Interesting article about J. R. R. Tolkien, author of LotR

"It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life – daily and hourly. Our answer must consist not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual." Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning, 1946.

January 28, 2019, 03:24 PM

PorterN

Thank you for sharing!

I am a huge fan of Tolkien and his works. I've always enjoyed LOTR and The Hobbit, but grew to love Tolkien (and the Silmarillion) in a Tolkien Literature class I took a couple semesters ago.

I'm also excited for the Tolkien film coming out in May.

January 28, 2019, 03:50 PM

Bisleyblackhawk

Again thank you Pipe Smoker for sharing this post...

I have always looked at J.R.R. Tolkins's works as well as those by CS Lewis in the same light...there is more below the surface than just fantasy...each arrives at a place of "salvation" or safety if you may, via a "secret", hidden way...both suffered the horror of The Great War and touched millions with their work as a result of that history. These two men, through their writings, have laid out our futures for us to see if we will just look to where we are in time...
"All that is gold does not glitter"

...

"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes, a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king."

********************************************************

"we've gotta roll with the punches, learn to play all of our hunches
Making the best of what ever comes our way
Forget that blind ambition and learn to trust your intuition
Plowing straight ahead come what may
And theres a cowboy in the jungle"
Jimmy Buffet

January 29, 2019, 06:38 PM

sjtill

Wow, thank you Pipe Smoker!
BTW is that a Hobbit meerschaum you smoke?

January 29, 2019, 06:51 PM

Balzé Halzé

So who on this forum doesn't know who J.R.R. Tolkien is? And anyone who doesn't know who he is, do you then think that he or she would somehow know what LotR is supposed to mean? LOL.

Anyway, thanks for posting.

January 29, 2019, 09:25 PM

CoolRich59

quote:
Originally posted by Bisleyblackhawk:

I have always looked at J.R.R. Tolkins's works as well as those by CS Lewis in the same light...

I believe I read somewhere that Lewis and Tolkien were good friends; and, in fact, Tolkien was responsible for Lewis’s conversion.

_____________________________________________________________________
“One of the common failings among honorable people is a failure to appreciate how thoroughly dishonorable some other people can be, and how dangerous it is to trust them.” – Thomas Sowell

January 30, 2019, 05:05 PM

Pipe Smoker

quote:
Originally posted by sjtill:
Wow, thank you Pipe Smoker!
BTW is that a Hobbit meerschaum you smoke?

No, I’m not a fan of Meerschaums. My favorite pipe is an aluminum-stem Kirsten Mariner, with a briar bowl, made in the 50s. This pipe was invented by Prof. Fredrick Kirsten – a very interesting fellow.

In 1904 a German merchant sailing vessel was making for Seattle. After it entered the sound, Kirsten, a young deckhand, jumped overboard, swam to shore, and took up life as an American. He got himself a job, and an education. He eventually became Professor of Aeronautical engineering at the University of Washington.

While there, he designed the first wind tunnel large enough to accommodate actual aircraft parts (as opposed to small models). It was much used by Boeing during WW II, and is still in use today.

Prof. Kirsten developed a cough, and his physician suggested that he give up cigarettes and take up pipe smoking instead. He did that. But, being a genius mechanical designer, he figured that he could make a better pipe. The Kirsten pipe was the result. It’s still in production today (with many refinements).

BTW – Prof. Kirsten’s son, Gene, used to take the very pipe that I’m smoking today to pipe clubs as a demonstrator.

January 31, 2019, 10:53 AM

jhe888

Interesting article. I like Tolkein's illustrations. They have a nice quality.

January 31, 2019, 11:38 AM

corsair

quote:
Originally posted by CoolRich59:
quote:
Originally posted by Bisleyblackhawk:

I have always looked at J.R.R. Tolkins's works as well as those by CS Lewis in the same light...

I believe I read somewhere that Lewis and Tolkien were good friends; and, in fact, Tolkien was responsible for Lewis’s conversion.

Indeed. Both authors were unapologetic in their Christian faith, Tolkien Catholic, whereas Lewis Anglican, a fact that seems lost amongst the casual fans, despite the many allegories that litter their works. Their faith is what shaped them and the worlds they created, Chronicles of Narnia is a giant allegory of Jesus Christ.

Both authors worked to forge a fantasy world and tales that were UK in origin. Outside of the Arthurian legends, most of the popular fantasy stories were of Germanic or, Scandinavian origin.