I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence.
J. R. R. Tolkien
British scholar & fantasy novelist (1892 - 1973)
With this quote from the lord of the rings author isn't it interesting that he and C.S. Lewis (author of the chronicles of narnia) were such good friends considering all the chronicles of narnia is basically allegory?
2006-11-02 04:57:54 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Lewis wrote a lot of other stuff too, though.
2006-11-02 05:00:06 · answer #1 · answered by TiM 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tolkien's works are not strict allegories and neither are the tales of Narnia. They both have allegorical imagery which is not the same as an allegorical tale.
Tolkien justified what he wrote as that any allegory that appeared was there because people always remain people regardless of the circumstance they find themselves in.
2006-11-02 07:43:07 · answer #2 · answered by Sophist 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think Tolkien must be misquoted as his prime work Lord of the Rings is also riddled with beautiful and rich allegorical references to man's eternal battle with the Dark forces of the Nature and how when a man decides to stand up against the darkness within, how all the good forces of nature conspire with him, to push him to his destiny, the summit of his exist.
No matter how hard you might fight the enemies without yet the real enemy always lies within - man's ego. And the only way can a man transcend his human failings is by surrendering all his powers of ego - The Ring into burning into the burning cauldron called the Universal Source.
When the big O is gone man become 0 is simply complete or full circle, this also means giving up the desire to possess completeness is the last barrier towards completeness itself, as man is basically part of the divine hence complete by himself.
Any man that has ever transcended human existence has done so by surrendering all that he is to the Divine, that is when the divine within rises to claim all that is His.
2006-11-02 05:06:04 · answer #3 · answered by Abhishek Joshi 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe they were part of the same sphere of fantasy/fiction writers. Part of the idea of friendship is the ability to see one another's differences and accept them. The word "cordially" in his quote implies that he had a polite dislike of it. I'm sure that he and C.S. Lewis agreed to disagree on their views of the use of allegory. And I'm sure that it also incited some rather interesting discussions, too.
Interesting point you brought up here...
2006-11-02 07:09:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tolkien may have disliked allegory but he never said he disliked people who used it as a vehicle for their writing. I don't know many people who find their friends "perfect." Most of us love our friends inspite of their idiosyncracies and imperfections and want the same in return.
2006-11-02 05:01:42 · answer #5 · answered by nquizzitiv 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
this site should show you the answer to that. you can converse and learn from anyone. actually beliefs shouldnt be a common thread in that you will never evolve out of your cocoon if you fail to move outside yourself or your understandings.
plus he said in his old age. Old people get crotchety about everything whats new about that.
2006-11-02 05:17:52 · answer #6 · answered by CaptainObvious 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Isn't the return of the king also allegory? It seems like he was just drunk when he said that.
2006-11-02 05:00:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Mature and respectful individuals look beyond trivial matters when determining or retaining friends.
2006-11-02 05:24:39 · answer #8 · answered by straightup 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He was wise enough to look past another's blunders.
2006-11-02 04:59:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tolkien's works were semi allegorical too.
2006-11-02 05:02:04 · answer #10 · answered by just nate 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋