tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239062544101975016.post9140090757693608081..comments2024-03-27T21:39:23.192-07:00Comments on Sacnoth's Scriptorium: The Worst Book on Tolkien Ever Written?John D. Rateliffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12324926298336489295noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239062544101975016.post-2699404203699902722020-05-28T01:14:59.651-07:002020-05-28T01:14:59.651-07:00Embarrassing commentary. Your essay is the WORST ...Embarrassing commentary. Your essay is the WORST essay on Tolkien I have read. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01891759896880271493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239062544101975016.post-38373519529896138792018-04-15T16:30:30.044-07:002018-04-15T16:30:30.044-07:00Dear G.
I'd say that reading would be an examp...Dear G.<br />I'd say that reading would be an example of applicability, not allegory.<br />--JDRJohn D. Rateliffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12324926298336489295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239062544101975016.post-62742707809516567542018-04-15T13:47:46.827-07:002018-04-15T13:47:46.827-07:00About LOTR, I'd agree. But the Hobbit always ...About LOTR, I'd agree. But the Hobbit always struck me as a highly allegorical work. No one really comes off well except for the druid and Bilbo. This seems to hold for a lot of young writers after the First World War. Robert Graves comes to mind and Hemingway.<br /><br />There's no real systematic evil in the Hobbit except in tangential hints. It's more about the shortcomings of various groups and the way they blundered through a war that didn't need to happen.<br /><br />Ex/ The Elves are the French, a fickle, disruptive and often uncooperative and resentful ally.Gravediggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08454977711858762032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239062544101975016.post-85930347333035118022018-04-15T12:44:43.599-07:002018-04-15T12:44:43.599-07:00Hi Yves.
Actually, it was in an interview that Tol...Hi Yves.<br />Actually, it was in an interview that Tolkien said his depiction of the dwarves drew on the great Jewish craftsmen of medieval Iberia and on the fierce warriors of Biblical times (think Joshua and the Judges such as Samson). It's clear he wasn't thinking of modern real-world peoples.<br />--John R.John D. Rateliffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12324926298336489295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239062544101975016.post-1433454227058393172018-04-14T21:18:32.429-07:002018-04-14T21:18:32.429-07:00In notes, Tolkien himself said he meant the Dwarve...In notes, Tolkien himself said he meant the Dwarves to represent the Jews.<br /><br />Their unbridled lust for gold awakens a "dragon" and results in the destruction of a "village".<br /><br />He saw the First World War as at least partly driven by bankers and their greed. In the UK, "Banker" usually means Jew. It's been that way since the Elizabethan period...Thus The Merchant of Venice, The Jew of Malta, etc...Yves Vanneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17845910465192122878noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239062544101975016.post-86916019826844043332017-04-28T18:07:19.681-07:002017-04-28T18:07:19.681-07:00Hugh B. wrote "my guess is you'll never ...Hugh B. wrote "my guess is you'll never stop reading him, now that you've gotten a taste"<br /><br />Dear Hugh.<br />Well, it's possible I suppose, but I wdn't count on it.<br />--JDR John D. Rateliffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12324926298336489295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2239062544101975016.post-83266920176704610922017-03-28T18:25:05.684-07:002017-03-28T18:25:05.684-07:00By criticizing Jones, you're just making a foo...By criticizing Jones, you're just making a fool of yourself. He's written books on everything from Hawthorne to Bauhaus. But my guess is you'll never stop reading him, now that you've gotten a taste.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12084233132677234837noreply@blogger.com