Tolkien's Fantasy World Too True To be Fantasy ?

[AntiochusIII]

Viewing from a pessimistic point of view, Tolkien's work can be recognize as racism, as well. With the "evils" in the "wild and unexplored lands of the East" or the Haradrim representing...others...

However, it is pointless, even stupid, to accuse Tolkien of racism, considering the age he lived in.

One would think Elendil's two kingdoms (Arnor and Gondor) are representatives of the two Roman empires.

Shire itself represents Tolkien's ideal "rural Britain." Carefree, ignorant, happy, fertile, but with hidden strength.

The lost Numenor is recognized by many (including Tolkien himself) as an Atlantis of Middle Earth.

[Aenlic]

Tolkien was an admitted anti-semite. It doesn't get talked about much because his works sort of overshadow his negative side. No one is perfect.

His love for and feeling of loss for the English countryside is real. He talked about it quite a bit in his later letters. He grew up in the West Midlands, in a little village just south of Birmingham. So he was exposed to the rampant industrial growth of Birmingham, as well as the rural life of the small villages and farms there. I think that juxtaposition, combined with the horrors of WWI (nearly every friend he had from school died in WWI) created the scene in his mind that became the backdrop of his written world. He composed most of what was later published as the "Lost Tales" while recovering from trench fever for the last two years of the war.

[PanzerJaeger]

Tolkien was an admitted anti-semite. It doesn't get talked about much because his works sort of overshadow his negative side. No one is perfect.

Hehe, its amazing what can be forgiven when you like the finished product.

I never understood the bid deal about the Lord of the Rings books. Pretty standard "quest" novels.. nothing particularly great about any of them in my opinion. Its a motif thats been done countless times. I think Star Wars did it much better. (And the movies were just stupid..)

[Byzantine Prince]

Fiction is always based on some fact. Even fantasy fiction.

I hate Star Wars. LOTR rewls!

[Soulforged]

If i'm correct the hobbits were based on reality. The inspiration came from the tipical englishman of the period, at least that's what he said.

[Reverend Joe]

PanzerJaeger- The distinctive factor in Lord of the Rings is the mythos and educated history behind them, not to mention excellent writing (except for the 5th book; it gets kinda thick around then.) Tolkien created an entire history behind the books, albeit inadvertantly (it's a long story)- and it is this entire backdrop that really makes the books stand out against the other quest/fantasy books of the time.

i never read the Star Wars books- and I had no motivation to, not after seeing the first 3 movies (meaning the early ones, not the ones that just came out. I hate having to explain that.)