I prefer to think of LotR as Tolkien's avocation, not part of his
vocation. I prefer to think of his fantasy as his hobby, not his
job. I like him better when he calls it a game, or entertainment, or
escapism, than when he attempts, weakly, to explain that it was somehow part of
his job. I like it better when he defies the opinion of his fellow
philologists than when he tries to curry their favor. I like him better
defiant than
defensive.
“I dislike Allegory - the conscious and intentional allegory - yet any attempt to explain the purport of myth or fairytale must use allegorical language. (And, of course, the more 'life' a story has the more readily will it be susceptible of allegorical interpretations: while the better a deliberate allegory is made the more nearly will it be acceptable just as a story.)” (From Tolkien Letter # 131.)
Tips for posting in the Reading Room.
