[ksen]

I don't think this guy understood Tolkien at all. Elves=gods? Not in Tolkien's universe.

Of course there are similarities between Tolkien and Wagner, they both had the same source material. So to say Tolkien "recast" Wagner is dubious at best IMHO.

But I do agree with his last line about the orcs of the earth taking note. ;^)

Thanks for the article Texas2step and thanks for the ping ecurbh.

[Festa]

The word recast is not what bothers me. But Tolkien did not recast Wagner, he recast nordic myth which Wagner had perverted.

The Elves are naturally immortal but are no more Gods than the number 2. The number 2 exists outside of space and time yet is no more a God and you or I. Where the author gets this comparison is beyond me.

Like the Beowolf poet, Tolkien found much to like about nordic myth. He preferred it over Greek myth because in Nordic myth, evil is stronger than good yet Good must fight evil if for no other reason than to do what is right. It is fascinating stuff. This is what Tolkien recasts, with a hidden Christian spin.

As to the weak American culture, you can thank the liberals for that one.