Father Christmas Letters: 1931 - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Legate of Amon Lanc · 12-22-2011, 12:54 PM

I remember when I had been reading this the first time, I really liked the introduction of the characters of the small polar bears (I really love the idea of "making night" by throwing the black ink into the fire!).

It also occured to me here - and I am surprised that I haven't thought of it earlier - don't you think Tolkien was really obsessed with fireworks? I mean, from Gandalf, and through all this stuff in FC, I am wondering, why are fireworks such an important theme in all his books? I think the frequency really points to some firework-obsession

Not that it would be anything bad.

But perhaps somebody knows more about it? (Like, if he had ever said that he loves fireworks, or something?)

12-22-2011, 12:54 PM	#2
Legate of Amon Lanc A Voice That Gainsayeth Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In that far land beyond the Sea Posts: 7,431	I remember when I had been reading this the first time, I really liked the introduction of the characters of the small polar bears (I really love the idea of "making night" by throwing the black ink into the fire!). It also occured to me here - and I am surprised that I haven't thought of it earlier - don't you think Tolkien was really obsessed with fireworks? I mean, from Gandalf, and through all this stuff in FC, I am wondering, why are fireworks such an important theme in all his books? I think the frequency really points to some firework-obsession Not that it would be anything bad. But perhaps somebody knows more about it? (Like, if he had ever said that he loves fireworks, or something?) __________________ "Should the story say 'he ate bread,' the dramatic producer can only show 'a piece of bread' according to his taste or fancy, but the hearer of the story will think of bread in general and picture it in some form of his own." -On Fairy-Stories