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View Full Version : Middle Earth: Our Earth or not?

Haradrim
08-19-2004, 07:25 PM
I wanted to fin dout if people thought Middle Earth was in fact an alternate reality of our world or what? Ive always thought Tolkien was creating the history of another world and that in fact it had nothing to do with our world.
Discuss.
Sister Golden Hair
08-20-2004, 11:24 AM
Yes, Arda is suppose to be our earth and Ea is the universe. We are supposed to be in the Seventh Age I believe.
Haradrim
08-20-2004, 04:34 PM
coolio thanks a bundle for the help. I have been so confused. Several other threads have mentioned soemthing like that but I didnt underrstand. I havent finished the Silmarillion.
Lefty Scaevola
08-20-2004, 09:50 PM
Yes, Arda is suppose to be our earth and Ea is the universe.In his unfininish rewrite of the Sil (see Myths Tranformed) JRRT was expanding the concept of Arda to be the Solar System. wasn't he?
Ñólendil
08-20-2004, 11:38 PM
Indeed he was, in the "scientific mythos" as some call it, "Eä" refers to the Universe, "Arda" refers to our Solar System, and "Imbar" refers to the Earth.
Beren3000
08-21-2004, 12:56 AM
We are supposed to be in the Seventh Age I believe.


Where do we learn that? HoME?
Haradrim
08-21-2004, 01:06 AM
I think it was in an interview of some kind
Ñólendil
08-21-2004, 01:15 AM
It's in the Tolkien Letters. Tolkien says in a letter that we are probably at the end of the sixth age, or in the seventh.
Beren3000
08-21-2004, 01:29 AM
I see. Thanks, Nolendil!
Haradrim
08-21-2004, 01:36 AM
Where can I get the Tolkien letters btw?
Valandil
08-21-2004, 02:15 AM
Where can I get the Tolkien letters btw?

Many of the larger bookstores now have enhanced Tolkien sections (EVERYONE should be thankful to the movies for that! :p ) and you can maybe find them there... collected together in a book. If not, you can probably order it.

As you seem to have read Hobbit and LOTR so far, and are working on Silmarillion, I suggest you wait on 'letters' until you've covered more ground in his stories (finish Sil, read Appendices, Unfinished Tales - maybe even a Tolkien bio)... then you'll understand more of what you're reading in the letters when you get to them. :)
Haradrim
08-21-2004, 02:20 AM
Thanks Valandil. I was going to read them right away but now Ill hold off until Im done with Unfinished Tales which thankfully I own.