Themes

[perelleth]

I should have been on a plane, but a volcano erupted on the central part of the country and all flights going south have been cancelled. I've been told that the fireworks are visible from any of the various vantage points in town but I was too tired, so I came back to the hotel straight.

I have had some busy days, in which I discovered that I was

Comments

[fafojoy]

As the friend who introduced us emailed me some time ago, quite amused by the whole thing, he rather wants to start a new *life*. Beh.

I was giggling as I read this thinking 'Poor Perelleth.... so glad its you and not me!' I was actually glad to read a certain age as well meaning matchmakers have now given up on me (I think its being past the typical child bearing years that has done it).

As for themes, you've made a wonderful list there. I was thinking about this recently, since I don't think I read/like fantasy nearly to the degree I think most on my flist do. I am definitely attracted to a world by its themes. Tolkien's world is 'our' world, of course, with some fantasy elements built in. What attracted me most to it was the sacrifice - not everyone lived happily ever after. Great victory came at great cost. Some characters died, some lost loved ones. Individuals are valued, but they valued something greater than their own lives. It has been said that you must know what you are willing to die for to really live. Tolkien's characters knew what they were willing to give up - to die for in the physical sense as well as what it meant to 'die to self'. There is meaning to their lives.

Much more to think about, but thanks for posting this. A themes of Tolkien discussion is always fun!

[perelleth]

I was actually glad to read a certain age as well meaning matchmakers have now given up on me You are so wrong!!!! One never knows! THe stupidity of friends does not know boundaries :-) But you can laugh at me, it's ok, ;-)

I was reading BOdkin's answer and it was like a silly illumination to me, for all the things she lists are the things that are the deeper truth in our world, much as in your own list too, only we are slowly forgetting the ability to see them, I'd say.

not everyone lived happily ever after That is another intersting point,which I like to reformulate as "anybody lives happily ever after" since life is never wholly happy, or wholly sad..

You are welcome to add, use or reformulate.