[LadyDoc]

just found this article via blog Baldilocks.

[Texas2step]

Wanna ping the ringers?

[SuziQ]

Boorish and gruff as the new American Empire might seem, it is an anti-empire populated by reluctant heroes who want nothing more than to till their fields and mind their homes, much like Tolkien's Hobbits. Under pressure, though, it will respond with a fierceness and cohesion that will surprise its adversaries.
Orcs of the world: Take note and beware

VEY good!!

[ksen]

Whoops, sorry LadyDoc, I thanked Texas2step for the article when I see you were the one I should thank.

[MrConfettiMan]

Lunch time ping. :-p

[ksen]

To be sure, The Lord of the Rings is not a great work of literature to be compared to Cervantes or Dostoyevsky.

I almost stopped there, but I pushed on. ;^)

[Samwise]

What a wonderful essay! Thanks for the post. However, I must take exception to this statement:

To be sure, The Lord of the Rings is not a great work of literature to be compared to Cervantes or Dostoyevsky.

The Lord of the Rings is a great work of literature that stands in a league of its own. Superficially it is a child's story to enjoy, but it is woven with so many themes and variations of theme that an adult can read it anew year after year. LotR is filled with wisdom and truth--the truth of fiction. I believe it to be truly inspired.

As a student, I read Cervantes and Dostoyevsky because my profs required it. I read Tolkien because his work compelled me.

[Lil'freeper]

Good find!

This deserves to be in a State of the Union speech- or maybe just a T-shirt:

Orcs of the world: Take note and beware.

[Tribune7]

Great article. Thanks

[T'wit]

Tolkien's dear friend, C.S. Lewis, grew up entranced with Nordic mythology. I recall reading that Lewis and Tolkien were both (?) later members of a group of dons who read the sagas in original Old Norse / Icelandic. I think they called themselves the Coal Biters. (Pardon my rusty memory :-) )

[Vast Buffalo Wing Conspiracy]

What a misguided analysis. I don't see any opposition or "negation" between Wagner and Tolkien. Their art reflects their times, with many similarities and many differences. I enjoy them both.

[Mamzelle]

Bump. Tolkein cast Wagner into Mount Doom!

[boris]

"Wagner's music is much better than it sounds."--Mark Twain

--Boris

[boris]

"Alberich forges a Ring of Power Sauron forges a Ring of Power Wotan needs the giants to build Valhalla The Elves need Sauron to forge their Rings of Power The Ring gives the bearer world domination The Ring gives the bearer world domination Wotan uses the Ring to pay the giants Sauron betrays the Elves The Ring is cursed and betrays its bearer The Ring is evil and betrays its bearer Fafner kills brother Fasolt to get the Ring Smeagol kills friend Deagol for the Ring Fafner hides in a cave for centuries Smeagol-Gollum hides in a cave for centuries Siegfried inherits the shards of his father's sword Aragorn inherits the shards his fathers' sword Brunnhilde gives up immortality for Siegfried Arwen gives up immortality for Aragorn Wotan plays "riddles" for the life of Mime Gollum plays "riddles" for the life of Bilbo A dragon guards the Nibelungs' hoard A dragon guards the dwarves' hoard The gods renounce the world and await the end The Elves renounce the world and prepare to depart The Ring is returned to its origin, the River Rhine The Ring is returned to its origin, Mount Doom Hagen falls into the river Gollum falls into the volcano The immortals burn in Valhalla The immortals leave Middle-earth A new era emerges in the world A new era emerges in the world Men are left to their own devices Men are left to their own devices"

A 239-word "sentence" with almost no punctuation! Surely a contender for the Guiness Book of Records!

--Boris