Our Sponsor Sideshow Send us News
Lord of the Rings Tolkien
Search Tolkien
Lord of The RingsTheOneRing.net - Forged By And For Fans Of JRR Tolkien
Lord of The Rings Serving Middle-Earth Since The First Age

Lord of the Rings Movie News - J.R.R. Tolkien

  Main Index   Search Posts   Who's Online   Log in
The One Ring Forums: Tolkien Topics: Reading Room:
Excellent question

CuriousG
Half-elven


Oct 18 2012, 8:13pm


Views: 994
Shortcut
Excellent question [In reply to] Can't Post

And superb quote too. While I think it's true that all fiction & poetry occur only "somewhere in our hearts," (except for really bad writing, which fouls our bowels), I think that quote is especially true regarding Tolkien's fans. It's an emotional, personal story to each of us, and that competes with our analytical thought.

So we forgive and overlook some things, the way you do with a friend, and pick on other things, the way you do with the same friend. Hence for me, this isn't a goof, or even inconsistent, since I hold to the view that Aragorn wasn't omniscient and wasn't supposed to be, and was speaking generally, not categorically, and I move happily along as a reader with the little bit I've learned that Sauron may want everyone in Middle-earth to obey him, but he doesn't want any slaves on a first-name basis with him. Others, obviously, see it as a crack in the foundation of Tolkien's constructed universe. I'm not sure we can all reach agreement on this.

That leads me back to your question, where I would answer that the author is mostly the deity, but every author makes mistakes that they overlook, and then readers assume a position of power, in a way, because they become "right" when they spot it. I can't think of anything off the bat, but let's say Tolkien wrote in one spot, "But the hobbits dreaded to return to the valley of Rivendell, which had forever been the home of orcs." Then the reader would be right to call it a goof, and Tolkien would be wrong. And of course he'd correct if it was pointed out to him.

It would be a gray/grey zone to decide who's the deity if Tolkien wrote "Boromir looked upon Galadriel, and he was filled with great dread." A reader could argue that Tolkien had mistakenly made her "dreadful" as if she were evil, and the reader now disliked Galadriel, who's supposed to be good, though the author could argue back that the intent was that Boromir's dread arose from having Galadriel perceive the corruption that was gnawing at his heart, and that it was Galadriel's goodness that exposed the problem. So the argument could go either way there.

Which means I'm playing Elf today, because if you come to me for an opinion, I will say yes and no.Smile

Subject User Time
A so called "inconsistency" aruman Send a private message to aruman Oct 11 2012, 12:54pm
    Your conclusion is what I've always thought myself. CuriousG Send a private message to CuriousG Oct 11 2012, 4:28pm
        Thanks... aruman Send a private message to aruman Oct 11 2012, 6:04pm
    Inconsistency is as inconsistency does squire Send a private message to squire Oct 11 2012, 6:41pm
        Inconsistency vs. complexity CuriousG Send a private message to CuriousG Oct 11 2012, 8:13pm
            Exactly aruman Send a private message to aruman Oct 12 2012, 1:34am
            That's not what I would call complexity. sador Send a private message to sador Oct 12 2012, 12:41pm
                "No doubt?" Really? aruman Send a private message to aruman Oct 12 2012, 3:33pm
                    Plenty of doubt, when you think about it CuriousG Send a private message to CuriousG Oct 12 2012, 7:10pm
            technically, runes versus letters... Elthir Send a private message to Elthir Oct 13 2012, 10:24pm
                Thank you! aruman Send a private message to aruman Oct 14 2012, 4:51pm
        What reason would Sauron have at that point... mandel Send a private message to mandel Oct 11 2012, 11:56pm
            Maybe aruman Send a private message to aruman Oct 12 2012, 1:30am
            From Parma Eldalamberon 17, Saura (Quenya) = foul, vile... Tweezers of Thu Send a private message to Tweezers of Thu Oct 12 2012, 12:49pm
                So, it's not his real name. Elizabeth Send a private message to Elizabeth Oct 12 2012, 8:47pm
                    By Jove, er, Jupiter, I mean...Zeus! Tweezers of Thu Send a private message to Tweezers of Thu Oct 12 2012, 10:08pm
                        My take... Morthoron Send a private message to Morthoron Oct 13 2012, 1:45am
                            This... Tweezers of Thu Send a private message to Tweezers of Thu Oct 13 2012, 3:57pm
                        A Dark Lord by any other name... Elthir Send a private message to Elthir Oct 13 2012, 10:48pm
                            You might be right, i.e., . . . Tweezers of Thu Send a private message to Tweezers of Thu Oct 15 2012, 1:25pm
                    My take on it as well and what is Aragorn's "real" name anyway? telain Send a private message to telain Oct 19 2012, 1:19pm
                        S is for Sauron Elthir Send a private message to Elthir Oct 19 2012, 6:09pm
                            true, true! telain Send a private message to telain Oct 20 2012, 11:25am
                The meaning 'disgusting, foul, vile'... Elthir Send a private message to Elthir Oct 13 2012, 10:30pm
                    Thanks for the correction! Tweezers of Thu Send a private message to Tweezers of Thu Oct 13 2012, 10:46pm
        Another distinction Phibbus Send a private message to Phibbus Oct 18 2012, 3:47am
        Why do you assume the MoS was permitted to use the name? Noel Q. von Schneiffel Send a private message to Noel Q. von Schneiffel Oct 20 2012, 12:49pm
    Perhaps there is consistency Plurmo Send a private message to Plurmo Oct 12 2012, 4:27am
    I think you've hit the nail on the head. FarFromHome Send a private message to FarFromHome Oct 12 2012, 10:35am
    It could have been ElendilTheShort Send a private message to ElendilTheShort Oct 13 2012, 8:36am
        That would be me... FarFromHome Send a private message to FarFromHome Oct 14 2012, 11:58am
            Can one be "willing" or "unwilling" when one no longer has a will? squire Send a private message to squire Oct 14 2012, 1:35pm
                Good point FarFromHome Send a private message to FarFromHome Oct 14 2012, 8:21pm
                    I'm of the opinion loyalty must be a willing choice ElendilTheShort Send a private message to ElendilTheShort Oct 15 2012, 6:52am
            A couple great points here aruman Send a private message to aruman Oct 14 2012, 5:10pm
    Question aruman Send a private message to aruman Oct 14 2012, 5:19pm
        Excellent question CuriousG Send a private message to CuriousG Oct 18 2012, 8:13pm
            The Difficulty of having a Lord one can't name... Morthoron Send a private message to Morthoron Oct 19 2012, 3:49am
                Very nice! sador Send a private message to sador Oct 21 2012, 8:25am

 
 
 

Search for (options) Powered by Gossamer Forum v.1.2.3

home | advertising | contact us | back to top | search news | join list | Content Rating

This site is maintained and updated by fans of The Lord of the Rings, and is in no way affiliated with Tolkien Enterprises or the Tolkien Estate. We in no way claim the artwork displayed to be our own. Copyrights and trademarks for the books, films, articles, and other promotional materials are held by their respective owners and their use is allowed under the fair use clause of the Copyright Law. Design and original photography however are copyright © 1999-2012 TheOneRing.net. Binary hosting provided by Nexcess.net

Do not follow this link, or your host will be blocked from this site. This is a spider trap.