Is it real? (9)

"Is it real?"

That's the question children ask when they read or hear a story.

For grown-ups (which is not necessarily a better or richer stage of life than childhood) the question becomes, "Is it true?"

We all know that Smaug isn't real (or do we...?), but could he possibly by true? That is, is Smaug a dragon as dragons should be, a monster with meaning, an enemy that must be carefully considered?

Some readers - including me - would argue that The Hobbit is TRUE even if it is not REAL. One thing that makes The Hobbit true for me is the scene between Gandalf and Beorn. Gandalf's clever manipulation of the dwarves' entry, his ability to string Beorn along with a stop-start-stop-start narrative, his wit in choosing just the right word to spin things his way - these are all things that I've seen in "real" life. The strategy, tone, and style are all familiar in their own way.

Is The Hobbit true for you? Why or why not? Please steer clear of simplistic generalizations: "I just really love it, you know?" Provide a clear example and explanation for your judgment. And avoid using broad examples that can't be pinned down. Pick a specific character, scene, conversation, setting, or description, and then break down for us how that example = true.

Comments are due by MIDNIGHT, MONDAY 3 DECEMBER.

Read vs See (8)

In his essay "On Fairy Stories," Tolkien argues that a fantasy subcreation - a Secondary World - is best experienced as text. That is, it should be read, not viewed.

So then books beat out dramas and movies. For fantasy, at least. In a visual world such as ours, that's a strong stance to maintain.

Do you agree? Do you disagree? (It's totally fair to disagree. Tolkien was a genius in many ways. That doesn't mean he was right about everything.)

Tell us why you think Tolkien is right or wrong  about fantasy in written form versus fantasy in visual form. Provide a concrete example. Don't fall back on "I just like movies better" or "books are the best." Such statements say nothing at all of substance. (We've had enough of that in this election year, don't you think?)

Your example need not be of a fantasy that exists in both written and visual form. Many fantasy books haven't been adapted for the screen, and many cinematic fantasies did not start as written stories. Whatever your example - movie, book, or both - give us some specific reasons for how it influences and supports your opinion of Tolkien's thesis.

Comments are due by MIDNIGHT, THIS FRIDAY 16 November