1) What do you think of the idea that LoTR represents an
attempt to find an accommodation between traditional ideals of glory and
heroism on the one hand, and Tolkien's (and his generation's) specific
experience as Edwardians torn from their safe and relatively prosperous lives
and thrust into the horror of WW I, on the other hand? Does it affect your
enjoyment of the book to think of it from this point of view, and if so,
positively or negatively?
... in his view, the typical fictional protagonist from
this period is a passive or helpless sufferer rather than the powerful hero
more popular in fiction before this time.
No doubt because I am leading the Silm. discussion right now, but this
description seems to fit Hurin and Turin to at T. It is interesting to me
Tolkien had no interest in working on "Of the Ruin of Doriath" after 1930
(before The Hobbit). Do you suppose Hurin's story reveals a period
of cynicism and pessimism in Tolkien's life? In today's discussion, I
quoted Hurin defiantly crying "Day shall come again!" 70 times before being
captured. Years later, he takes his own life. I wonder if Hurin was
not the child of Tolkien's season of despair after WWI and that Frodo was the
child of his renewed hope?
How does it affect me? Well, I suppose I can really related to those
Edwarians. Thankfully, I haven't been forced to physically experience
such violence first hand, but I have been horrified by the darkness of this
world after a growing up sheltered in middle class America. Like many of
Tolkien's generation, I suppose I am questioning the value of material comfort
and good manners in the face of oppression and brutality. I too am asking
myself what it is that really matters, what should I be fighting for, and is
their any hope in the fight? I am comforted by Tolkien's questions and
his answers.
Thanks very much for the
report!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
