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Zherkezhi
Bree
Aug 11 2012, 10:55pm
Views: 455
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Applicability and Allegory
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Can't Post
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Hello everyone,
I am currently working on my bachelor thesis, for which I want to analyse a medieval adaption and middle high german translation of Vergil's Aeneid, called Eneas. It's a very interesting piece of work, since it "medievalises" Vergil's epic poem: Aeneas, the legendary founder of ancient Rome, is a knight in shining armor - Dido, the legendary founder of Carthage, is the object of courtly love - and so forth.
So why am I telling you all this?
In this translation/adaption, the author transforms the characters of the Aeneid into examples that illustrate courtly morals and values. In other words, the author uses the characters as allegories. When I realized that, I came to think of what Tolkien said about allegories:
I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done so since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence. I much prefer history, true or feigned, with its varied applicability to the thought and experience of readers. I think that many confuse 'applicability' with 'allegory'; but the one resides in the freedom of the reader, and the other in the purposed domination of the author.
I'd really like to put this into my bachelor thesis, albeit as a footnote, but I need a proper scientific paper to quote (Alas, I don't think that my examiners would like me to cite the foreword of The Lord of the Rings. Just a few weeks ago a fellow student walked into their seminar in full knight's armor and caused a lot of irritation. My examiners are probably a bit sensitive of late, when it comes to good academic conduct).
Do you know a paper of Tolkien's which deals with this topic (allegory and applicability) and that I could cite in my thesis? I am not very familiar with Tolkien's scholarly work and I'd like to know whether anyone of you has some recommendations. :)
Thanks in advance and best wishes!
(This post was edited by Zherkezhi on Aug 11 2012, 10:57pm)
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Subject
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Time
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Applicability and Allegory
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Zherkezhi
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Aug 11 2012, 10:55pm
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I think Letters are fair game as references.
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Elizabeth
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Aug 12 2012, 1:53am
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Thank you
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Zherkezhi
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Aug 12 2012, 8:10am
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I recommend Scull and Hammond
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geordie
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Aug 12 2012, 8:56am
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Great quotes
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Zherkezhi
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Aug 12 2012, 4:24pm
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I don't know of any academic work
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geordie
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Aug 12 2012, 9:27am
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I like that, too
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Zherkezhi
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Aug 12 2012, 4:26pm
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If I were you
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FarFromHome
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Aug 14 2012, 4:10pm
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Allegory examples
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CuriousG
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Aug 14 2012, 7:24pm
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You are describing "applicability"
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Elizabeth
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Aug 14 2012, 7:57pm
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Yes, I agree
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FarFromHome
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Aug 15 2012, 8:23am
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I do not understand...
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Noel Q. von Schneiffel
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Aug 15 2012, 12:57pm
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Thanks to you both for clarifying. I may finally understand it now.//
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CuriousG
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Aug 15 2012, 3:58pm
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Unless you're young and very obtuse like me.
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CuriousG
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Aug 15 2012, 4:03pm
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Like the Elves, Tolkien says both yea and nay...
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Morthoron
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Aug 16 2012, 2:13am
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