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Message: <blockquote data-quote="molonel" data-source="post: 3355615" data-attributes="member: 10412">He was a philologist and translator by profession. What he actually brought to the story was an unprecadented knack for creating langauges. I know people with degrees in studying the languages he created.Beyond that, though, his knowledge on particular is questionable. He was not an expert on all subjects, nor a God, like some of his followers seem to think. See, this is why I laugh.It's not a silly question. It's not a very important question, true, but it's valid all the same. People don't ask it because they just aren't as deeply acquainted with the story as you. They simply ask it because it's one of those plot holes that a team of sarcastic 15-year olds would ask. It's blatantly obvious to anyone except those committed to the absolute perfection of Tolkien's work.In Tolkien's stories, eagles swoop in and help people at the last possible second. It happened in the Silmarillion with Thorondor. It happened in the Hobbit. It happened when Gandalf was rescused from Saruman. It happened at the end with Frodo and Sam.They do so because that is the role he assigned them, and not because he simply couldn't have written the story any other way.Which is saying it would have been boring and silly, right.But my point remains unmolested. He's the author, and he could have done it that way.In your opinion.Tolkien's work was a watershed, and pivotal, and - at that point - without a market flooded with similar fantasy stories. It was an earthmover, certainly, but neither perfect nor untouchable. I'm glad he wrote. But I read it the same way I watch any other classic, and am mindful of its problems and flaws. It doesn't have to be perfect for me to enjoy it.I never said to attack Mordor. Get in, get the hostages, and get out.Oh, you're not going to admit that it's a flaw, come hell or high water. You've made that painfully clear.</blockquote>

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