Tolkien and the Nobel Prize

***Earniel*** · 01-07-2012, 04:02 PM

You know, I never even thought about it, was Tolkien ever nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature? Reading this BBC article, turns out he was, by C.S. Lewis.

But we'd remember if he had won it, wouldn't we? So here's why not:

Quote:

The Nobel prize jury said "the result has not in any way measured up to storytelling of the highest quality".

Ouch.

inked · 01-07-2012, 08:26 PM

Who else has won a Nobel Prize for Literature? Recently and not named in the article?

I got nuthin'.

So, on the whole, based on my personal limited experience, it took 50 years to find out, and the world decided differently than the Nobel Prize committee.

The world was right.

The Gaffer · 01-08-2012, 04:48 AM

One could argue that JRRT's greatest contribution wasn't evident at the time of this nomination.

Viz, the creation of a richly detailed, realistic and immersive fantasy culture.

inked · 01-09-2012, 09:11 PM

Gaffer, just how long should JRRT have been given for the culture? My recollection

The Hobbit 1936
LOTR 1954-1955

to the nomination in 1961.

Or do you think the posthumous work should be taken into account?

GrayMouser · 01-10-2012, 05:09 AM

Well, the Hobbit probably wouldn't have struck many people as Nobel-worthy material, and LoTR was so far outside of conventional forms that people didn't know how to deal with it.

And, I must admit, no matter how much I love it, I don't think it's Nobel Prize caliber either(ducks).

***Earniel*** · 01-10-2012, 07:06 AM

I kind of agree. LoTR changed my life and remains one of the best books I have ever read. But I don't think it ever was much Nobel material. That said, I don't think I ever have read a book of a Nobel prize winner so clearly they must be looking for different things in a book than I.

The Gaffer · 01-10-2012, 02:13 PM

inked, I don't think it was evident until well into the 70s how great an impact the work would have.

Anyway, I agree that it probably doesn't fall into the category anyway.

***Varnafindë*** · 01-10-2012, 04:38 PM

Someone said that Tolkien was better at world-building than at story-telling.
I agree. So yes, his greatness is in a different category.

And as the article says, Graham Greene and Karen Blixen never won the Nobel Prize either.

inked · 01-25-2012, 11:11 PM

So, given the above, should Rowling get a Noble Prize?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1202942.html

There is, after all, no doubt about the literary impact of the Harry Potter series!
The most read books ever!

The movies are, of course, separate entities.

By the by, see also "Why LOTR is so Addictive" at
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michae...b_1216841.html

Logkhya · 06-04-2012, 04:27 AM

It may be not related to the theme the jury like

hectorberlioz · 06-11-2012, 10:51 AM

Hey, they didn't give it to Robert Frost because he was "too old." Hardly the best of criteria, O Noble Nobel Council!

Lotesse · 06-11-2012, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Varnafindë

Graham Greene and Karen Blixen never won the Nobel Prize either.

Karen Blixen so totally deserved a literary Nobel, even Hemingway bowed to her amazing writing/storytelling gift. I LOOOOVE Karen von Blixen a.k.a. Isak Dinesen, and I also love the great Sydney Pollack film based upon her memoir Out Of Africa starring Meryl Streep (LOVE) and Klaus Maria Brandauer and a young, hot Robert Redford. L.O.V.E.

01-07-2012, 08:26 PM	#2
inked Elf Lord Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: sikeston, MO, usa, earth, sol Posts: 3,114	Who else has won a Nobel Prize for Literature? Recently and not named in the article? I got nuthin'. So, on the whole, based on my personal limited experience, it took 50 years to find out, and the world decided differently than the Nobel Prize committee. The world was right. __________________ Inked "Aslan is not a tame lion." CSL/LWW "The new school [acts] as if it required...courage to say a blasphemy. There is only one thing that requires real courage to say, and that is a truism." GK Chesterton "And there is always the danger of allowing people to suppose that our modern times are so wholly unlike any other times that the fundamental facts about man's nature have wholly changed with changing circumstances." Dorothy L. Sayers, 1 Sept. 1941

01-09-2012, 09:11 PM	#4
inked Elf Lord Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: sikeston, MO, usa, earth, sol Posts: 3,114	Gaffer, just how long should JRRT have been given for the culture? My recollection The Hobbit 1936 LOTR 1954-1955 to the nomination in 1961. Or do you think the posthumous work should be taken into account? __________________ Inked "Aslan is not a tame lion." CSL/LWW "The new school [acts] as if it required...courage to say a blasphemy. There is only one thing that requires real courage to say, and that is a truism." GK Chesterton "And there is always the danger of allowing people to suppose that our modern times are so wholly unlike any other times that the fundamental facts about man's nature have wholly changed with changing circumstances." Dorothy L. Sayers, 1 Sept. 1941

01-10-2012, 05:09 AM	#5
GrayMouser Elf Lord Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ilha Formosa Posts: 2,068	Well, the Hobbit probably wouldn't have struck many people as Nobel-worthy material, and LoTR was so far outside of conventional forms that people didn't know how to deal with it. And, I must admit, no matter how much I love it, I don't think it's Nobel Prize caliber either(ducks). __________________ Glendower: I can call spirits from the vasty deep. Hotspur: Why, so can I, or so can any man; But will they come when you do call for them? "I like pigs. Dogs look up to us, cats look down on us, but pigs treat us as equals."- Winston Churchill

01-10-2012, 07:06 AM	#6
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	I kind of agree. LoTR changed my life and remains one of the best books I have ever read. But I don't think it ever was much Nobel material. That said, I don't think I ever have read a book of a Nobel prize winner so clearly they must be looking for different things in a book than I. __________________ We are not things.

01-10-2012, 04:38 PM	#8
*Varnafindë* Princess of the Noldor (and Administrative Empress of the Lone Islands) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Imladris (and sometimes Norway) Posts: 3,304	Someone said that Tolkien was better at world-building than at story-telling. I agree. So yes, his greatness is in a different category. And as the article says, Graham Greene and Karen Blixen never won the Nobel Prize either. __________________ Signature picture art - Bard the Bowman - by vigshane Avatar art - Footsteps of Spring (a young Luthien) - by Henning Janssen

01-08-2012, 04:48 AM	#3
The Gaffer Elf Lord Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: In me taters Posts: 3,288	One could argue that JRRT's greatest contribution wasn't evident at the time of this nomination. Viz, the creation of a richly detailed, realistic and immersive fantasy culture.

01-10-2012, 02:13 PM	#7
The Gaffer Elf Lord Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: In me taters Posts: 3,288	inked, I don't think it was evident until well into the 70s how great an impact the work would have. Anyway, I agree that it probably doesn't fall into the category anyway.

01-25-2012, 11:11 PM	#9
inked Elf Lord Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: sikeston, MO, usa, earth, sol Posts: 3,114	So, given the above, should Rowling get a Noble Prize? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1202942.html There is, after all, no doubt about the literary impact of the Harry Potter series! The most read books ever! The movies are, of course, separate entities. By the by, see also "Why LOTR is so Addictive" at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michae...b_1216841.html __________________ Inked "Aslan is not a tame lion." CSL/LWW "The new school [acts] as if it required...courage to say a blasphemy. There is only one thing that requires real courage to say, and that is a truism." GK Chesterton "And there is always the danger of allowing people to suppose that our modern times are so wholly unlike any other times that the fundamental facts about man's nature have wholly changed with changing circumstances." Dorothy L. Sayers, 1 Sept. 1941 Last edited by inked : 01-25-2012 at 11:14 PM. Reason: add link

06-04-2012, 04:27 AM	#10
Logkhya Hobbit Join Date: May 2012 Location: China Posts: 25	It may be not related to the theme the jury like

06-11-2012, 10:51 AM	#11
hectorberlioz Master of Orchestration President Emeritus of Entmoot 2004-2008 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Lost in the Opera House Posts: 9,328	Hey, they didn't give it to Robert Frost because he was "too old." Hardly the best of criteria, O Noble Nobel Council! __________________ ACALEWIA- President of Entmoot hectorberlioz- Vice President of Entmoot Acaly und Hektor fur Presidants fur EntMut fur life! Join the discussion at Entmoot Election 2010. "Stupidissimo!"~Toscanini The Da CINDY Code The Epic Poem Of The Balrog of Entmoot: Here ~NEW! ~ Thinking of summer vacation? AboutNewJersey.com - NJ Travel & Tourism Guide