tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746173806126403959.post4074295743835591039..comments2023-11-07T06:20:12.181-08:00Comments on Tolkien: Medieval and Modern: Garden-variety Heroes: Heroism as Healing "Tolkien: Medieval and Modern"http://www.blogger.com/profile/04348913969813157482noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746173806126403959.post-26788623662444729862014-06-05T21:31:35.013-07:002014-06-05T21:31:35.013-07:00“I propose that what Tolkien did demand from his h...“I propose that what Tolkien did demand from his heroes is two-fold: firstly that they ennoble themselves by striving and transforming themselves to meet challenges for which they are initially unequipped; secondly that they concern themselves with stewardship and the good of the realm, subordinating their own desires to their responsibility to Middle-Earth.” I think you've really nailed it, here! I was questioning your definition of hero through the first few paragraphs, but it serves as a fantastic set-up for this line, which I think truly grasps the stakes of heroism for Tolkien. Heroism as brute-strength or foolhardy bravado has no place here—Tolkien's heroes struggle, overcome, and sacrifice for their sense of responsibility to the greater plan! I very much like your analysis of the disadvantages that the heroes need to overcome (especially in how Merry and Pippin literally “rise” to the occasion!)<br /><br />--Jenna"Tolkien: Medieval and Modern"https://www.blogger.com/profile/04348913969813157482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5746173806126403959.post-41409105935499454512014-05-30T12:49:43.121-07:002014-05-30T12:49:43.121-07:00I think this is a very good and thorough line of a...I think this is a very good and thorough line of analysis you take! No stone left unturned. Another interesting thing to think about, I feel, in regards to Merry and Pippin, is that they are greeted by men of Rohan and Gondor as princes of the halflings. We've gone over how this mistake is linguistic in origin, but that does not mean that it is devoid of narrative weight as well. Men often confuse Merry and Pippin with a nobler breed, because of the heroism of their quest. My question, though, is what to make of this concept of healer? Is the heroism in the act of abandoning the sword for the healing herb? Is there no heroism in fighting? Or is its essence contained in the knowing of when to fight and when to heal?<br /><br />Steven VincentAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02541332761482399729noreply@blogger.com