Tolkien: Allegory and Applicability

   From the foreword to The Lord of the Rings. Here are some parts containing interesting ideas.

   "I should like to say something here with reference to the many opinions or guesses that I have received or have read concerning the motives and meaning of the tale. The prime motive was the desire of a tale-teller to try his hand at a really long story that would hold the attention of readers, amuse them, delight them, and at times maybe excite them or deeply move them. As a guide I had only my own feelings for what is appealing or moving, (...)"
Deeply move! That's an essential point about the epic.
  "As for any inner meaning or 'message', it has in the intention of the author none. It is neither allegorical nor topical. As the story grew it put down roots (into the past) and threw out unexpected branches (...)" -- Then the author justifies there was no allegory of the war implied.

    Allegory and Applicability
   "Other arrangements could be devised according to the tastes or views of those who like allegory or topical reference. But I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done so since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence. I much prefer history, true or feigned, with its varied applicability to the thought and experience of readers. I think that many confuse 'applicability' with 'allegory'; but the one resides in the freedom of the reader, and the other in the purposed domination of the author.  An author cannot of course remain wholly unaffected by his experience, but the ways in which a story-germ uses the soil of experience are extremely complex, and attempts to define the process are at best guesses from evidence that is inadequate and ambiguous."
  (In Carpenter's biography of Tolkien it is stated that there were quite many letters in which he mentioned attitude to allegory.)

   In this passage the writer attempts to draw the line between 'allegory' and 'applicability' as a means of expression, also clarifying why he dislikes 'allegory'.
  "The purposed domination of the author", that's what Tolkien dislikes about allegory. As I gather, the man disliked any imposing, concerning his Christian faith, too he did speak about Christian values in his works, but, say, through through the characters' actions and situation, not through declaring the ideas.
  As it seems, if the question of allegory and applicability is looked on and developed from the above mentioned positions, 'allegory' in this sense is often mixed up with 'applicability', because if there's an image in the story (a symbolic image), it can mean several things, from which is for the reader (and the author) to choose (or not to choose).
  If anyone has something to say about the topic, feel free.
 
   Some 'blogspot links' concerning allegory, metaphor in literature etc. http://verdevivoverdechiaro.blogspot.ru/2008/04/yesterday-i-found-some-posts-on-blogs.html
    My other posts on Tolkien.
  Tolkien as a Christian writer, parallels and symbolism, the image of elves, Samwise Gamgee at the beginning of the story. http://verdevivoverdechiaro.blogspot.ru/2015/11/reading-tolkiens-lord-of-rings.html
  The passage where Samwise Gamgee gets caught by Gandalf  'eavesdropping, his appearance, quotes. The friendship theme. http://verdevivoverdechiaro.blogspot.ru/2015/11/dont-you-lose-him-samwise-gamgee.html
   Introduction of Strider (Aragorn), quotes from the book. http://verdevivoverdechiaro.blogspot.ru/2015/11/strider-iall-that-is-gold-does-not.html

The Joy of Sharing

It's real good joy when you feel good if you agree with someone about something which you consider important, not just an emotion shared, but, for example, deeper feelings or states, or attitudes, values. That's where the fellowship begins.

'Due South'

That's a good series. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Due_South A brief review now.
I liked this film. The main character, like an odd one, behaving strangely (not like other people), always responsive, ready to help, exercising the love for the neighbour, Christian love. With the 'who, if not me' attitude.
I can't tell exactly in what number season (the second or the third) the concept of the main character was changed, the writers made him more common, so to speak.
A good nice film.

Icon Art

Here' s a good site. http://www.icon-art.info/ The Gallery the works of Andrey Rublev and his school http://www.icon-art.info/. Another page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrei_Rublev.

The Holy Trinity. I like this blue colour, what is it called? The Saviour.

Apostle Paul.

There is something special about the old icon art, mural and fresco art.

I'd like to speak about my teacher

  His name's Alexandre Vashchenko, he taught the History of English and American literature to us (students) at the Institute.
  When I remember my years of studies the most favourite subjects appear to be those connected with literature, reading and culture.
  This professor's lectures were always so interesting. We (my twin sister and I) always wanted more of them: we wished the period had continued. I thought, such teachers reveal to you the world of literature, how nice it is to have such guides, especially when you know little about the world of literature and reading.
  What was also valuable and interesting about his lectures was that he traced symbolisms, connections (for instance, the repetition of symbols or similarities in the plot), tradition. He analyzed well.
  Probably it was him who taught me to trace connections, symbols, tradition, allusions. I might have been ready to take this, while he was reading a lecture -- it was often exciting, he's a good story-teller -- maybe I felt sort of self-identification with the points he made (like "This is it" and "That's what I need and like"), I enjoyed this I am grateful to this teacher, I learned from him.

Joys

I never thought I would be able to get in touch with the writer, the scriptwriter of the film I watched when I was fifteen. In fact, this film is still important to me.
I am still amazed at the opportunities the internet provides. So I did find this contact, I'm glad.

'Pilgrimage to the Eternal City', Apostle Paul

This documentary is amazing. It produced a great impression on me. It is the first series of the five. The first film is about Apostle Paul. Featuring Vladimir Mashkov.

From here http://russart.com/?movieplay&mid=1422 the first five minutes can be downloaded (no English translation, though).