I think one of the most interesting things about The Lord of the Rings is that it spawned a genre that it doesn't belong to. It spawned modern fantasy, largely through its worldbuilding, but it is, as you say, a fairytale, and therefore not a fantasy. What is the difference? In fantasy, like science fiction, triumph comes through mastery, through competence. You go to school to learn to be a wizard. In fairytales, by contrast, triumph comes through virtue, which often means that they have what Tolkien called a eucatastrophe in the ending. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain triumphs through chastity, by resisting the charms of Green Knight's lady, not through prowess in arms. Frodo does not master the ring. It masters him. He triumphs because of his earlier act of mercy in sparing Gollum. And speaking of Hans Christian Andersen, the most perfect instance of a eucatastrophe can be found in his story, The Steadfast Tin Soldier.
I do plan to write something about the genre that he spawned and the other tradition that could have existed instead. One that is the child of works like Lud-in-the-Mist, the Gormenghast trilogy and Orlando (by Woolf). To be continued.
As a life-long Tolkien fan, I'm always cautious when someone writes a new essay on Tolkien. Your essay is one of the best I've read for a long time. The fairy-story essay is a key to Tolkiens two novels and you examine it with great insight. Subscribed and shared. Thank you!
One thing that is rarely mentioned and not by Tolkein as far as I know, is where he got a great deal of his ideas. From the mythology and legends of the Celtic lands.
Those realms are full of fairy stories- great journeys into the lands of enchantment. With magical animals who are shapeshifting deities and humans on impossible quests. These are ancient stories told by the firesides for millennia by the seanchaí, the traditional storytellers.
There is nothing new under the sun, not even Tolkien and his stories.
I think Tolkien would be the first to agree with that. And while he does draw a lot from the celts he usually mentions the Kalevala as a source of inspiration (the Finnish myth as compiled and edited in the 19th century). And of course Beowulf which he studied and translated.
Thanks for this essay. I have come late to these comments. I heard part of the early 50s dramatisation of The Hobbit on BBC Schools Radio, when home from school unwell for a few days. Circa 1955 I found copies of the trilogy in the public library and read them in odd order of availabilty straight through if I remember.
It is magic and something of a shock if another but non-human mind communicates, even talks. Likewise, if more so, if one sees however briefly a distant but recognisable scene through another's eyes.
I wonder about Tolkien. Maybe it is his absorbing study of distant legends that informed his imagination, but I see a resemblance with actual history. I stillI have my original copy of an article in the journal Science about the battle at Tollense. This was a turning point for Europe and could pass as the original of the dead marshes. "Tollense looks like a first step toward a way of life that is with us still." I hope you can read this https://www.science.org/content/article/slaughter-bridge-uncovering-colossal-bronze-age-battle
NB I understand subsequent investigation of genetics altered some of the interpretation in the original article, but the main stuff still stands.
The Late Bronze Age 'crash' was equally interesting when it extended to the Leant.
I think one of the most interesting things about The Lord of the Rings is that it spawned a genre that it doesn't belong to. It spawned modern fantasy, largely through its worldbuilding, but it is, as you say, a fairytale, and therefore not a fantasy. What is the difference? In fantasy, like science fiction, triumph comes through mastery, through competence. You go to school to learn to be a wizard. In fairytales, by contrast, triumph comes through virtue, which often means that they have what Tolkien called a eucatastrophe in the ending. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain triumphs through chastity, by resisting the charms of Green Knight's lady, not through prowess in arms. Frodo does not master the ring. It masters him. He triumphs because of his earlier act of mercy in sparing Gollum. And speaking of Hans Christian Andersen, the most perfect instance of a eucatastrophe can be found in his story, The Steadfast Tin Soldier.
That is a great and interesting point!
I do plan to write something about the genre that he spawned and the other tradition that could have existed instead. One that is the child of works like Lud-in-the-Mist, the Gormenghast trilogy and Orlando (by Woolf). To be continued.
As a life-long Tolkien fan, I'm always cautious when someone writes a new essay on Tolkien. Your essay is one of the best I've read for a long time. The fairy-story essay is a key to Tolkiens two novels and you examine it with great insight. Subscribed and shared. Thank you!
Thank you Ricky for that delightful reply! And from a life-long fan.
Very interesting read
Glad you like it
One thing that is rarely mentioned and not by Tolkein as far as I know, is where he got a great deal of his ideas. From the mythology and legends of the Celtic lands.
Those realms are full of fairy stories- great journeys into the lands of enchantment. With magical animals who are shapeshifting deities and humans on impossible quests. These are ancient stories told by the firesides for millennia by the seanchaí, the traditional storytellers.
There is nothing new under the sun, not even Tolkien and his stories.
Which I love by the way. I just wish the source material had been acknowledged.
I think Tolkien would be the first to agree with that. And while he does draw a lot from the celts he usually mentions the Kalevala as a source of inspiration (the Finnish myth as compiled and edited in the 19th century). And of course Beowulf which he studied and translated.
I'm very glad to hear that. I did think he drew from other cultures, I just didn't know which ones. I did realize he drew from the Anglo Saxons.
Much appreciated. With greetings from a land of faerie ☘️
Thank you! May your journey through Faerie be filled with enchantment and just the right amount of mischief.
Thanks for this essay. I have come late to these comments. I heard part of the early 50s dramatisation of The Hobbit on BBC Schools Radio, when home from school unwell for a few days. Circa 1955 I found copies of the trilogy in the public library and read them in odd order of availabilty straight through if I remember.
It is magic and something of a shock if another but non-human mind communicates, even talks. Likewise, if more so, if one sees however briefly a distant but recognisable scene through another's eyes.
I wonder about Tolkien. Maybe it is his absorbing study of distant legends that informed his imagination, but I see a resemblance with actual history. I stillI have my original copy of an article in the journal Science about the battle at Tollense. This was a turning point for Europe and could pass as the original of the dead marshes. "Tollense looks like a first step toward a way of life that is with us still." I hope you can read this https://www.science.org/content/article/slaughter-bridge-uncovering-colossal-bronze-age-battle
NB I understand subsequent investigation of genetics altered some of the interpretation in the original article, but the main stuff still stands.
The Late Bronze Age 'crash' was equally interesting when it extended to the Leant.
'Levant' of course ... Naomi and Ruth and all that.