If so, where is middle earth supposed to be?
2006-11-20 14:25:05 · 10 answers · asked by danieljacksonjr 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Aye, I think 'twas probably meant to be in Europe. In the prelude to 'The Hobbit', Tolkien specifically makes reference to the fact that 'we scarecely see hobbits today, as they have become shy of the Big People'. Tolkien's Elvish languages are based heavily on Finnish and Gaelic, and Tolkien developed the history of Middle Earth partially to give England its very own mythology. The Arthurian legends, for example, were based very heavily on Christian themes which evolved well south of what would become Great Britain.
2006-11-20 19:21:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tolkein's Trilogy was originally bedtime stories for his sons. Wherever middle earth may be, the story starts in the Third Age and ends at the end of the 3rd Age. The 4th Age is when Man takes over and the creatures we consider to be mythical (elves dwarves etc) fade from existance. As far as the term middle earth goes, The name for China is Chung-guo which means the central kingdom - i.e. the kingdom between the celestial kingdom and the underworld.
2006-11-20 18:43:10 · answer #2 · answered by thedriftindragon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
J.R.R. Tolkiens inspiration for middle earth was Undoubtedly from Ancient Europe. The languages he invented for the Elves to speak are based on Old English and Norse though not exact. I believe that he meant the works as a whole to be a prehistory to the civilazations of eastern Europe.
2006-11-20 14:31:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ancient Europe
2006-11-20 17:29:06 · answer #4 · answered by Blouberger 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think it was his "earth as i wish it was" scenario.
the ultimate struggle between good and evil. with good winning all fronts in the end.
and possibly inspired by a possible distant past of future of this planet.
another interresting concept came from R.A. Salvatore.
in a book called "The Woods Out Back"
When a man from modern earth is magically taken to a land of fairies and elves. while he was reading the lord of the rings series in the woods behind his house.
it was based on the theory that there is a paralell world that sometomes can connect with our world. and it is where many or our mythologies came from. but in this Other world all or our Myths are true.
at one point the main character (Gary Leger) loans his copy of The Hobbit to a leprachaun.(Mickey) he begins reading it as a historical account right up untill the point where the trolls turn to stone in the daylight. Which he describes as a compleat lie and irresponsible telling of history..and goes on to quote "do you have any idea how many people run from mountain trolls only long enough to see the sun rise. and then stop to see them turn..but they do not turn lad they just keep comming"
it is theorised in this fiction book that Tolkien and many other writers must have traveled to this new world. and Mickey even claims to have known the Bard..William Shakesphere.
2006-11-20 15:33:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was supposed to be our world in a time that didn't exist. Middle Earth is Western Europe. In fact, Western Europeans used to call it Medle Erd, which means Middle Earth. Tolkiens languages are based on real languages as well, Norse, Icelandic, Old English, etc.
2006-11-21 09:22:26 · answer #6 · answered by Maia 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Middle Earth is so beutiful. too bad its not a real place. ild love to make my home in rivendorf. (or whatever its called where the elves live) Mabey its a real plase in the astral relm? well anyway you look at it its immaginary in this like of reality where everythings always serious. got to leave the fantasy in the movies to get along here today.
2006-11-20 21:47:29 · answer #7 · answered by eightieschick70 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Tolkein made it all up, and he knew this.
However, he did go a little insane near his death, where he started believing that he was in Middle Earth, and not in reality.
Whenever historians or scientists or whatever, try to draw links between history and real things here on earth with something in Tolkein's books, they are blatantly lying!
I've done research on this, read Tolkein's books, read notes, and it's just wild guesswork to try and sell more books.
2006-11-20 14:33:52 · answer #8 · answered by Nicole 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is probably possible. Not everything has been recorded. Noone really knows for sure how myths were started. People thought that it was to explain natural phenomena, but even now, people hold to their beliefs, even tho that "science smashed it", but science can't explain everything. But I agree, it is possible that it is a parallel astral plane. We see what we want and hear what we want as well.
2006-11-21 06:34:59 · answer #9 · answered by celtic_majik_21 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In his imagination.
2006-11-20 14:29:09 · answer #10 · answered by Homer Habilius III 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋