I didn’t
really see a specific question pertaining to fantasy but you touched on
escapism related to Fantasy and Tolkien’s view in specific. I totally agree
with Tolkien view “that readers "escaped" into fantasy literature the
way prisoners "escaped" from jail. Tolkien saw the genre we now call
fantasy literature as a necessary antidote to modern life.” Growing up
extremely sheltered as a child I spent most of my time growing up playing video
games, watching films and then creating my own stories in those words in my
back yard. When I was old enough my dad sat me down for an entire weekend and
made me watch the Trilogy films of Lord of The Rings. My life was never the
same after seeing the movies. I absorbed every little bit of Middle Earth that
I could. I watched the films over and over again and read the books multiple
times. By high school I was fluent in Sindarin (since then have lost it :’( )
My point in
all of this was that I immersed myself in the world, the mythology, and the
characters. Because there were so few chances for me to have adventures of my
own being a young PK, the world of Tolkien provided me with lengthy
descriptions to lose my mind in.
As I’ve
grown I’ve since lost touch with a lot of the simple wonder I would experience
just by spending time with myself. I see myself now in Frodo’s shoes after his
Bilbo left after his birthday in the beginning of the fellowship. I find that
all my heart draws me to have gone with Bilbo instead of staying with the real
world. Hopefully my adventure will come soon, and I will have a there and back
again.
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