Holman Burrows
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Karma: 0 |  | The Importance of Reading Tolkien
« Thread Started on Nov 18, 2004, 7:32pm » | ![[Quote]](http://s4.images.proboards.com/buttons/quote.gif) |
I’ve read and reread the works of J.R.R. Tolkien since I was a teen. The result being that it has had a tremendous effect on me. I would most definitely say that the effect has been a positive one, although there are others who might say that this pastime has simply served to turn me into one of those “sci-fi/fantasy geek types”.
First of all, I was headed for the destination of “geek long before I ever picked up any of Tolkien’s books. And, although I suppose one could call it a pastime, (and, losing myself in the world of Middle-earth has been quite a pleasant way for me to pass the time on many occasions), I also look at it as more than a mere form of entertainment. It has been a serious study at times, expanding and illuminating in so many ways.
Ah, yes. Even now I can hear the refrains of “Geek!” and “Get a life!” Well, I’m a firm believer in the old adage that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But for me, reading TEXT , TEXT, or TEXT has made me take pause and examine life and all of the myriad interactions within it.
No matter how many times I’ve read TEXT I have always experienced the ensuing emotions it produced just as on deeply as on the first read. These feelings have not diminished on the third or the sixth reading. And even though I know what is coming in at the end of the novel, (or yes, even the movie), the knowledge has only made the emotions more profound. And I have welcomed and savored the heartache stirred up by the last chapter, because I realize that the tale does not end on a purely tragic note. All is not sadness and grief. We need sorrow in our lives in order to appreciate our joys and triumphs with greater depth. As Gandalf says of the departure at the Grey Havens “not all tears are an evil.”
I may not be a better person for having read and read again the good Professor’s inspirational works, but I will say that it has definitely spurred me on to try to attain that status. It’s not often that most people think of the genre of fantasy in that light. But I could argue that TEXT is more about real life than most fantasies and some other fictional novels set in the “real world”. So, if seeking to open the heart and mind makes one a geek, well, would that there were more geeks in the world.
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Braedon Took
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Karma: 0 | | Re: The Importance of Reading Tolkien
« Reply #1 on Nov 19, 2004, 2:45pm » | |
ah, would that I were as geeky as thee!
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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and good with ketchup. |
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Holman Burrows
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« Reply #2 on Nov 20, 2004, 8:59pm » | |
Well, my dear Braedon, there is strength in numbers, as they say. It would be a pleasure to have you join the geek brigade!
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Rowan
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Karma: 0 | | Re: The Importance of Reading Tolkien
« Reply #6 on Feb 12, 2005, 3:34am » | |
May I join? I found myself in what you describe. Actually it could have been from me. We may not beeing better because of the books, but different we are. And while the books are so full of important stuff like friendship, faith and braveness, it might have us formed in a positive way. Well yes, I am proud to be a geek, sofar. And I find my way through live since many years by myself and had never a problem. So it can't be bad to be "addicted" by LOTR. And its even better to escape in this sort of fantasy than drugs or something else...
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Though here at journey's end I lie
in darkness buried deep,
beyond all towers strong and high,
beyond all mountains steep,
above all shadows rides the Sun
and Stars for ever dwell:
I will not say the Day is done,
nor bid the Stars farewell. |
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Holman Burrows
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« Reply #7 on Feb 12, 2005, 9:15pm » | |
I agree with you totally, my dear lady. I have always believed that a little fantasy is a healthy thing! There have been studies done on the importance of play, not just for children, but for adults as well. I would think that indulging in fantasy forums, fan fic and that sort of thing would certainly qualify.
Holman Burrows
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Braewyn
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Karma: 0 | | Re: The Importance of Reading Tolkien
« Reply #8 on Oct 5, 2005, 2:32am » | |
aye, I agree...reading Tolkien, and writing fantasy in particular are some of the things that get me through the day! I think that reading great heroic literature like Tolkien, or even some of the old myths that he was inspired by helps us to realise the truth in the world. It helps opens our eyes to something that lies underneath that grey layer of the 'modern' world. I've written a lot of thoughts on this, you can view them on my online journal...
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Arise, arise, Riders of Theoden! Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter! Spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered, a sword day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor! |
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Peregrin Took
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Karma: 1 | | Re: The Importance of Reading Tolkien
« Reply #9 on Oct 5, 2005, 4:09am » | |
I shall definitely do that! ( I read Frodo's online journal, though his isn't very often full of deep thoughts.  )
But I know what you mean about heroic literature and the old myths. There is something about those kinds of stories that touch us in ways no other literature can. And I find that a bit of fantasy in my life helps to keep me sane!
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beren
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Karma: 0 | | Re: The Importance of Reading Tolkien
« Reply #10 on May 30, 2006, 1:38pm » | |
The strenght of Tolkien works are proven daily on all the Tolkien forums. We can see discussions over characters, ideas and themes. If we do know when the books were written we must say back then things were completely different from now; and yet the topics still get discussed as if they were todays problems and topics. Up to date i did not find any book which has the same strenght.
On topic, reading Tolkien books has been very important for me all my life. It helps me through difficult periods, it helped me to learn english, it gave me lots of joy and friends, it changed me as a person... etc etc...
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'It is fulfilled. Even now a Silmaril is in my hand.' - tolkienlibrary.com |
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