[richardfontana]

> The journey in the Lord of the Rings is almost as much a journey back through deeper and deeper legend as it is through space - the hobbits travel from a Napoleonic era Shire, through Renaissance Rivendell, back to a medieval Rohan then classical Gondor, and then into the strictly mythological Mordor.

Very insightful comment. I have read (and thought deeply about) the books countless times over many years but never realized this before.

[jameshart]

I think it’s connected to how Tolkien always connects his ‘fantastical’ elements with the ‘ancient’.

The balrog is a primal evil the dwarves released by digging too deep; Tom Bombadil has been alive forever; Fangorn and Mirkwood forest are remnants of the ancient forest that once covered the world; Gollum has been granted long life by the ring making him a remnant of the past that has survived; The elves’ long lives make them a living connection to the past.

His mythology is all about people touching and being touched by something primally ancient, so to confront that world requires that kind journey through time.

[wjnc]

How do you know this (and can explain it so well)? Next level insights these. Thank you.

[jameshart]

That’s kind of you to say.

I wouldn’t claim any special insight. Like a lot of people I read LotR at a very formative age and as a result I have a lot of thoughts and feelings about it.