Tolkien: Style or Substance?

Beren3000 · 12-31-2004, 11:28 AM

This is a topic that has been bothering me for some time: what makes Tolkien so popular? Is it because his writing style is exceptional or because of the stories themselves? Or is it both?
I personally don't find Tolkien's style all that (that sounds almost like blasphemy on the Moot

) but, seriously, I only find some passages to be extremely well written (and of course the poetry) but for the rest of his work...the style seems ordinary. What do you guys think?

Minielin · 01-02-2005, 02:27 AM

His work just has such grandeur and a sense of epic history about it. The plotlines are interesting and highly entertaining, and the themes have a sense of importance and are easy to take to heart (though I'm sure I'm not doing a particularly good job of explaining my point on that).

Wayfarer · 01-02-2005, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beren3000

This is a topic that has been bothering me for some time: what makes Tolkien so popular? Is it because his writing style is exceptional or because of the stories themselves? Or is it both?
I personally don't find Tolkien's style all that (that sounds almost like blasphemy on the Moot

) but, seriously, I only find some passages to be extremely well written (and of course the poetry) but for the rest of his work...the style seems ordinary. What do you guys think?

Yes.

Beren3000 · 01-02-2005, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayfarer

Yes.

You mean "yes the style is ordinary" ?
Does that mean you prefer the story itself over the style?

Lizra · 01-02-2005, 11:14 AM

I vote for substance. The style is good, but it's the content that got me hooked.

Telcontar_Dunedain · 01-02-2005, 12:24 PM

I think in LotR it's more substance thatn style (even thought the style is good to), but in The Sil I'd say it was both. His style is more poetic in the SIl than it is in LotR.

Lizra · 01-02-2005, 02:13 PM

The Sil! The style was ick! If it wasn't for the content...I would have NEVER bothered to read the whole thing! IMO the writing style of the Silmarillion made reading it torture....like a dry textbook...

Wayfarer · 01-02-2005, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beren3000

You mean "yes the style is ordinary" ?
Does that mean you prefer the story itself over the style?

No. What that means is that, to the question of 'Style or Substance', I answer 'Yes'.

The Silmarillion isn't even JRR. It's CJR. So you can't base anything on that.

**Nurvingiel** · 01-02-2005, 06:15 PM

Sure the Sil is JRR! He wrote the content. CJR put it together and did some editing. Admirable work, but that doesn't make him the author. Either way, I prefer the style of LOTR to the Sil. But that's another thread maybe.

Beren3000 · 01-02-2005, 06:22 PM

I don't find a difference between the Sil. and Lotr in terms of style. The ordinari-ness is the same. But when we get to the good parts, I find the Sil. has much more (and much better) good parts than Lotr.
Wayfarer, the Sil. is definitely JRRT's work!

Last Child of Ungoliant · 01-09-2005, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayfarer

No. What that means is that, to the question of 'Style or Substance', I answer 'Yes'.

The Silmarillion isn't even JRR. It's CJR. So you can't base anything on that.

you really are insufferable

Minielin · 01-09-2005, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Last Child of Ungoliant

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayfarer

No. What that means is that, to the question of 'Style or Substance', I answer 'Yes'.

The Silmarillion isn't even JRR. It's CJR. So you can't base anything on that.

you really are insufferable

But in a funny way. Heh.

12-31-2004, 11:28 AM	#1
Beren3000 Fëanorophobic Join Date: May 2004 Location: Between the pages of a book Posts: 1,417	Tolkien: Style or Substance? This is a topic that has been bothering me for some time: what makes Tolkien so popular? Is it because his writing style is exceptional or because of the stories themselves? Or is it both? I personally don't find Tolkien's style all that (that sounds almost like blasphemy on the Moot ) but, seriously, I only find some passages to be extremely well written (and of course the poetry) but for the rest of his work...the style seems ordinary. What do you guys think?

01-02-2005, 02:27 AM	#2
Minielin Elven Warrior Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: I dwell in possibility. Posts: 247	His work just has such grandeur and a sense of epic history about it. The plotlines are interesting and highly entertaining, and the themes have a sense of importance and are easy to take to heart (though I'm sure I'm not doing a particularly good job of explaining my point on that). __________________ "...then how shall I Revive the dying tones of minstrelsy, Which linger yet about lone gothic arches, In dark green ivy, and among wild larches?" Interdum feror cupidine partium magnarum Europae vincendarum.

01-02-2005, 11:14 AM	#5
Lizra Domesticated Swing Babe Join Date: May 2002 Location: Reality Posts: 5,340	I vote for substance. The style is good, but it's the content that got me hooked. __________________ Happy Atheist Go Democrats!

01-02-2005, 12:24 PM	#6
Telcontar_Dunedain Warrior of the House of Hador Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 4,651	I think in LotR it's more substance thatn style (even thought the style is good to), but in The Sil I'd say it was both. His style is more poetic in the SIl than it is in LotR. __________________ Then Huor spoke and said: "Yet if it stands but a little while, then out of your house shall come the hope of Elves and Men. This I say to you, lord, with the eyes of death: though we part here for ever, and I shall not look on your white walls again, from you and me a new star shall arise. Farewell!" The Silmarillion, Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Page 230

01-02-2005, 02:13 PM	#7
Lizra Domesticated Swing Babe Join Date: May 2002 Location: Reality Posts: 5,340	The Sil! The style was ick! If it wasn't for the content...I would have NEVER bothered to read the whole thing! IMO the writing style of the Silmarillion made reading it torture....like a dry textbook... __________________ Happy Atheist Go Democrats!

01-02-2005, 06:22 PM	#10
Beren3000 Fëanorophobic Join Date: May 2004 Location: Between the pages of a book Posts: 1,417	I don't find a difference between the Sil. and Lotr in terms of style. The ordinari-ness is the same. But when we get to the good parts, I find the Sil. has much more (and much better) good parts than Lotr. Wayfarer, the Sil. is definitely JRRT's work!

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