The Role of Fantasy - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

11-07-2002, 06:07 PM

Hi, i'm focusing on 'the Hobbit' and 'LotR' at the moment, and looking at why someone would create such a fantastical world. Escapism for himself or his readers? What do you think? [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

VanimaEdhel · 11-07-2002, 06:22 PM

I, personally, have been writing fantasy stories and making up worlds since before I can remember.

I, right now, am making a fanfiction called "The Lost Races of Arda: the Nymphs" about all of the elementals that Tolkien mentions come into existence at some places, but never elaborate on. Faeries will be included in this (as they are the most prominent "mysterious" elementals) and Sirens as well. I will probably do a brief history on other creatures...but that's a different topic all together.

I write these things for myself. Writing them includes coming up with full, speakable languages (which I'm not doing too poorly with for the Nymphs, considering I'm 15), and creating entire histories.

As I said, the writings are for myself. I probably will not show anyone the finished product ever. That is the case with all my stories (many unrelated to Tolkien) and screenplays (I've written a few of those). I am really afraid to show anyone. All of my writing is for me, as an escape from life.

Diamond18 · 11-07-2002, 07:00 PM

Nooooooooo! I'm the only Diamond on this forum! Joking, joking. Welcome to the Downs. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

I can't speak for other people, of course, but one of the reasons I like writing fantasy is that I get to make up my own geography, history, culture, etc. for my story. And when I read fantasy, I get to read about other people's made up worlds. And that's cool. [img]smilies/cool.gif[/img] Fantasy really shows what is on a person's mind, because that person isn't limited by historical accuracy or any of those restraints.

Mintyztwin · 11-07-2002, 08:30 PM

It starts with an idea. (How cliche!) I'm writing a book that has taken on a life of its own, (It was originally a 1000 word assignment, and is now at 45 pages with an actual plot! [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img] ) But I was under the impression Tolkien wrote the books so he had a place for his elvish languge. I would bet he just started by making up a people for his language, and it just kinda grew! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Meela · 11-08-2002, 03:47 PM

im writing a fantasy at the moment, and im going into extensive detail over the background of the world (more extensive than tolkien!). i personally love fantastical worlds, and the idea that you can create your ideal world, and it is also to some degree a world where i can place myself, and escape from the world I live in. also, i have such an extensive imagination, everyhting i look at i change to my liking and ideal, so it seems a shame not to change the whole world in a book.

Saurannûn the Wood Elf · 11-08-2002, 10:13 PM

Ever since I can remember, I have been fantacizing about different worlds that stretch the imagination! My stories aren't consistant enough to write (poo! they could be really good!), but they're enough to keep me busy. For the past 2 years, I've finally gotten a socail life, but I miss all my free time for imagining! [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] I wish I had time to LIVE, because imagination is all that is interesting in the world nowadays. Wells, in MY opinion anyways.

DaughterofVana · 11-08-2002, 11:14 PM

As for Tolkien, I'm sure I read somewhere that his books started out for these reasons:

The Silmarillion--backround for his language
The Hobbit--story for his children, published on a whim
The LOTR--another "story about hobbits", developed over time which eventually ended up containing all three.

But I think it was more than that. Just writing a story to function as a "background" or an "escape from reality" gets a person only so far--it's like taking a train all the way across the country, expending huge amounts of energy to get to this specific spot on the earth... and then forgetting the reason why the journey was made in the first place and having no way to get back. An "escape from reality" or "a background" can be the INSPIRATION for a story, but not its entire reason for existing. Do that and you don't have a story... you have daydreaming. It all must have a reason, a struggle, a... POINT, I guess. And the more believable that struggle is, the more sucessful the story.

The reason I write... well, I write stories that I would like to read. That's why I started writing in the first place.

-'Vana

[ November 09, 2002: Message edited by: DaughterofVana ]

Sleeping Beauty · 11-09-2002, 10:22 AM

I imagine Tolkien escaped there in some point of his life to get away from things in this world. Could you imagine a world so rich in his mind? We have lots of images he and his son Christopher brought to us, no one had the intensity that he had. He named ever flower, the types of grass and trees, and every race. That must have been truly an expierence. But creating fantastical worlds and expierences is the only way to write fantasy. You cannot just base it in this world because there is no grounds for magic to happen. Magic is not the basis for this society, and unless you're just really darn good, you cannot make it seem like it. Besides, wouldn't it be a little odd for Gondor to sound something like like New York City? O_o;;;

11-07-2002, 06:07 PM	#1
Lucy Fisher Guest Posts: n/a	The Role of Fantasy Hi, i'm focusing on 'the Hobbit' and 'LotR' at the moment, and looking at why someone would create such a fantastical world. Escapism for himself or his readers? What do you think? [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

11-07-2002, 06:22 PM	#2
VanimaEdhel Etheral Enchantress Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wellesley College! Posts: 1,461	I, personally, have been writing fantasy stories and making up worlds since before I can remember. I, right now, am making a fanfiction called "The Lost Races of Arda: the Nymphs" about all of the elementals that Tolkien mentions come into existence at some places, but never elaborate on. Faeries will be included in this (as they are the most prominent "mysterious" elementals) and Sirens as well. I will probably do a brief history on other creatures...but that's a different topic all together. I write these things for myself. Writing them includes coming up with full, speakable languages (which I'm not doing too poorly with for the Nymphs, considering I'm 15), and creating entire histories. As I said, the writings are for myself. I probably will not show anyone the finished product ever. That is the case with all my stories (many unrelated to Tolkien) and screenplays (I've written a few of those). I am really afraid to show anyone. All of my writing is for me, as an escape from life. __________________ "I think we dream so we don't have to be apart so long. If we're in each others dreams, we can be together all the time." - Hobbes of Calvin and Hobbes

11-07-2002, 07:00 PM	#3
Diamond18 Eidolon of a Took Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: my own private fantasy world Posts: 3,460	Nooooooooo! I'm the only Diamond on this forum! Joking, joking. Welcome to the Downs. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] I can't speak for other people, of course, but one of the reasons I like writing fantasy is that I get to make up my own geography, history, culture, etc. for my story. And when I read fantasy, I get to read about other people's made up worlds. And that's cool. [img]smilies/cool.gif[/img] Fantasy really shows what is on a person's mind, because that person isn't limited by historical accuracy or any of those restraints. __________________ All shall be rather fond of me and suffer from mild depression.

11-07-2002, 08:30 PM	#4
Mintyztwin Wight Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: The other side of crazy Posts: 212	It starts with an idea. (How cliche!) I'm writing a book that has taken on a life of its own, (It was originally a 1000 word assignment, and is now at 45 pages with an actual plot! [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img] ) But I was under the impression Tolkien wrote the books so he had a place for his elvish languge. I would bet he just started by making up a people for his language, and it just kinda grew! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] __________________ So, where are we going? But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:2

11-08-2002, 03:47 PM	#5
Meela Denethor's True Love Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Mirkwood. With Thranduil... swoon Posts: 2,049	im writing a fantasy at the moment, and im going into extensive detail over the background of the world (more extensive than tolkien!). i personally love fantastical worlds, and the idea that you can create your ideal world, and it is also to some degree a world where i can place myself, and escape from the world I live in. also, i have such an extensive imagination, everyhting i look at i change to my liking and ideal, so it seems a shame not to change the whole world in a book. __________________ 'The Hobbit' 1st impressions: 1. Thorin is hot... Oh god, I fancy a dwarf. 2. Thranduil is hotter. 3. Is that... Figwit! 4. Does Elijah Wood never age? 2nd: It's all about Fili & Kili, really. 3rd: BARD! OMG, Bard.

11-08-2002, 10:13 PM	#6
Saurannûn the Wood Elf Haunting Spirit Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mirkwood Forest Posts: 59	Ever since I can remember, I have been fantacizing about different worlds that stretch the imagination! My stories aren't consistant enough to write (poo! they could be really good!), but they're enough to keep me busy. For the past 2 years, I've finally gotten a socail life, but I miss all my free time for imagining! [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] I wish I had time to LIVE, because imagination is all that is interesting in the world nowadays. Wells, in MY opinion anyways. __________________ Purple is a fruit.

11-08-2002, 11:14 PM	#7
DaughterofVana Wight Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: twirling contentedly in a flower-filled field Posts: 134	As for Tolkien, I'm sure I read somewhere that his books started out for these reasons: The Silmarillion--backround for his language The Hobbit--story for his children, published on a whim The LOTR--another "story about hobbits", developed over time which eventually ended up containing all three. But I think it was more than that. Just writing a story to function as a "background" or an "escape from reality" gets a person only so far--it's like taking a train all the way across the country, expending huge amounts of energy to get to this specific spot on the earth... and then forgetting the reason why the journey was made in the first place and having no way to get back. An "escape from reality" or "a background" can be the INSPIRATION for a story, but not its entire reason for existing. Do that and you don't have a story... you have daydreaming. It all must have a reason, a struggle, a... POINT, I guess. And the more believable that struggle is, the more sucessful the story. The reason I write... well, I write stories that I would like to read. That's why I started writing in the first place. -'Vana [ November 09, 2002: Message edited by: DaughterofVana ] __________________ "There is a kind of happiness and wonder that makes you serious. It is too good to waste on jokes." Hi! Did you miss me?

11-09-2002, 10:22 AM	#8
Sleeping Beauty Wight Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Somewhere between the back of the chair and the monitor Posts: 115	I imagine Tolkien escaped there in some point of his life to get away from things in this world. Could you imagine a world so rich in his mind? We have lots of images he and his son Christopher brought to us, no one had the intensity that he had. He named ever flower, the types of grass and trees, and every race. That must have been truly an expierence. But creating fantastical worlds and expierences is the only way to write fantasy. You cannot just base it in this world because there is no grounds for magic to happen. Magic is not the basis for this society, and unless you're just really darn good, you cannot make it seem like it. Besides, wouldn't it be a little odd for Gondor to sound something like like New York City? O_o;;; __________________ "If I knew all of the answers, I'd run for God." ~ Klinger: MAS*H