The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Part II

NOTES OF READER’S GROUP, JAN.9’05,
LETTERS OF JRR TOLKIEN, SECOND MEETING
Present: Dave, Susan (guest from S. Cal.), Peter, Mary, Br. Brendan, Georgia, Mark, Br. Peter
M- I recommend the book to all especially writers (get good insight) and Catholics.
G-I think it would be better to read the first half, then read the Lord of the Rings, then read the second half of the letters. I was impressed that he invented the language first and then wrote the book to give the language a place to live.
B- He invented 12 languages!-we hear them spoken in the movie. Aragorn speaks "old Elvish".
BP-As Catholics do you see any relation between Tolkien writing a book to house his new language, and our Catholic faith?
S-It seemed odd that he was Catholic yet believed in elves, etc. He believed his languages were historical, not a myth, so too Catholicism is historical. The story has constancy, but develops.
B- LOR roots everything in reality; there’s a connection with the Logos; God is not disconnected from time and space; He is rational, not a question only of emotion, not just a blob in space.
S-Language is often seen as limiting, but is in realm of possibility.
G- We have to both learn the words of our faith—catechesis, and to live it
M- Salvation is not somewhere else, it happens here. It’s not a myth.
B- It’s different from gnosticism.
BP-God’s word is eternal-he created the universe for the word to live in.
D-.Tolkien’s knowledge of Nordic language plus his Catholic faith were the basis for his writing.. His faith doesn’t have to be immediately obvious.
P-In letter #131, page 145-his stories just came to his mind.
B-The reason Tolkien is so attractive to read is that the book is just the tip of the iceberg, leading to other ideas, thoughts, looking up words, etc.
BP-As in Asinov’s Foundational Trilogy (?)
M and P- Also as in the Bible- one idea or word has to be cross-referenced.
M- "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeline L’Engle (?) , a time-travel series, has the same effect. They are for pre and early teens, and are Catholic.
D and BP- mention of Loyola publishing a series of Catholic Classics, such as "Mr Blue"
(There followed a general discussion on one person reading to another, or to others, as a teacher reading to a class being enjoyed by the class, or a parent reading to a child,, or as in the "Inklings"- adults reading to each other, esp what one has written oneself. Mark also adds that in this book the Dons at Oxford even read to each other!)
BP Much of LOR is descriptive-meant to be read aloud.
D-The images in the movie fairly well matched the images I had in my mind while reading the book.
M-Except for Aragorn
P- But he wasn’t the first choice for the role.
BP- The movie music was a disappointment to me.
B-The movie adds a number of scenes that clarify the psychology of the book.
Mk- We can get the book on tape.
BP- What did you all think of Tolkien’s ideas on relationships between men and women?
G-I mentioned last time that I didn’t think he really understood these relationships. But I was very moved by his letter, after his wife’s death, to one of his sons. He seems very much aware here of the mystery of the Sacrament of Marriage.
P- He may also be showing his recognition of his own mortality as he gets older.
G- I can relate to that.
BP- Was there misogyny here?
S- Watching the movie I almost felt assaulted by maleness!
B-Oxford was very male-dominated.
S and G- it was the early part of the 20th century- many women didn’t even finish high school, let alone college..they weren’t meant to be "friends", but wives.
D- Mummy and Priscilla were off doing women things.
G- Also Tolkien was raised by a priest in a man’s culture.
B and Mk- British are more male-dominant than America; Oxford was an example.
BP- The LOR movie was certainly male-dominant. In the Silmarillion, there was more harmony between the sexes before the Fall.
B and G-Tolkien compares his experiences in WW1 to his son’s in WW2.
P- He describes basic training…
D- as a group of Hobbits….
P- He doesn’t talk much about his third son, or his daughter
M and G- This book depends on who saved his letters
M -Sometimes theres a darker, racist overtone…
D-I have read LOR 5 times and I never associated wizards with angels
B- Nor did I
G and S- Tolkien himself said he didn’t want such associations- LOR is not an analogy.
P- In Silmarillion they were spoken of as angelic
D- My impression is they are more Nordic than Catholic.
B- CSL was writing a space trilogy at the same time.


Our next book: The play, "A Man For All Seasons."