Is their a deeper meaning?

by JRR Tolkien
As for any inner meaning or 'message', it has in the intention of the
author none. It is neither allegorical nor topical....

Other arrangements could be devised according to the tastes or views
of those who like allegory or topical reference. But I cordially dislike
allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done so since I grew
old and wary enough to detect its presence. I much prefer history, true
or feigned, with its varied applicability to the thought and experience of
readers. I think that the many confuse 'applicability' with 'allegory'; but
the one resides in the freedom of the reader, and the other in the
purposed domination of the author.

So basically Tolkien said that the LOTR saga doesn't have any deeper
meanings implied by him, but that many of the events can be applied to
the lives of individual readers.

Do you think this is true? Many of the Tolkien experts disagree.

Well anything can have a meaning, maybe he didn't intend to have a deeper one then what was written, but that doesn't mean there isn't one

mmm......so he says it has no meaning?

I disagree along with it as well, there is a meaning, the lord of th erings showed us a meaning of "fellowship" and standing up against evil when most definetly outnumbered

most of all, it meaning should have been to set our minds free to weird and different creatures,places,people,weaponary

I think Galadrial said it best when she was telling Frodo that even the smallest person can make a difference

*waits for shadowy's 4000 word reply*

lol, well we might not be seeing shadowy much remember, but lol anyways 🙂

but you said it best buddy.......oh wait Galadrial said it best..not you 😛

when i read the books, most that comes to my mind is that it's a great story filled with hope and despair, courage, and bravery. all the ingredients of an epic story.

subconciously, tolkien may have written some metaphors and similes to what was happening in his time: that the smallest can make a difference and that if enough people gather to fight for a cause worthy to change the world for the better, then maybe.

but does a writer who wants to write a great story inject it also with his thoughts and feelings, hopes and dreams INTO the story? if so, is he trying to reach a mass of readers in the hopes that they will see what's written between the lines for a message? that life can be better if you fight for it, that no matter how small or insignificant you are, you can do something about it by making your voice heard?

then yes, tolkien did input a deeper meaning into lotr, how we interpret that is up to the individual...and i think i just did, for the most part.

oh, Storm, u used the wrong 'their'. It should be ''Is there a deeper meaning?''

Originally posted by I am a Sock
oh, Storm, u used the wrong 'their'. It should be ''Is there a deeper meaning?''

and THAT, is why english is the hardest language to master...even for us english speakers.

Originally posted by I am a Sock
oh, Storm, u used the wrong 'their'. It should be ''Is there a deeper meaning?''

and THAT, is why english is the hardest language to master...even for us english speakers. 😛

i suspouse it is how people read it and take it in .... some people would look at it as 'just another story ' and others would take it more to heart for some reason ... that some how think they can relate to some one destroying a ring with a creepy dude .... but other people look and see the meanings and how they reflect modern day ???

*cough*

Can't resist. 😛

Tolkien said:

An Author cannot of course remain wholly unnafected by his experience, but the ways in which a story-germ uses the soil of experience are extremely complex, and attempts to define the process are at best guesses from evidence that is inadiquate and ambiguous.

I much prefer history, true or feined, with its varied applicability to the thought and experience of readers.

🙂