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.
