In the course of this blog I will cover many topics, (Sub-topics, I mean, all related to Tolkien) and endeavour to answer many questions about the same. The point of this is to explain, enlighten, and, perhaps, in some measure to entertain to the best of my ability. But before I answer questions that I or others may have about the works of Tolkien, I should answer the most immediate and obvious question: Why Tolkien? Why are his works the topic that I am choosing to write about?
First of all is, because this is a subject I know at least something about, and I find to be vastly interesting. (Quite obviously, or else I would not have written this, and you would not be reading it.) But why do I, and so many other people in the world find such an interest in this specifically? There are many other works of fantasy and literature! Why then can one find many blogs, podcasts, social media accounts, and even books all devoted to explaining and analyzing Tolkien’s world?
I believe the reasons for this are (1), the amazing world Tolkien builds in his tales, and (2), the way he builds it. His prodigious imagination, and his proficiency as a writer.
The World
Tolkien’s world is vast. It is not for no reason that there are so many people writing and speaking about it. Tolkien developed in great detail nations, peoples, histories, and cultures. Within each of these cultures are languages, (Which are in various levels of completeness: some have only basic rules and few words, other are nearly as complete as real-life languages) beliefs, legends, traditions, and simple ways of life. And as for the history of Middle-Earth, we know nearly as much, if not as much about it as about the ancient history of our own world. (Though the history of our world has this advantage – it actually happened!) This information is probably due to the Elves, who had very lengthy lives, excellent memories, and a love for history and lore. Bilbo Baggins’s preserved much of this lore in the part of the Red Book titled “Translations from the Elvish”, which became the contents of the “Silmarillion” and the “History of Middle-Earth” when Tolkien translated it into English.[1]
Tolkien crafted his world out of a perfect mix of real life experience, knowledge of this world, influence of historical myths, and pure imagination. These old myths certainly play a big role in the delightfulness of Tolkien’s world, adding a flavour that makes it seem more ancient and authentic than it could otherwise be. Indeed, as C. S. Lewis believed, the best literature is not entirely original, but is influenced by and built on the foundation of that which came before it.
An example of this principle is the term ‘Middle-Earth’ itself. I have heard someone say that he likes this term because it sound so old and mystical. Well, as a matter of fact, Tolkien did not invent it, he borrowed it from old myth and poetry. It has a long, epic history. Tolkien’s Middle-Earth is called by such a name because it is in the middle of the seas, but in our old poetry it was said that Heaven was above, Hell beneath, and Earth in the middle, which is how this term came about.
The Way He Builds It
Even though Tolkien’s world is so vast, surprisingly it was not created to be an end in itself, but a means to the end of language.[2] I said above that Tolkien made entire languages for his world. Scratch that! Reverse it! Tolkien made a world for his languages.
As a philologist, a professor of the history of languages, Tolkien knew that what gives words their meaning is their history. Language shapes culture, and culture shapes language. Take Quenya, for instance. In the context of the Lord of the Rings books, Quenya is an ancient language; a remembrance of greater days, now spoken only by the wise and the scholars. Therefore it is a beautiful and poetic language.
Language is what brought about Tolkien’s world, and it is also a great factor in why we enjoy it so much, for Tolkien was not only a master of Elvish, but also of English. He had studied the history of his native language until he understood it better than nearly any other person on earth, and he knew how to string words together to create a picture in our minds, or to stir our hearts within us. He was well versed in multiple different types of literature, as we can see from the different tones he uses in different parts of his stories. For instance, the tone and language used to describe the glorious and majestic creation of the world is vastly estranged from that used to write about a hobbit’s birthday party, yet Tolkien could write both with equal mastery.
Conclusion
So we see that Tolkien truly was a singular master of his craft, apt in all areas that are required to create a mythological world like, and yet unlike anything seen before or since. In doing this, I would say that he achieves an Elvish standard of sub-creation, forming a wondrous work of art out of the talents and resources he was given by his Maker.
[1] Here I am referring to Tolkien’s pretence that all his works were merely translated from the Red Book of Westmarch, which the hobbits wrote.
[2] And his other interest: myth, but here I wish to focus on language.