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?
Without having read the book I think this corresponds well with my own
impression of Lotr. it gives a depth to the novel that(in my opinion) someone
like C.S. Lewis lack. Tolkien writes in so much of his own feelings.
2) Are there other authors from this period who seemed to be writing
about the passing of heroic ideals as Tolkien does (if you agree with
Garth), in a spirit of mourning, but preserved hope, that contrasts with
a more pervasive postwar zeitgeist of cynicism and disillusionment?
I would say Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. Comparing Maxime de Winter first
wife, the reckless and admired Rebecca with his new more humble, not so admired
but more loving wife.
In them we can see the different ideals in feminine form.
Also the burning of Manderley for good and for worse represents the same change
in society that took part after WW1,that Tolkien writes about.
3) Any other thoughts on Garth's observations about how Tolkien and his
contemporaries wrote about heroism?
I read quite a long time ago a book about the civilization process of the human
mind(I don´t remember the name nor the author) There was a passus about war.
How it was seen upon in different times. First there was a recording from I
think the 5th century AD that said something like war is wonderful, the flowing
of blood ect.ect...then there was
something from the around 11th century
saying something Boromir/Eomerlike.The last one was a early renaissance man who
said war was wonderful because on the battlefield you loved your friends so
much and you were prepared to do so much for them.Thought alien for someone of
today.On the other hand the Illiad written much earlier is in essence anti war.
In fact it was written after hundreds of years of darness and war when greek
civilization began to see a new light.
I think that many who went to WW1 thought it would be something quite different
than it was. Not because they were psychopaths before the went to war, but
because they had been taught that war was heroic.
When Faramir says war is a necessary evil, Ghandi says it is a unnecessary
evil.Frodo becomes not passive but a pacifist.
Also the attitude of European leaders
reflects in character like Denethor and the Witch king.
The comment of viceroy of India who was brought to a field hospital was
something like" I did not know that the working had so white skin" Also the
tactics of the English
in WW1 was to throw in more troops,disregarding loss in human lives.
A lot of thoughts I hope it makes any
sense.
