the sheer pleasure of Tolkien's prose, and not to get too distracted as we
dissect its meaning. Two of my greatest pleasures are the beautiful
pictures he draws with his words (your example 1) and the gentle humor and
pluck of the hobbits in seemingly horrifying circumstances (your example
2).
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"‘I think he was a silly little man,' said Councillor Tompkins. ‘Worthless, in fact; no use to Society at all.'
"‘Oh, I don't know,' said Atkins, who was nobody of importance, just a schoolmaster. ‘I am not so sure: it depends on what you mean by use .'
"‘No practical or economic use,' said Tompkins. . . .
. . .
"‘It is proving very useful indeed,' said the Second Voice. ‘As a holiday, and a refreshment. It is splendid for convalescence; and not only for that, for many it is the best introduction to the Mountains. It works wonders in some cases. I am sending more and more there. They seldom have to come back.'"
