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telain
Rohan
Feb 12 2013, 4:25pm
Views: 2222
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I wonder, too, about Tolkien's use of Real-earth to write Middle-earth. Here, I bring up the oft-referenced Tolkien distaste for allegory (which, truthfully, he really can't get too far away from). Real-earth places in the stories -- like Bilbo fighting were-worms in China -- might lead more people to look for allegory. (Bilbo in China -- great image!)
Editing out Real-earth places also gives more licence to play with geography (and thus, identity). Tolkien may have wanted us to equate some aspects of Gondor with the civilization of the Romans (or even Egyptians), but I do not get the sense he wanted us to believe they were the Romans. (Nor the Rohirrim as the ancient Celts or Vikings, or Hobbits ancient Britons, etc.) Using astronomy is actually quite brilliant now that I think about it, because it places Middle-earth on Real-earth, but it allows an imaginative use of geography to fit the story. If Bilbo had actually said "China", then we'd be busy figuring out which race was which Real-earth people and debating why parts of the Middle-earth story don't fit Real-earth history or geography.
Astronomy also has a bit of the mythic/mystic about it (yes, I know it is a real science and I am not confusing it with astrology) but there is nonetheless a connection between the two that -- in my mind anyway -- further draws Middle-earth into the realm of fantasy/myth instead of legend/history.
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Time
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The Silmarillion discussion: Of the Coming of the Elves
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CuriousG
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Feb 1 2013, 5:34am
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Brief comment from "Arda Reconstructed"
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CuriousG
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Feb 1 2013, 5:55am
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I'm enjoying seeing these brief comments from AR
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Voronwë_the_Faithful
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Feb 1 2013, 7:34pm
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As far as I remember, not exactly.
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sador
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Feb 12 2013, 9:33pm
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Some corrections
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Voronwë_the_Faithful
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Feb 13 2013, 2:41am
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Thank you!
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sador
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Feb 13 2013, 5:12pm
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Food for thought is good!
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Voronwë_the_Faithful
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Feb 13 2013, 7:00pm
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"It needed a week's answer, or none."
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sador
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Feb 15 2013, 2:04pm
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I'm always interested in what you have to say! //
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Voronwë_the_Faithful
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Feb 15 2013, 3:51pm
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birth and other questions fo Elves
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elevorn
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Feb 1 2013, 4:15pm
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>>Why do you think Melkor was nibbling around the edges of the Elves and kidnapping them a few at a time? Why not enslave them all at once? They weren't exactly a fighting force.
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Asger
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Feb 1 2013, 6:57pm
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Elves and the bad guy
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CuriousG
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Feb 3 2013, 6:31pm
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great post! I hope my answers measure up...
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telain
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Feb 2 2013, 8:34pm
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Doom and Deepness and Damned, sexy orcs
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noWizardme
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Feb 3 2013, 6:06pm
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Mandos and his secrets
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CuriousG
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Feb 3 2013, 9:12pm
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doomed by doom?
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telain
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Feb 5 2013, 4:32pm
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Valar and Elves
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CuriousG
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Feb 3 2013, 7:02pm
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Of Elves and Orcs--more info
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CuriousG
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Feb 3 2013, 7:56pm
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Answers at last
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sador
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Feb 11 2013, 12:16pm
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late thought about stars, and links to real Earth
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noWizardme
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Feb 11 2013, 2:35pm
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Oh, the next chapter disscussion HAS started...
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noWizardme
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Feb 11 2013, 2:38pm
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Middle-earth and Real-earth
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telain
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Feb 12 2013, 4:25pm
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Answers to answers
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CuriousG
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Feb 15 2013, 1:51am
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