The two types of LotR fans - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Celebuial · 02-18-2005, 03:09 AM

I agree with most of you guys: you love the story first but then you love both the world and the story. There is no story without the world, but without the story the world wouldn't be 'in context'. You wouldn't really understand the way it works, how it's people live, what happened to make everything the way it is.

I think I'm both. How could you be one without the other. Ok, I can maybe see how you could love the story without loving the world( I now realise that some of my friends are story lovers), but could you truly love the world without loving the story?

Thinlómien · 02-18-2005, 07:56 AM

Well maybe some Middle-Earth roleplayers don't love the story, only the world...? I don't know; I've never met anybody who doesn't love the story, but loves the world.
Maybe we should only say that there are world-and-story-lovers and story-lovers. Does that sound better?

Lolidir · 02-18-2005, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

Maybe we should only say that there are world-and-story-lovers and story-lovers. Does that sound better?

i would have to agree with what you said there. i dont see how any one could love the world without loving the story, because how would they come to understand and appreciate the world if they dont even like the story. i must say that as you read it over again you find new things and fall in love with it all over again.

Thinlómien · 02-18-2005, 08:05 AM

That's true...
And it's weird how you find whole new, small happenings and details everytime you read it.... I love that book.

Guinevere · 02-19-2005, 08:18 AM

I can't decide, really!

I think everybody gets to love the Tolkien's World through the Story first. But I can see what you mean, Thinlómien.
I know several people who love Middle-earth and are fond of Elves and Hobbits in a general way, without caring (or even remembering) too much about Tolkien's actual characters. (Those are mainly people who came to know Tolkien via the movies)
For me, there are many things I love in Tolkien's works. The world, the story and (very much) the characters who are kind of real and alive for me. (That's why I can't enjoy the changed movie-characters...).
One thing that affects me very much , and which is quite unique, is Tolkien's beautiful language - his different styles that make the different races and characters feel real and historical. (Or does that belong to "world"?)
And the more I read, the more I become entranced by Tolkien's worldview, by the timeless truths in his works and this special mixture of humour,melancholy and hope .

Ruoutorin · 02-20-2005, 09:21 AM

For myself, I'm a world lover or a History of Middle Earth lover. The Sil is my favorite book ever and I can't stop reading it. Every time I pick up another book to read I get board and re-read the Sil. The Sil establishes everything that the LotR is based on. All of the cities have a rich history and it's hard to appreciate the LotR until you know what Elves and Men had been through to get to that point. In order to appreciate Sauron's evil you have to meet his mentor, Melkor.

Sett · 02-20-2005, 12:05 PM

I would have to say that i am a world fanboy. I just love the epic scale in which tolkien has produced. The lush greens hills of Hobbiton to the mirky caves of moria. The gargantuan Minis Tirith to the River Anduin. I am mesmerised by the depth tolkien went into creating this fantasy world of such richness and beauty. It contains all the areas we have in our own world but tolkien gives it the spark of a true fantasy setting.

02-18-2005, 03:09 AM	#1
Celebuial Wight Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cardiff during term time/Leicester in the holl's Posts: 129	I agree with most of you guys: you love the story first but then you love both the world and the story. There is no story without the world, but without the story the world wouldn't be 'in context'. You wouldn't really understand the way it works, how it's people live, what happened to make everything the way it is. I think I'm both. How could you be one without the other. Ok, I can maybe see how you could love the story without loving the world( I now realise that some of my friends are story lovers), but could you truly love the world without loving the story? __________________ Ú cilith ‘war. Ú men ‘war. Boe min mebi. Boe min bango.

02-19-2005, 08:18 AM	#5
Guinevere Banshee of Camelot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Switzerland Posts: 5,830	I can't decide, really! I think everybody gets to love the Tolkien's World through the Story first. But I can see what you mean, Thinlómien. I know several people who love Middle-earth and are fond of Elves and Hobbits in a general way, without caring (or even remembering) too much about Tolkien's actual characters. (Those are mainly people who came to know Tolkien via the movies) For me, there are many things I love in Tolkien's works. The world, the story and (very much) the characters who are kind of real and alive for me. (That's why I can't enjoy the changed movie-characters...). One thing that affects me very much , and which is quite unique, is Tolkien's beautiful language - his different styles that make the different races and characters feel real and historical. (Or does that belong to "world"?) And the more I read, the more I become entranced by Tolkien's worldview, by the timeless truths in his works and this special mixture of humour,melancholy and hope . __________________ Yes! "wish-fulfilment dreams" we spin to cheat our timid hearts, and ugly Fact defeat! Last edited by Guinevere; 02-19-2005 at 08:20 AM. Reason: corrected a typo

02-18-2005, 07:56 AM	#2
Thinlómien Shady She-Penguin Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a far land beyond the Sea Posts: 8,093	Well maybe some Middle-Earth roleplayers don't love the story, only the world...? I don't know; I've never met anybody who doesn't love the story, but loves the world. Maybe we should only say that there are world-and-story-lovers and story-lovers. Does that sound better?

02-18-2005, 08:05 AM	#4
Thinlómien Shady She-Penguin Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a far land beyond the Sea Posts: 8,093	That's true... And it's weird how you find whole new, small happenings and details everytime you read it.... I love that book.

02-20-2005, 09:21 AM	#6
Ruoutorin Pile O'Bones Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 16	For myself, I'm a world lover or a History of Middle Earth lover. The Sil is my favorite book ever and I can't stop reading it. Every time I pick up another book to read I get board and re-read the Sil. The Sil establishes everything that the LotR is based on. All of the cities have a rich history and it's hard to appreciate the LotR until you know what Elves and Men had been through to get to that point. In order to appreciate Sauron's evil you have to meet his mentor, Melkor.

02-20-2005, 12:05 PM	#7
Sett Pile O'Bones Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: The Baths of Hell Posts: 24	I would have to say that i am a world fanboy. I just love the epic scale in which tolkien has produced. The lush greens hills of Hobbiton to the mirky caves of moria. The gargantuan Minis Tirith to the River Anduin. I am mesmerised by the depth tolkien went into creating this fantasy world of such richness and beauty. It contains all the areas we have in our own world but tolkien gives it the spark of a true fantasy setting.