Flammifer
Well-Known Member
I assume almost everyone in this class and forum has read 'The Silmarillion'? You may be surprised to find out how few readers of TLOTR have. TLOTR has sold over 100 million copies worldwide. 'The Silmarillion' has sold 1 million copies. It would appear that only about 1 in 100 readers of TLOTR has also read 'The Silmarillion'.
So, 99% of TLOTR readers would have no knowledge, even today, of Silmarillion or Legendarium material. Their only means of understanding, interpreting, appreciating TLOTR would be TLOTR itself. Yet it seems that most of them appreciate it very much.
Knowledge of the Legendarium is un-necessary to appreciation of TLOTR as a work of art on its own.
Is over-use of 'The Silmarillion' and other 'Legendarium' to explain, understand, or interpret TLOTR, as well as being dubious, rather 'academic', and disconnected and distancing from the experience of the vast majority of readers and fans who appreciate, understand, and interpret the book as a work of art on its own?
So, 99% of TLOTR readers would have no knowledge, even today, of Silmarillion or Legendarium material. Their only means of understanding, interpreting, appreciating TLOTR would be TLOTR itself. Yet it seems that most of them appreciate it very much.
Knowledge of the Legendarium is un-necessary to appreciation of TLOTR as a work of art on its own.
Is over-use of 'The Silmarillion' and other 'Legendarium' to explain, understand, or interpret TLOTR, as well as being dubious, rather 'academic', and disconnected and distancing from the experience of the vast majority of readers and fans who appreciate, understand, and interpret the book as a work of art on its own?
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