These are the archives from 2010-2018 for the discussion forum hosted by the UNM Hobbit Society at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM, USA. The purpose of our group is to meet and associate with others interested in Tolkien, and to learn more about the author, his written works, and his sources through discussion, guest lectures and academically oriented activities. This blog is intended to expand discussion among UNM Hobbit Society members beyond what meeting times allow.
Today in class we did not get to talk about the face that Tolkein said that there are three faces of faery stories.. So i was wondering what peoples opinions about these three face were. Also I want to know if these remind anyone of anything.
I thought it was interesting that, in describing the three faces, Tolkien distinguishes magic from the supernatural. Magic is something that fairies (or elves) do, and they are more natural than men, who are supernatural.
I suppose we can relate this Tolkien's mythology, where the fate of immortal elves is bound up in the fate of the natural world, but for humans who die there is something more than the natural world.
You bring up a good point with the differentiation between magic and the supernatural which to me appears to be one of the faces or key facets of Tolken's literature. In our mind magic is something that is an unworldly and mysterious force that is beyond understanding. I think that this a reason why magic is present in his works but never a key part and almost always accompanied by a device that sort of grounds it in reality, staffs, keys and the like. However, the supernatural is simply that, something that transcends the natural order or way. I is something that is wonderful, even mystifying, but is still grounded in the reality it breaks from.
2 comments:
I thought it was interesting that, in describing the three faces, Tolkien distinguishes magic from the supernatural. Magic is something that fairies (or elves) do, and they are more natural than men, who are supernatural.
I suppose we can relate this Tolkien's mythology, where the fate of immortal elves is bound up in the fate of the natural world, but for humans who die there is something more than the natural world.
You bring up a good point with the differentiation between magic and the supernatural which to me appears to be one of the faces or key facets of Tolken's literature. In our mind magic is something that is an unworldly and mysterious force that is beyond understanding. I think that this a reason why magic is present in his works but never a key part and almost always accompanied by a device that sort of grounds it in reality, staffs, keys and the like. However, the supernatural is simply that, something that transcends the natural order or way. I is something that is wonderful, even mystifying, but is still grounded in the reality it breaks from.
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