Tolkien and Null-Tolkien
I thought this a very intriguing concept: Tolkien and Null-Tolkien. The temptation here is to assign those who 'don't get it', the 'Null-Tolkienists' to the group who consider myths, legends and fairy tales little better than childish distractions at best and out-right 'lies' at worst.
In his book, 'The Inklings' Humphrey Carpenter recounts a conversation between JRR Tolkien and C.S Lewis during which Lewis told Tolkien that 'myths are lies'. Tolkien rejoined 'They are not lies.' He argued that though myths may be perverted the ultimate idea reflected something of the eternal truth.
Joseph Campbell was fond of telling a similar story about an appearance on a television talk show. The host of the show, probably spurred by the siren-call of controversy, asserted that myths were nothing but lies. Campbell countered that myths were not lies but metaphor. The host then declared that metaphors were lies in themselves. After a few exchanges of the 'Are, too. Are not.' variety, Campbell, the esteemed college professor, suspected that his host did not truly know what a metaphor was.
Campbell asked the host to give an example of a metaphor. The host hemmed and hawed. Finally, much agitated, he said 'He runs like a deer.' Campbell pointed out that this was not a metaphor but a simile. The statement 'He runs like a deer.' means that the runner has the attributes of a deer running - the runner is fast. The correct metaphoric form would be 'He is a deer.' The host then brightened and declared that such a statement would be a lie. A man is not a deer. Campbell calmly stated 'It's not a lie. It's a metaphor.'
Unfortunately, that is where Campbell's anecdote ends for it was at that point the television show ended. The host graciously thanked Campbell for his participation and made his leave. That this anecdote ended there is unfortunate because the television host did not have the opportunity to hear Campbell's eloquent definition of metaphor. Nor did the host avail himself of the chance to hear Campbell profess his belief in myth as metaphor.
As for my Null-Tolkien friend, I must profess that, for the most part, I 'get it': that is, I understand the metaphor of Middle-earth and sense the ultimate and eternal truth reflected thereby. Tolkien's tales are not only engaging entertainment, they are also marvelous mythology. They are not allegorical but one can draw broad analogy
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