Talking to the READER?

Bilbo · 02-06-2002, 08:31 AM

Although this is the first of all the Tolkien books, why the hell does he talk to the reader. In LOTR this never happens, why in the Hobbit.

P.S. I would add a quote but there are too many!

sun-star · 02-06-2002, 04:37 PM

I think it's because The Hobbit is really more of a children's book in tone than LOTR, and so it has that kind of authorial voice. It reminds me of some of the Narnia books in that way.

Comic Book Guy · 02-06-2002, 06:48 PM

Tolkien later regretted not removing these when he revised the Hobbit for the publication of the Lord of the Rings.

FrodoFriend · 02-06-2002, 10:41 PM

I like it. It makes it more personal and cute, like he's telling a story instead of writing a book.

Twilight · 02-06-2002, 11:20 PM

I found the writting style rather refressing. If nothing else, it made the book easyer to read, yet still didn't detract at all from the content. I like how it can be anilysed in such an intelectual way, yet still be easy to read.

eowyn144 · 02-27-2002, 03:22 PM

couldn't agree more.

Earenya · 02-27-2002, 04:20 PM

Precisely. The aim of "The Hobbit" was far different from LotR. And, to this day, it remains one of my favorite books.

MasterMothra · 02-27-2002, 09:40 PM

i rather enjoyed the style in the hobbit. it did seem to be more personal.

barrelrider110 · 03-04-2002, 10:49 AM

I rather liked it. It made me feel as if a fatherly Tolkien was telling the story and reminds me of the writing style of A.A. Milne (Winnie the Pooh). At the time, fantasy works had to be qualified, have some sort of toehold in reality. Some sort of explaination was requireed. -- Like Alice waking from a dream, or Dorothy recovering from a bump on the head. This was done so children wouldn't have nightmares about flying monkeys, or goblins. A narrator was similar device to achieve that. It lets you know "its only a story."

LOTR was ground-breaking fantasy literature for that reason. It was adult fantasy.

Could you imagine in the last chapter, Frodo wakes from the dream on Saturday morning with his mother calling him to come down to have pancakes?

Nibs · 03-04-2002, 12:43 PM

Kind of odd how The Hobbit, LotR, and the Silmarillion differ drastically in style and yet, I enjoy reading them all equally. The Hobbit has far fewer names to obfuscate the reader but fits well with the other works despite their stark dissimilarities.

Khadrane · 03-04-2002, 09:01 PM

I liked it when Tolkien talked to the reader in The Hobbit, too. It would have stunk in LOTR or The Silmarillion, though.

Kemren · 03-15-2002, 03:15 AM

It struck me as a more intimate type of storytelling, just right for the relatively smaller scope of the narrative. Excellent book. I have read it seventeen times at last count.

02-06-2002, 08:31 AM	#1
Bilbo Enting Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Last Homely House Posts: 52	Talking to the READER? Although this is the first of all the Tolkien books, why the hell does he talk to the reader. In LOTR this never happens, why in the Hobbit. P.S. I would add a quote but there are too many!

02-06-2002, 04:37 PM	#2
sun-star Lady of Letters Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Either Oxford or Kent, England Posts: 2,476	I think it's because The Hobbit is really more of a children's book in tone than LOTR, and so it has that kind of authorial voice. It reminds me of some of the Narnia books in that way. __________________ And all the time the waves, the waves, the waves Chase, intersect and flatten on the sand As they have done for centuries, as they will For centuries to come, when not a soul Is left to picnic on the blazing rocks, When England is not England, when mankind Has blown himself to pieces. Still the sea, Consolingly disastrous, will return While the strange starfish, hugely magnified, Waits in the jewelled basin of a pool.

02-06-2002, 10:41 PM	#4
FrodoFriend Halfwitted Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Eryn Vorn Posts: 1,659	I like it. It makes it more personal and cute, like he's telling a story instead of writing a book. __________________ Fingolfin lives! ... in my finger! The Crossroads of Arda - Warning. Halfwit content. Not appropriate for people with IQ of over 18. The Fellowship of the Message Board Nyáréonié - The Tale of Tears

02-06-2002, 11:20 PM	#5
Twilight Elven Warrior Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wilmore, KY Posts: 269	I found the writting style rather refressing. If nothing else, it made the book easyer to read, yet still didn't detract at all from the content. I like how it can be anilysed in such an intelectual way, yet still be easy to read. __________________ Sometimes I wonder how many monkeys with typewritters it would take to reproduce what I just wrote.

02-27-2002, 03:22 PM	#6
eowyn144 Elven Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 435	couldn't agree more. __________________ If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe

02-06-2002, 06:48 PM	#3
Comic Book Guy Best Ex-Administrator ever Join Date: May 2001 Location: Ireland Posts: 60,547	Tolkien later regretted not removing these when he revised the Hobbit for the publication of the Lord of the Rings.

02-27-2002, 04:20 PM	#7
Earenya Elven Warrior Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Pinnath Gelin, formerly in Angaron... Posts: 228	Precisely. The aim of "The Hobbit" was far different from LotR. And, to this day, it remains one of my favorite books. __________________ O mor henion i dhu Ely siriar, el sila Ai! Aniron.... Tiro! El eria e mor I 'lir en el luitha 'uren Ai! Aniron... FRODO LIVES!

02-27-2002, 09:40 PM	#8
MasterMothra Elven Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: utumno and angband Posts: 241	i rather enjoyed the style in the hobbit. it did seem to be more personal. __________________ "........and his name is Melkor, Lord of All, Giver of Freedom, and he shall make you stronger than they."- sauron talking to ar pharazon.

03-04-2002, 10:49 AM	#9
barrelrider110 Peer of the realm of Sanguine Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Hill, Marlton, NJ Posts: 798	I rather liked it. It made me feel as if a fatherly Tolkien was telling the story and reminds me of the writing style of A.A. Milne (Winnie the Pooh). At the time, fantasy works had to be qualified, have some sort of toehold in reality. Some sort of explaination was requireed. -- Like Alice waking from a dream, or Dorothy recovering from a bump on the head. This was done so children wouldn't have nightmares about flying monkeys, or goblins. A narrator was similar device to achieve that. It lets you know "its only a story." LOTR was ground-breaking fantasy literature for that reason. It was adult fantasy. Could you imagine in the last chapter, Frodo wakes from the dream on Saturday morning with his mother calling him to come down to have pancakes? __________________ “"I am the friend of bears and the guest of eagles. I am Ringwinner and Luckwearer; and I am Barrel-rider," Fear Complacency! ___________________ Something under the bed is drooling

03-04-2002, 12:43 PM	#10
Nibs Head Hollara Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 751	Kind of odd how The Hobbit, LotR, and the Silmarillion differ drastically in style and yet, I enjoy reading them all equally. The Hobbit has far fewer names to obfuscate the reader but fits well with the other works despite their stark dissimilarities. __________________ "People used to ring up and say 'Don't quit your day job' or 'sell your synth', but the joke's on them: we were fired and the synth is broken!" -John Flansburgh from They Might Be Giants Ever heard of Mormons? I'm one. Click here to know more about us.

03-04-2002, 09:01 PM	#11
Khadrane Elf Lord Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Middle Earth (I wish) Posts: 670	I liked it when Tolkien talked to the reader in The Hobbit, too. It would have stunk in LOTR or The Silmarillion, though. __________________ Few know whither their road will take them till they come to its end. -Legolas FRODO LIVES! ABORTION IS HOMICIDE

03-15-2002, 03:15 AM	#12
Kemren Sapling Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles, California, USA Posts: 2	It struck me as a more intimate type of storytelling, just right for the relatively smaller scope of the narrative. Excellent book. I have read it seventeen times at last count.

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