Walk The Real Tolkien Trail.

congressmn · 01-21-2003, 06:56 AM

Does ne one know what kind of life did JRR TOLKIEN lead.
What inspired him so much, what made him write his great books.
I am sure all of us would like to be inspired by the same, and WALK THE REAL TOLKIEN TRAIL

hobinator · 01-21-2003, 11:33 AM

many have said the underlying theme in all the books was death, becuase both his father and mother died when he was at such a young age

***Sister Golden Hair*** · 01-21-2003, 11:50 AM

Tolkien had a number of inspirations. His love of languages, and the great incouragement that came from the other Inklings, especially C.S. Lewis, just to name a couple.

Falagar · 01-21-2003, 11:51 AM

And of course the wars must have had some influence on him, both the war he fought himself and the war his son fought.

Insidious Rex · 01-21-2003, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hobinator
many have said the underlying theme in all the books was death, becuase both his father and mother died when he was at such a young age

Yes Ive heard this too. And that serving in world war I influenced his writing as well. And his loathing of technology. But I would imagine losing so many close friends and family members again and again throughout his life influenced his writing in that so many of the major characters described especially in the Silmarillion end up dead. Usually brutally.

Insidious Rex · 01-21-2003, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sister Golden Hair
Tolkien had a number of inspirations. His love of languages, and the great incouragement that came from the other Inklings, especially C.S. Lewis, just to name a couple.

Sis GH: Do we know if he knew TH White at all? I think they were contemporary.

***Sister Golden Hair*** · 01-21-2003, 01:04 PM

I don't know the answer to that Rex.

congressmn · 01-21-2003, 01:18 PM

neither do I

hobinator · 01-21-2003, 01:44 PM

The 3rd disc of the Extended Fellowship has a great description of Tolkiens life, from birth to his passing, creation of middle earth, and his time at Oxford.

Dúnedain · 01-21-2003, 08:50 PM

Also don't forget the time period he grew up in as well. The first 20-30 years of his life was during the time in which the world developed the most in all major aspects, whether it be industrial, financial, political, etc... I think you can find many aspects of his trials and tribulations in many different and distinct places in his books, while at the same time his influences in life also led him to create unearthly things that didn't go through the things he had seen in his life or were oblivious to anyway...

Artanis · 01-22-2003, 03:00 AM

I'm pushing 'Letters' again. There you will find Tolkien's view of different aspects in society, together with his own comments on his authorship and his work.

(I'm amazed Rian hasn't been here before me

)

Lalaith · 01-23-2003, 02:45 PM

I read that he was missing a real history of england such as greece or sweden has (with real old heros) and that he wanted to write such a story of england. At first he did - this can be read in the Unfinished Tales, there are many silmilarities with England, but later on he dropped that whole england thing

***Jonathan*** · 01-23-2003, 05:29 PM

Quote:

I read that he was missing a real history of england such as greece or sweden has (with real old heros) and that he wanted to write such a story of england

Speaking of Sweden, Tolkien got much from his material from Norse mythology. For example, Tolkien must have came up with the idea of the Halls of Mandos after reading about Valhalla, where all the brave warriors came after death. And the story of how the sun and moon of Middle-Earth were created is like the Norse story of their creation.

Lalaith · 01-24-2003, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Speaking of Sweden, Tolkien got much from his material from Norse mythology. For example, Tolkien must have came up with the idea of the Halls of Mandos after reading about Valhalla,

Where do I know the word Valhalla? I knew I know this word and have read stories with it before, but I could not tell. Damn (but now I know what it is, thanks Jonathan)

Insidious Rex · 01-24-2003, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lalaith
Where do I know the word Valhalla? I knew I know this word and have read stories with it before, but I could not tell. Damn (but now I know what it is, thanks Jonathan)

*singing*

we come from the land of the ice and snow
with the midnight sun and the hot springs flow..
the Hammer of the Gods
will drive our ships to new lands
fighting the hordes
singing and crying:
Valhala I am coming-eee-ing!!!

Jonathan these are your ancestors I believe

congressmn · 01-24-2003, 11:59 AM

So in conclusion he took it all from Sweden eh?
(Now if that can be proved, i can already see the smile on Jonathan's face).

Insidious Rex · 01-24-2003, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by congressmn
So in conclusion he took it all from Sweden eh?
(Now if that can be proved, i can already see the smile on Jonathan's face).

Well he took bits and pieces from all over really. But no doubt Scandinavian lore was a very heavy influence since their sagas and tales are rich and many and filled with glorious battles and fell deeds and poetic nostalgia.

Artanis · 01-24-2003, 02:56 PM

Ehrrmm - Scandinavia is more than Sweden.

*wipes off smile on Jonathan's face*

Falagar · 01-24-2003, 03:55 PM

Much more

Coney · 01-24-2003, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Insidious Rex
Sis GH: Do we know if he knew TH White at all? I think they were contemporary.

Doubtful that he did. TH White was pretty infamous for being a loner who suffered bouts of severe depression....not a mixer at all. There is a good insight into his private life in the 1995 printing of The Once and Future King.

01-21-2003, 06:56 AM	#1
congressmn Incharge: neighbourhood security Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: on my 499th post Posts: 481	Walk The Real Tolkien Trail. Does ne one know what kind of life did JRR TOLKIEN lead. What inspired him so much, what made him write his great books. I am sure all of us would like to be inspired by the same, and WALK THE REAL TOLKIEN TRAIL

01-21-2003, 11:50 AM	#3
*Sister Golden Hair* Queen of Nargothrond Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Akron, Ohio - USA Posts: 7,121	Tolkien had a number of inspirations. His love of languages, and the great incouragement that came from the other Inklings, especially C.S. Lewis, just to name a couple. __________________ "Whither go you?" she said. "North away." he said: "to the swords, and the siege, and the walls of defence - that yet for a while in Beleriand rivers may run clean, leaves spring, and birds build their nests, ere Night comes." AboutNewJersey.com - New Jersey Travel and Tourism Guide

01-21-2003, 11:51 AM	#4
Falagar Death of Mooters and [Entmoot] Internal Affairs Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 2,870	And of course the wars must have had some influence on him, both the war he fought himself and the war his son fought. __________________ Fëanor - Innocence incarnated Still, Aikanáro 'till the Last battle. Last edited by Falagar : 01-21-2003 at 12:40 PM.

01-21-2003, 01:04 PM	#7
*Sister Golden Hair* Queen of Nargothrond Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Akron, Ohio - USA Posts: 7,121	I don't know the answer to that Rex. __________________ "Whither go you?" she said. "North away." he said: "to the swords, and the siege, and the walls of defence - that yet for a while in Beleriand rivers may run clean, leaves spring, and birds build their nests, ere Night comes." AboutNewJersey.com - New Jersey Travel and Tourism Guide

01-21-2003, 08:50 PM	#10
Dúnedain High King of Númenórë Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Númenórë <--United States of America Posts: 1,947	Also don't forget the time period he grew up in as well. The first 20-30 years of his life was during the time in which the world developed the most in all major aspects, whether it be industrial, financial, political, etc... I think you can find many aspects of his trials and tribulations in many different and distinct places in his books, while at the same time his influences in life also led him to create unearthly things that didn't go through the things he had seen in his life or were oblivious to anyway... __________________ 'Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta!' - And those were the words that Elendil spoke when he came up out of the Sea on the wings of the wind: 'Out of the Great Sea to Middle-earth I am come. In this place will I abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the world.' 'Then Tuor arrayed himself in the hauberk, and set the helm upon his head, and he girt himself with the sword; black were sheath and belt with clasps of silver. Thus armed he went forth from Turgon's hall, and stood upon the high terraces of Taras in the red light of the sun. None were there to see him, as he gazed westward, gleaming in silver and gold, and he knew not that in that hour he appeared as one of the Mighty of the West, and fit to be father of the kings of the Kings of Men beyond the Sea, as it was indeed his doom to be; but in the taking of those arms a change came upon Tuor son of Huor, and his heart grew great within him. And as he stepped down from the doors the swans did him reverence, and plucking each a great feather from their wings they proffered them to him, laying their long necks upon the stone before his feet; and he took the seven feathers and set them in the crest of his helm, and straightway the swans arose and flew north in the sunset, and Tuor saw them no more.' -Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin "Oh. Forgive me, fairest of all males of Entmoot...Back down, all ye other wannabe fairest males! Dunedain is the fairest!" --Linaewen

01-21-2003, 11:33 AM	#2
hobinator Enting Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 93	many have said the underlying theme in all the books was death, becuase both his father and mother died when he was at such a young age

01-21-2003, 01:18 PM	#8
congressmn Incharge: neighbourhood security Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: on my 499th post Posts: 481	neither do I

01-21-2003, 01:44 PM	#9
hobinator Enting Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 93	The 3rd disc of the Extended Fellowship has a great description of Tolkiens life, from birth to his passing, creation of middle earth, and his time at Oxford.

01-22-2003, 03:00 AM	#11
Artanis Greatest Elven woman of Aman Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Having way too much fun with Fëanor's 7 Posts: 4,285	I'm pushing 'Letters' again. There you will find Tolkien's view of different aspects in society, together with his own comments on his authorship and his work. (I'm amazed Rian hasn't been here before me ) __________________ --Life is hard, and then we die.

01-23-2003, 02:45 PM	#12
Lalaith The Elvish Temptress Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 3,055	I read that he was missing a real history of england such as greece or sweden has (with real old heros) and that he wanted to write such a story of england. At first he did - this can be read in the Unfinished Tales, there are many silmilarities with England, but later on he dropped that whole england thing __________________ What I am and what I would are as secret as maidenhead.

01-24-2003, 11:59 AM	#16
congressmn Incharge: neighbourhood security Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: on my 499th post Posts: 481	So in conclusion he took it all from Sweden eh? (Now if that can be proved, i can already see the smile on Jonathan's face). __________________ i am nothing. i am a cold stone, which deceives with the light it reflects, giving illusions of warmth.

01-24-2003, 02:56 PM	#18
Artanis Greatest Elven woman of Aman Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Having way too much fun with Fëanor's 7 Posts: 4,285	Ehrrmm - Scandinavia is more than Sweden. wipes off smile on Jonathan's face __________________ --Life is hard, and then we die.

01-24-2003, 03:55 PM	#19
Falagar Death of Mooters and [Entmoot] Internal Affairs Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 2,870	Much more __________________ Fëanor - Innocence incarnated Still, Aikanáro 'till the Last battle.

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