Possible self-mockery in LotR?

[Michael F. Stemper]

In LotR, Book V, Chapter 8, Aragorn says (in part) the following to
Meriadoc:

[...] If your pack has not been found, then you must send for
the herb-master of this House. And he will tell you that he
did not know that the herb you desire had any virtues, but
that it is called _westmansweed_ by the vulgar, and _galenas_
by the noble, and other names in other tongues more learned,
and after adding a few half-forgotten rhymes that he does not
understand, he will regretfully inform you that there is none
in the House, and he will leave you to reflect on the history
of tongues. [...]

Whew! That's quite a sentence.

Is it possible that JRRT was indulging in a bit of self-mockery here,
given his main area of study, as well as one of his reasons for writing
LotR in the first place, was "the history of tongues"?

[Paul S Person]

On Thu, 17 Oct 2024 07:54:38 -0500, "Michael F. Stemper"

Post by Michael F. Stemper
In LotR, Book V, Chapter 8, Aragorn says (in part) the following to
[...] If your pack has not been found, then you must send for
the herb-master of this House. And he will tell you that he
did not know that the herb you desire had any virtues, but
that it is called _westmansweed_ by the vulgar, and _galenas_
by the noble, and other names in other tongues more learned,
and after adding a few half-forgotten rhymes that he does not
understand, he will regretfully inform you that there is none
in the House, and he will leave you to reflect on the history
of tongues. [...]
Whew! That's quite a sentence.
Is it possible that JRRT was indulging in a bit of self-mockery here,
given his main area of study, as well as one of his reasons for writing
LotR in the first place, was "the history of tongues"?

He would certainly have been familiar with the type.

But the stated reason for /LOTR/ is to follow up on the success of
/The Hobbit/. At his publisher's urging, IIRC.

And the purpose of the entire legendarium (of which the novels were
offshoots) was to provide England with a mythology. This was, of
course, when he was a young man and just starting out with /The Book
of Lost Tales/.

[Louis Epstein]

Post by Paul S Person
On Thu, 17 Oct 2024 07:54:38 -0500, "Michael F. Stemper"

Post by Michael F. Stemper
In LotR, Book V, Chapter 8, Aragorn says (in part) the following to
[...] If your pack has not been found, then you must send for
the herb-master of this House. And he will tell you that he
did not know that the herb you desire had any virtues, but
that it is called _westmansweed_ by the vulgar, and _galenas_
by the noble, and other names in other tongues more learned,
and after adding a few half-forgotten rhymes that he does not
understand, he will regretfully inform you that there is none
in the House, and he will leave you to reflect on the history
of tongues. [...]
Whew! That's quite a sentence.
Is it possible that JRRT was indulging in a bit of self-mockery here,
given his main area of study, as well as one of his reasons for writing
LotR in the first place, was "the history of tongues"?

He would certainly have been familiar with the type.
But the stated reason for /LOTR/ is to follow up on the success of
/The Hobbit/. At his publisher's urging, IIRC.
And the purpose of the entire legendarium (of which the novels were
offshoots) was to provide England with a mythology. This was, of
course, when he was a young man and just starting out with /The Book
of Lost Tales/.

It has also been said that he came up with the languages first and
the legends were a background made to suit them.

-=-=-
The World Trade Center towers MUST rise again,
at least as tall as before...or terror has triumphed.

[Scott Dorsey]

Post by Michael F. Stemper
Is it possible that JRRT was indulging in a bit of self-mockery here,
given his main area of study, as well as one of his reasons for writing
LotR in the first place, was "the history of tongues"?

Of course! There are a lot more little digs about scholars and especially
language scholars in there too.
--scott

[Michael F. Stemper]

Post by Scott Dorsey

Post by Michael F. Stemper
Is it possible that JRRT was indulging in a bit of self-mockery here,
given his main area of study, as well as one of his reasons for writing
LotR in the first place, was "the history of tongues"?

Of course! There are a lot more little digs about scholars and especially
language scholars in there too.

Cool. I'll have to keep my eyes open for them on my next reading.