LotR -- Book 4 - Chapter 10 - The Choices of Master Samwise - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

davem · 05-14-2005, 01:25 PM

If I have a problem with this approach it is that it takes us out of Middle earth into a mythology of the primary world. I think there is another kind of mythological link being made here, & it is one that keeps us firmly within the secondary world.

In this episode I can't help thinking that Tolkien, having just mentioned Turin, wants the reader to be reminded of the way he killed Glaurung - remember, he hoped to see the Silmarillion published - preferably alongside LotR. Both monsters are 'finished off' by being stabbed in in the belly from beneath by a mortal hero with an Elven blade. Even if Tolkien had the story of Lilith in the back of his mind we mustn't, or we'll be dragged out of Middle-earth into the realm of comparative mythology or worse

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05-14-2005, 01:25 PM	#10
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	If I have a problem with this approach it is that it takes us out of Middle earth into a mythology of the primary world. I think there is another kind of mythological link being made here, & it is one that keeps us firmly within the secondary world. In this episode I can't help thinking that Tolkien, having just mentioned Turin, wants the reader to be reminded of the way he killed Glaurung - remember, he hoped to see the Silmarillion published - preferably alongside LotR. Both monsters are 'finished off' by being stabbed in in the belly from beneath by a mortal hero with an Elven blade. Even if Tolkien had the story of Lilith in the back of his mind we mustn't, or we'll be dragged out of Middle-earth into the realm of comparative mythology or worse .... __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."