Spoilers What do people get wrong about Tolkien?

[Deset Gled]

So, Tolkien superfans (this means you, Stephen Colbert), what things do you see the general public or even more casual fans regularly getting wrong about his works that you'd like to set the record straight on?

From what people on the internet tell me: everything.


IMNSHO, a lot of people forget that he was human. There's a weird deification where his words are treated as some sort of gospel. In reality, he rewrote things. He made mistakes. He edited things. He changed things over time.

Lots of stuff happens in The Hobbit because it was supposed to be a fun book for kids, LotR is just the sequel, and he had some other neat ideas. The idea that we have to treat every word like it's the gold standard for world building is just weird. Sure, Tom Bombadil could secretly be the most powerful being in Middle Earth. Or he could just be a funny stopping point along the way whose only real magical power is avoiding an editor.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

There's a weird deification where his words are treated as some sort of gospel.

By "words," do you mean his legendarium?

 

[Maxperson]

People say that Gandalf isn't a wizard.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

That Galadriel ever uttered the words, "I have a tempest in me."

The real quote is about having two wolves inside her.

 

[Hriston]

That hobbits never used footwear. They did in fact wear boots on the long journeys they take in the stories. Their shoelessness is meant to be applicable to their usual custom at home in the Shire only.

 

[Willie the Duck]

From what people on the internet tell me: everything.

Oh definitely. Nothing says 'just read the Silmarillion and thinks you're the first kid to do so' like going on the internet and thinking you are going to tell the other nerds what it really says.

 

[Desdichado]

Pointy-eared elves

They might have had. There's plenty of stuff in the History of Middle-earth series, and I'm sorry I can't remember which volumes now, that suggest that their ears were leaf-shaped.

My own personal pet peeve is the certain declaration that orcs are corrupted elves, when no such thing was ever stated in any published work by Tolkien. The Silmarillion says that, but the Silmarillion was published posthumously and includes a number of edits and editorial choices by Christopher Tolkien that he later regretted putting into print. That particular question is addressed in much more detail in The Peoples of Middle-earth and it seems clear that had Tolkien ever published anything on the question, he almost certainly would not have gone with the idea that orcs are corrupted elves.

 

[Reynard]

They might have had. There's plenty of stuff in the History of Middle-earth series, and I'm sorry I can't remember which volumes now, that suggest that their ears were leaf-shaped.

My own personal pet peeve is the certain declaration that orcs are corrupted elves, when no such thing was ever stated in any published work by Tolkien. The Silmarillion says that, but the Silmarillion was published posthumously and includes a number of edits and editorial choices by Christopher Tolkien that he later regretted putting into print. That particular question is addressed in much more detail in The Peoples of Middle-earth and it seems clear that had Tolkien ever published anything on the question, he almost certainly would not have gone with the idea that orcs are corrupted elves.

When considering what is true or maybe true about Middle Earth, you absolutely cannot just rely on The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. That is not how Tolkien built his world.

 

[Sacrosanct]

People say that Gandalf isn't a wizard.

Of course he is. He's a 5th level wizard

For the OP:

• the pronunciation of his last name
• How much he took from existing mythology and lore.

 

[Maxperson]

Of course he is. He's a 5th level wizard

Heh. I don't remember seeing him cast anything higher than 3rd level(fireball, lightning bolt) in the books, but from the numbers of lightning bolts he threw in The Hobbit and fireballs he threw on Weathertop, he had to be at least 12th level. Probably 18th or higher. He threw a lot on Weathertop against the 9.