The Tolkien Reader
J.R.R. Tolkien
Tolkien is an author known for the depth of his imagination and his skill in bringing the small details of a foreign world into crisp, clear focus for readers across generations. The Tolkien Reader certainly does not disappoint on these counts; its shorter selections are every bit as imaginative as his epic work and, in the case of the last section, help to refine our idea of Middle Earth even further. The selections in this book are carefully chosen and represent Tolkien at his very finest in his different literary guises. The first selection, a retelling of the Battle of Maldon, is expertly rendered and fully captures the style of the epic stories of its era. Not only does this section of the book include the well-rendered play that fits in perfectly with the historical canon of the genre. The essays that accompany this short fiction are intriguing and will be useful to anyone studying Old English literature. Tolkien's depth as a scholar is brilliantly displayed here, but there is more to be had.
The second section of Tolkien's writings consists of a binary work combining an essay "On Fairy-Stories" and the short story "Leaf: By Niggle." Tolkien here displays his excellent ability as a critic and, more importantly, a literary theorist, explaining some of the uses and forms of fairy-stories and fantastic literature in general. Not only does Tolkien theorize, however; the short story that follows is an excellent representation of all that is extolled in the essay as Niggle's tale and art transcend their scope and become, in a sense, real. Combining these two as "Tree and Leaf" shows the great care Tolkien takes in creating and upholding his theories; if we take the theory outlined in the essay as the sturdy trunk of the tree, "Leaf: By Niggle" is a perfectly crafted leaf branching off of the theory and into literary greatness. The story itself is at once funny and profound, and it is exceptionally interesting to see Tolkien succeed so greatly outside of the realm of Middle-Earth.
Yet other realms of Tolkien's multiple gifts are revealed in the story "Farmer Giles of Ham" and poetry collection "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil." The former is a delightful story that reads like a fairy tale for adults. A slightly ironic and dry sense of humor is required, and a knowledge of the forms of children's stories is helpful. Within the bounds of this more traditional form, Tolkien undermines some traditional fairy tales while coyly alluding to others ("The Brave Little Tailor"). The hero is far from heroic but, in his displays of practical wit and general sense of responsibility, Farmer Giles manages to overthrow a dangerous dragon and become king. Embedded in this delightful tale is a critique of certain strains of older European literature, as well as several nice potshots at the unassailable dominance of Latin in Old Europe. Tolkien's affinity for languages is clear but does not overwhelm the story, which succeeds marvelously on both the level of sheer delight and sharp satire.
"The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" may be the least remarkable stand-alone section of The Tolkien Reader, but it is fantastic nonetheless, particularly when viewed in light of its preface. This is a collection of poems ostensibly from Middle-Earth, each of whose origins are described carefully and which seem, especially in light of the more historically-minded portions of the book, to spring out of actual happenings rather than any imaginary world. It is here where art becomes truth as the poems interact with their own world and yet make sense to our own. Why shouldn't the Hobbits have a legend of a man in the moon, after all? The poems themselves are carefully constructed and display a remarkable ability in rhythm and rhyme. Taken together they add a layer of depth to Middle-Earth that can be enjoyed by seasoned travelers or newcomers.
Therein lies the beauty of Tolkien's writing, embodied exceptionally well in this collection. The thread that holds the book together is Tolkien's ability to work on numerous levels concurrently, building on his knowledge of old literature to create relevant and interesting modern stories, which can then add unto themselves a layer of subtle satire that does not overpower but rather enriches their magic. These stories may be deemed fantastic, but they and their worlds are as real to us as our own as Tolkien meticulously builds their histories and character, particularly with the inclusion of prefaces and introductions. The Tolkien Reader is an excellent introduction to the many facets of this ever-talented writer, and makes a solid argument for the prominence of fantastic narratives in the world of high literature.
Grade: A
J.R.R. Tolkien
Tolkien is an author known for the depth of his imagination and his skill in bringing the small details of a foreign world into crisp, clear focus for readers across generations. The Tolkien Reader certainly does not disappoint on these counts; its shorter selections are every bit as imaginative as his epic work and, in the case of the last section, help to refine our idea of Middle Earth even further. The selections in this book are carefully chosen and represent Tolkien at his very finest in his different literary guises. The first selection, a retelling of the Battle of Maldon, is expertly rendered and fully captures the style of the epic stories of its era. Not only does this section of the book include the well-rendered play that fits in perfectly with the historical canon of the genre. The essays that accompany this short fiction are intriguing and will be useful to anyone studying Old English literature. Tolkien's depth as a scholar is brilliantly displayed here, but there is more to be had.
The second section of Tolkien's writings consists of a binary work combining an essay "On Fairy-Stories" and the short story "Leaf: By Niggle." Tolkien here displays his excellent ability as a critic and, more importantly, a literary theorist, explaining some of the uses and forms of fairy-stories and fantastic literature in general. Not only does Tolkien theorize, however; the short story that follows is an excellent representation of all that is extolled in the essay as Niggle's tale and art transcend their scope and become, in a sense, real. Combining these two as "Tree and Leaf" shows the great care Tolkien takes in creating and upholding his theories; if we take the theory outlined in the essay as the sturdy trunk of the tree, "Leaf: By Niggle" is a perfectly crafted leaf branching off of the theory and into literary greatness. The story itself is at once funny and profound, and it is exceptionally interesting to see Tolkien succeed so greatly outside of the realm of Middle-Earth.
Yet other realms of Tolkien's multiple gifts are revealed in the story "Farmer Giles of Ham" and poetry collection "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil." The former is a delightful story that reads like a fairy tale for adults. A slightly ironic and dry sense of humor is required, and a knowledge of the forms of children's stories is helpful. Within the bounds of this more traditional form, Tolkien undermines some traditional fairy tales while coyly alluding to others ("The Brave Little Tailor"). The hero is far from heroic but, in his displays of practical wit and general sense of responsibility, Farmer Giles manages to overthrow a dangerous dragon and become king. Embedded in this delightful tale is a critique of certain strains of older European literature, as well as several nice potshots at the unassailable dominance of Latin in Old Europe. Tolkien's affinity for languages is clear but does not overwhelm the story, which succeeds marvelously on both the level of sheer delight and sharp satire.
"The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" may be the least remarkable stand-alone section of The Tolkien Reader, but it is fantastic nonetheless, particularly when viewed in light of its preface. This is a collection of poems ostensibly from Middle-Earth, each of whose origins are described carefully and which seem, especially in light of the more historically-minded portions of the book, to spring out of actual happenings rather than any imaginary world. It is here where art becomes truth as the poems interact with their own world and yet make sense to our own. Why shouldn't the Hobbits have a legend of a man in the moon, after all? The poems themselves are carefully constructed and display a remarkable ability in rhythm and rhyme. Taken together they add a layer of depth to Middle-Earth that can be enjoyed by seasoned travelers or newcomers.
Therein lies the beauty of Tolkien's writing, embodied exceptionally well in this collection. The thread that holds the book together is Tolkien's ability to work on numerous levels concurrently, building on his knowledge of old literature to create relevant and interesting modern stories, which can then add unto themselves a layer of subtle satire that does not overpower but rather enriches their magic. These stories may be deemed fantastic, but they and their worlds are as real to us as our own as Tolkien meticulously builds their histories and character, particularly with the inclusion of prefaces and introductions. The Tolkien Reader is an excellent introduction to the many facets of this ever-talented writer, and makes a solid argument for the prominence of fantastic narratives in the world of high literature.
Grade: A
No comments:
Post a Comment