tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239062544101975016.post6629857755488270320..comments2024-03-28T14:05:25.134-07:00Comments on Sacnoth's Scriptorium: A D&D ParkJohn D. Rateliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324926298336489295noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239062544101975016.post-64628595706285081112020-10-05T06:02:44.011-07:002020-10-05T06:02:44.011-07:00Thank you so much! I think that clarified my conce...Thank you so much! I think that clarified my concept of it. I think you are saying it really lies in the unexpected event which is the Eagles arrival. I was thinking of it in a more physical sense, since Beorn was the unstoppable element on the battlefield and turned what looked to be defeat into victory.HobbitFanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13648203851066045489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239062544101975016.post-15840767466991979422020-09-29T20:41:02.642-07:002020-09-29T20:41:02.642-07:00Dear Walt
I think it's the eagles who are the...Dear Walt<br /><br />I think it's the eagles who are the true ex machina here. Beorn's return was planned as part of the story from very early on, as shown by the Plot Notes. <br /><br />There too the original usage of the term, involving an actor's being lowered to or lifted from the stage via a crane, sounds to me a little closer to an air-attack rather than death-by-bear.<br /><br />So you're right according to the modern generalized usage, but Tolkien may have been using a slightly stricter usage. That wd be like him.<br /><br />Your query has gotten me curious about how many ancient Greek plays actually had one, so I'll see what I can turn up on that friont.<br /><br />--John R.<br />John D. Rateliffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12324926298336489295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239062544101975016.post-23234621435404776592020-09-26T17:40:04.131-07:002020-09-26T17:40:04.131-07:00Hi John,
This is off-topic but I have a question ...Hi John,<br /><br />This is off-topic but I have a question on Beorn's role in the book. When I read it, I always felt he was the deus ex machina or Tolkien's U-Catastrophe for this story. Is that an accurate observation? Thanks!<br /><br />WaltHobbitFanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13648203851066045489noreply@blogger.com