difficult to achieve consistently; or perhaps they don't really understand what wonder is about. All guesses, of course, but isn't that what this thread is all about?