Art imitating life?

[Entlover]

I just read something interesting about JRR Tolkien. I have always thought of him as a bookish dry sort, but apparently he had other sides . . .
On his tombstone in Oxford is inscribed "John Ronald Reuel Tolkien / Beren" and "Edith Mary Tolkien / Luthien."
He wrote to his sons that soon after they were married, he slipped away with his wife to "a woodland glade filled with hemlocks", where she captivated him by dancing for him alone . . .and that moment was the origin of the myth of Beren and Luthien, which was the "kernal of the mythology" of his imaginary world.
I think it's lovely, that LotR originated in a story of true love.

[Spock]

A bit simplistic to draw that conclusion when his forte was Norse legends and he drew heavily from Finish, Icelandic as well as Norwegian and Scandinavial mythology. You need to read up a bit more on his life to see how intricate a mind he really had.

[Eruviel Greenleaf]

Yes, his writing was heavily influenced by mythology, but that's not to say that there were not some influences in his real life! Maybe that's where it started, and then he drew on the myths to create a world. . .

[Elvet]

I've just started reading 'The Letters of Tolkien'. I recommend it if you are interested in his influences for his stories. I was surprised at how much religion was a part of his life. His letters to his son, Christopher, are particularly touching.

[Entlover]

Thanks for the suggestion, Elvet. I've been meaning to read the letters . . .
True that he possessed a complex mind, but that doesn't mean his idea didn't originate in a particular moment; especially since he said it did. People often assume they know more about writers than they know themselves; we have to give Tolkien a little credit for knowing what he was doing.

[Entlover]

Well, maybe I'm talking to myself, but I do that a lot anyway.

So if tolkien thought he was Beren (identified with Beren, maybe), who do you think you are?
Not who you'd like to wake up in ME with, but who are you now in our version of ME?
I think I'm Frodo. I'd prefer Sam but I'm a lousy gardener. I really identify with Frodo because sometimes the place where I work resembles Mordor.

[Menelvagor]

I like talking to myself too, don't feel alone Entlover!

Hm, I would probably be Merry. Not as silly as Pippin or as loyal as Sam, able to lead sometimes (as is the Old Forest) and generally the quite one of my friends (I'm thinking of with Merry and Pippin there).

[Eruviel Greenleaf]

I'd be Legolas or Eowyn. But I think there's already a thread about this, called 'characterization.'

[RosieCotton]

I think I'm probably Merry, though I'd rather be Sam. I admire his friendship and loyalty, but I'm not as great a "person" as him. I'm more like Merry, but who knows, maybe I would be Sam. (I hope)
Rosie