If Tolkien never wrote fiction - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Aldagrim Proudfoot · 07-17-2002, 01:18 PM

What would have happened? Would Tolkien had been just another professor at Oxford? Would he have deciphered some extinct language?

Also, would fantasy have gone anywhere as a genre? Would anybody else have been inspired to write it? Just a thought-starter

Eol · 07-17-2002, 01:25 PM

I personally think if Tolkien had not written such creative material, someone else would have. It may have been during tolkien's time, maybe later, but the concept would have been thought of by someone. Where he developed the ideas for middle-earth are all around us, it is in legend and myth, story and rhyme.

Or if you are a person who believes in fate or destiny, he took full opprotunity of that!

Elenna · 07-17-2002, 07:11 PM

Personally I think that Tolkein was intended to achieve greatness, but if he hadn't written fiction he would have been famous only in linguistic circles.

And fantasy may have evolved anyway, but it wouldn't be anything like we know it today.

Plus, we might all have to *gasp* GET LIVES!!!

Alkithilien · 07-18-2002, 03:04 AM

Geez, I dodn;t even want to think what would be with our literature if tolkien didn;t write LOTR. Of course fantasy would be as a genre,... but without LOTR it wouldn't be the same.

Aldagrim Proudfoot · 07-18-2002, 01:10 PM

Personally, I think fantasy would have continued top be seen as a pure kiddie genre.

Quote:

Plus, we might all have to *gasp* GET LIVES!

Very true.

[ July 18, 2002: Message edited by: Aldagrim Proudfoot ]

Ithaeliel · 08-15-2002, 05:28 PM

What a horrible thought...

if Tolkien never wrote fiction, his name would not be known to anyone. He would be gone and forgotten. The words "Beren" and "Luthien" would not be on he and his wife's epitaphs. The Barrow Downs would not exist, and I'd still have to settle for unmoderated "Flame-as-you-please" forums where I would desperately be trying to defend the subject matter of them. I'd turn my devoted fandom to a less worthy subject, such as a rock group or popular anime show. In fact, so would all of you.

Have I scared everyone enough? [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

[ August 15, 2002: Message edited by: Ithaeliel ]

07-17-2002, 01:18 PM	#1
Aldagrim Proudfoot Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hobbiton Posts: 328	If Tolkien never wrote fiction What would have happened? Would Tolkien had been just another professor at Oxford? Would he have deciphered some extinct language? Also, would fantasy have gone anywhere as a genre? Would anybody else have been inspired to write it? Just a thought-starter __________________ I do not suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it!

07-17-2002, 01:25 PM	#2
Eol Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The Pacific Northwest - Tir Nan Og Posts: 306	I personally think if Tolkien had not written such creative material, someone else would have. It may have been during tolkien's time, maybe later, but the concept would have been thought of by someone. Where he developed the ideas for middle-earth are all around us, it is in legend and myth, story and rhyme. Or if you are a person who believes in fate or destiny, he took full opprotunity of that! __________________ Mes sana in corpec sano- (lt.) A sound mind in a sound body

07-17-2002, 07:11 PM	#3
Elenna A Ghostly Light Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: My private bubble of innocence Posts: 563	Personally I think that Tolkein was intended to achieve greatness, but if he hadn't written fiction he would have been famous only in linguistic circles. And fantasy may have evolved anyway, but it wouldn't be anything like we know it today. Plus, we might all have to gasp GET LIVES!!! __________________ If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell him is "God is crying." And if he asks why God is crying, another cute thing to tell him is "Probably because of something you did."

07-18-2002, 03:04 AM	#4
Alkithilien Pile O'Bones Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Poland Posts: 17	Geez, I dodn;t even want to think what would be with our literature if tolkien didn;t write LOTR. Of course fantasy would be as a genre,... but without LOTR it wouldn't be the same. __________________ If you cannot see what is outside - try to look inside

08-15-2002, 05:28 PM	#6
Ithaeliel Cornus Caliga Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Five-hundred-twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes from here Posts: 724	What a horrible thought... if Tolkien never wrote fiction, his name would not be known to anyone. He would be gone and forgotten. The words "Beren" and "Luthien" would not be on he and his wife's epitaphs. The Barrow Downs would not exist, and I'd still have to settle for unmoderated "Flame-as-you-please" forums where I would desperately be trying to defend the subject matter of them. I'd turn my devoted fandom to a less worthy subject, such as a rock group or popular anime show. In fact, so would all of you. Have I scared everyone enough? [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] [ August 15, 2002: Message edited by: Ithaeliel ] __________________ That best portion of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love. .................William Wordsworth