Purely Speculative: Limits to Elvish Creativity? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Ithilwen · 02-13-2002, 05:03 PM

Recently a question came into my mind, which to my knowledge was never addressed by Tolkien (so a definite answer can't be had), but which I nonetheless thought was interesting. So I thought I'd post it and see what other people's thoughts are on the subject.

Tolkien's elves are certainly lovers of beauty and knowledge, but all of their creations (at least that we readers are shown) seem limited to things of Arda. Their tools and crafts are lovely as well as functional, and certainly the Noldor seem to act as "scientists" of a sort, desiring pure knowledge and studying the workings of the universe. But all of the elvish literature/poetry that we are shown has as its subjects either the natural world or actual (either current or past) inhabitants of Arda. We are never shown any elvish fiction. Could it be that they can't produce any? Is the ability to tell compelling tales about completely non-existent persons (such as Romeo and Juliet), set in non-existent and frankly impossible places (such as the Matrix world or the planet Tatoonie) a function of the "gift of freedom" that Illuvatar gave to Men? Does the binding of the Elves' spirits to Arda also in some way restrict their imaginations in ways that Men's freedom of self-determination is able to overcome? If one of Tolkien's elves were to visit you town, would he find the most puzzling and interesting things to be the production of Hamlet at the local playhouse, the fiction section in the library, and the science fiction movie playing at the local cinema?

What is your opinion?

02-13-2002, 05:03 PM	#1
Ithilwen Animated Skeleton Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: western Arda Posts: 41	Purely Speculative: Limits to Elvish Creativity? Recently a question came into my mind, which to my knowledge was never addressed by Tolkien (so a definite answer can't be had), but which I nonetheless thought was interesting. So I thought I'd post it and see what other people's thoughts are on the subject. Tolkien's elves are certainly lovers of beauty and knowledge, but all of their creations (at least that we readers are shown) seem limited to things of Arda. Their tools and crafts are lovely as well as functional, and certainly the Noldor seem to act as "scientists" of a sort, desiring pure knowledge and studying the workings of the universe. But all of the elvish literature/poetry that we are shown has as its subjects either the natural world or actual (either current or past) inhabitants of Arda. We are never shown any elvish fiction. Could it be that they can't produce any? Is the ability to tell compelling tales about completely non-existent persons (such as Romeo and Juliet), set in non-existent and frankly impossible places (such as the Matrix world or the planet Tatoonie) a function of the "gift of freedom" that Illuvatar gave to Men? Does the binding of the Elves' spirits to Arda also in some way restrict their imaginations in ways that Men's freedom of self-determination is able to overcome? If one of Tolkien's elves were to visit you town, would he find the most puzzling and interesting things to be the production of Hamlet at the local playhouse, the fiction section in the library, and the science fiction movie playing at the local cinema? What is your opinion? __________________ And thus it came to pass that the Silmarils found their long homes: one in the airs of heaven, and one in the fires of the heart of the world, and one in the deep waters.

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