WI: J.R.R. Tolkien dies in World War 1
- Thread starter Will Kürlich Kerl
- Start date
Agreed. Tolkien's effect on English literature is different than that of CS Lewis, but no less profound. If Tolkien dies at the Somme, which is not that hard to arrange, than butterflies flap very hard.
Sister to the "What if C.S. Lewis died in WW1?
Tolkien dying has more profound effects on modern fantasy (in the high heroic mode, anyway) than Lewis' would. Tolkien also OTL had quite an influence on Lewis in both his writing and his Christianity (far more than the other way around). No Tolkien means, at one remove, butterflies in the field of Christian apologetics.
Tolkien dying has more profound effects on modern fantasy (in the high heroic mode, anyway) than Lewis' would. Tolkien also OTL had quite an influence on Lewis in both his writing and his Christianity (far more than the other way around). No Tolkien means, at one remove, butterflies in the field of Christian apologetics.
Grand Admiral Thrawn
Donor
ITTL would people face the choice of killing Hitler or saving Tolkien? A grim world indeed. Also, what they said above, re the butterflies. Poor, sad, butterflies.
Cook
Banned
I don't have to read The Hobbit in High School and don't have to suffer through three hours of a mind numbingly stupid film!
That alone would be worth the cost of a time machine!
The New Zealand film industry would best be remembered for dark brooding noir films about substance abuse, impossible love and incest with the southern alps covered in fog in the background. Involving humans with nary an orc, hobgoblin or those other little short arsed buggers in sight.
I was never assigned The Hobbit at all, high school or otherwise.
Cook
Banned
Yes, corporal punishment not having been abolished at that time. There was also something even more torturous called 'I am the Cheese', which was every bit as bad as it sounds.
My highschool experience was something like the 'Ripping Yarns' classic 'Tomkinson's Schooldays'.
There were better choices offered to you in high school?
I had to read Brother in the Land and Snow Falling on Cedars. Come on now.
I remember we were given The Hobbit to read at high school in the 3rd Form. I read about 2 pages and put it down thinking it was crap and managed to bluff my way through the course of study. My father gave me Dune by Frank Herbert and I got a pretty good mark for my end of year exam based on "the book you have read this year" but got in the shit for basing it on Dune.
Least the examiner must have appreciated a good Sci-fi yarn.
Least the examiner must have appreciated a good Sci-fi yarn.
Cook
Banned
Just to clarify, Highschool ran from year 7 to year 12; so 12 yo to 17 yo. And apparently someone thought it was 'literature'.