What counts as "canon"? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

**lindil** · 09-15-2008, 01:23 PM

I would say what counts as canon depends on what one's goals are.

From 1977-80 The Silmarillion was canon along with RGEO, TH and LOtR and AoTB.

When UT came out and even more so HoM-E all became very tangled.

I think a good case for Children of Hurin being canon could be made, but less so these days for the Silmarillion.

For a canonical Silm such as it was when JRRT died , HoME volumes 10 and 11 are the final words, with the footnotes and commentary being necessary to untangle things as far as they can be.

When all is said and done, a few sentences and a few chapters in Silm are not, by CJRT's own admission canonical. Meaning JRRT's last known intention. The rest of the Silm is a more than serviceable condensed - 'intro and synopsis' of HoM-E really far more than a canonical version of the Silm.

But none of the Silm material in general ever received the final review and publication and years later re-review that LotR did.

So the quest for an objective canon is more or less in vain, the quest for a reasonably certain final draft is far more possible - in most chapters.

My advice is read 'em and enjoy. And unless you love footnotes*, don't let them scare you from UT, HoME 10-11 especially and much of 12 [not counting the LotR appendices].

These volumes contain JRRT's most sublime writings.

Tolkien was a genius and a creative explorer, he was not methodical except when outside pressures came to bear. Those pressures never were strong enough in the case of the Silm material, so instead of a completed Silm, we got a completed LotR.

heading off now to enjoy the many leaves of the tree that were collected and saved...

thanks for the reminder...

09-15-2008, 01:23 PM	#11
lindil Seeker of the Straight Path Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: a hidden fastness in Big Valley nor cal Posts: 1,680	I would say what counts as canon depends on what one's goals are. From 1977-80 The Silmarillion was canon along with RGEO, TH and LOtR and AoTB. When UT came out and even more so HoM-E all became very tangled. I think a good case for Children of Hurin being canon could be made, but less so these days for the Silmarillion. For a canonical Silm such as it was when JRRT died , HoME volumes 10 and 11 are the final words, with the footnotes and commentary being necessary to untangle things as far as they can be. When all is said and done, a few sentences and a few chapters in Silm are not, by CJRT's own admission canonical. Meaning JRRT's last known intention. The rest of the Silm is a more than serviceable condensed - 'intro and synopsis' of HoM-E really far more than a canonical version of the Silm. But none of the Silm material in general ever received the final review and publication and years later re-review that LotR did. So the quest for an objective canon is more or less in vain, the quest for a reasonably certain final draft is far more possible - in most chapters. My advice is read 'em and enjoy. And unless you love footnotes*, don't let them scare you from UT, HoME 10-11 especially and much of 12 [not counting the LotR appendices]. These volumes contain JRRT's most sublime writings. Tolkien was a genius and a creative explorer, he was not methodical except when outside pressures came to bear. Those pressures never were strong enough in the case of the Silm material, so instead of a completed Silm, we got a completed LotR. heading off now to enjoy the many leaves of the tree that were collected and saved... thanks for the reminder...