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The following review was written by Ryder W. Miller and is reproduced here with kind permission.
Laughter in Middle-Earth. Humor in and around the Works of JRR
> Tolkien. edited by Thomas Honegger & Maureen F. Mann, foreword by
Tom Shippey. Cormare Series No. 35. Walking Tree Publishers, Zurich
and Jena, 2016.
Reviewed by Ryder W. Miller
Laughter in Middle-Earth contains a manageable plethora of useful
information and insights to understand Tolkien's humorous impulse
and those who have found fun with him. Unlike the television version
of Game of Thrones, from Tolkien and Peter Jackson one get's a clear
sense of what is at stake in Middle Earth and what the characters
are fighting for. Middle Earth has wonder, magic and beauty, even if
there is no prostitution or sex. It also has Mirth, not to mention
good food sometimes, which helps characters know what they stand to
lose from a Dark Lord. Tolkien 's adventures are for the warrior, and
defender of beauty, but also the defender of good cheer and fun. His
fellow Inkling C.S. Lewis pointed out that it was God, in this
circumstance through Tolkien, not the Devil, who could give us Joy.
As shown, Tolkien had a contagious sense of humor, and liked to
write about laughter. Tom Shippey in the Foreword relays that
contributor Alastair Whyte calculates that there are over 300
mentions of humor in The Tolkien Cannon: The Hobbit, The Lord of the
Rings, and The Silmarillion. Shippey writes: "Like Gandalf, he [JRR
Tolkien] had a spring of merriment inside him, which he frequently
released, and which deserves to be fully appreciated: as it is in
this volume." (page 5)
One will get a fuller appreciation of Tolkien and those who reacted
to him from this volume which has some very insightful papers. From
co-editor Maureen F. Mann one learns that Tolkien "developed a
unique understanding about the significance of beauty and pleasure
in language..." It was not always about what the language meant, but
also what it sounded like. This is especially the case with the
invented language names the Tolkiens used. Alastair Whyte (thanks
also for counting) writes that humor is a signifier for adventure
writer Tolkien, and is used in a number of ways, including as a
force of change. Jennifer Raimundo explores the power of Mirth in a
wonderful, enchanting, and stylish essay which could have mentioned
that Mirth also acts as a motivator for heroes giving those inspired
a reason to battle to keep it. Those who did not fully understand
Farmer Giles of Ham are likely to benefit from Lukasz Neubauer's
contribution on "…Tolkien 's Onomastic Humor... ." which explains the
linguistic humor included. Laura Lee Smith provides fascinating
insights into the power dynamics that play a role in the discourse
between Tolkien 's characters; one can almost hear actor Martin
Freeman 's voice (as Bilbo in the movies) in some of this.
There are also some interesting papers about those who reacted to
the Tolkiens with their own humor. Those who find the parodies of
Tolkien or even just the the idea of parodies about Tolkien
repellant and not worth their time (these are no less stories about
bravery, sacrifice, and heroism, and for some sacrosanct with them
having replaced The Bible for some), can get up to speed from the
included articles from Evelyn Koch and Sherrylyn Branchaw. With so
much new from The Tolkiens there might not be time or energy for
such parodies, even if there might be some interesting textual and
intellectual dynamics in them. Davide Martini provides some humorous
art from around the world, much of which referring to "The Riddle
Game" between Bilbo and Gollum, reminding that this whole adventure
started as a children 's book which toned down some of the more
ghastly elements of this tale. The new movies with images,
depictions, and action, The Chronicle's of Narnia included in this,
are more likely to give the consumer nightmares than the books they
are based upon. Some very interesting depictions of Bilbo and Gollum
in this, some that might make you laugh about how they were depicted
in a different age and in other countries. A personable and
brilliant Jared Lobdell finishes out the book with a very
intellectual and for some sometimes a comical take on Tolkien's
oeuvre and that of the other Inklings (including some that are not
known very well on American shores at least).
Humor though, as shown, is not always from the good side. The Orcs
enjoy laughing at the pain of others for example. Humor can hurt,
even when it true. It can be a weapon. It also can be a force for
good, even a medicine. There are though a few harsh judgements and
conclusions from those assembled about the use of it with some folks
sometimes being mean. In Middle Earth Mirth was a medicine of sorts
and not only the children inside, also the adults, continue to
laugh. In this day and age we might need humor more than ever with
Comedians being a political 6th Estate in a country that might have
lost some of the necessary political checks and balances with the
recent Republican electoral landslide. The Press has long been the
4th Estate. The government hackers who revealed private government
documents to the public are the 5th Estate. We might also need a 6th
for sometime. This book will give one a more sophisticated
understanding of what is involved in comical pursuits. Including the
people who don 't vote: The Majority is not happy with what has
transpired this November and humor might be a way to better
understand what will transpire now. We might, like Middle Earth,
need the medicine and Mirth.
This is one of many worthwhile books from, thank you, Walking Tree
Publishers which has a focussed scholarly Tolkien analysis or more
than one for probably every type of Tolkien fan, critic or scholar.
If you don 't find one from them to your interest you might want to
send them a query letter with the idea.
Read other reviews of Laughter in Middle-earth: Humour in and around the Works of JRR Tolkien Read reviews of other Walking Tree Publishers books
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