tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410716623228444076.post9021227101727625208..comments2024-03-14T06:20:59.015+00:00Comments on The Notion Club Papers - an Inklings blog: Personality of JRR Tolkien: classic creative geniusBruce Charltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410716623228444076.post-80726232228816290842013-02-01T16:38:36.659+00:002013-02-01T16:38:36.659+00:00@W - well it *could* be debated - but I don't ...@W - well it *could* be debated - but I don't think anyone who loved both T and L's work would dispute that T had achieved a higher level of creativity in his world. Indeed, there are those (more widely read than I, and including Lewis) who say that in *this* respect Tolkien is unmatched in world literature. The creation of a larger number of worlds at a lower level of verisimilitude is much commoner, and not really the same thing. Bruce Charltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09615189090601688535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410716623228444076.post-35840008632597985792013-02-01T15:55:46.219+00:002013-02-01T15:55:46.219+00:00Sensible observations, but I wonder a bit. Lewis ...Sensible observations, but I wonder a bit. Lewis created several convincing "mythoses" --<br /><br />the Narnian; the eldilan; that of Glome; one might also cite the Screwtapian and the Great Divorcian.<br /><br />All of these could readily have been developed further, and indeed in some cases have been. They would nourish sequels, etc.<br /><br />With Tolkien, one has the Middle-earth mythos, which Tolkien elaborated -- but perhaps not endlessly after all, as he seems ultimately to have come to impasses. The Middle-earth mythos is largely an elaboration of the myths of the Silmarils, the Rings, the fate of the Elves, the lost Road, and the Hobbits, all beautifully interrelated.<br /><br />You're probably right, but the latter -could- be debated a bit!<br /><br />Wurmbrandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17345523517796356674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2410716623228444076.post-67938657616543932942009-11-26T17:59:17.757+00:002009-11-26T17:59:17.757+00:00Hi Bruce,
I've read Humphrey Carpenter's ...Hi Bruce,<br /><br />I've read Humphrey Carpenter's biography and Tolkien's Collected Letters, and have the impression (and I'm not sure if it was mine or from a comment of Carpenters, probably the latter) that Tolkien suffered greatly for his art, and oscillated perpetually between anxiety that his work (fictional and administrative) must be done and a strong desire to be free of it, and just read and potter about and go for long walks... <br /><br />It's relevant that in 'Leaf by Niggle', seen by Tom Shippey as highly personal and autobiographical, that Niggle, who can never get things done, is put through a purgatory by which he slowly learns the self-discipline to impose a routine and manage tasks effectively. <br /><br />I think I remember rightly though that one of Tolkien's teenage friends from the T.C.B.S who eventually died in WW1 charged Tolkien with 'keeping the flame': developing their ideas and loves and writing them down. In that way Tolkien had an imperative that drove him onwards and which he couldn't ignore.dimwoohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14647682159670328929noreply@blogger.com