Volume 6 Number 1 Article 8

12-15-1979

Dear Mistress Ellwood Dear Mistress Ellwood

Alex Whitney

Judi Davidson

Benjamin Urrutia

Margaret R. Purdy

Wendell Wagner Jr.

See next page for additional authors

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Recommended Citation Recommended Citation Whitney, Alex; Davidson, Judi; Urrutia, Benjamin, et al. (1979) "Dear Mistress Ellwood," Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature: Vol. 6 : No. 1 , Article 8. Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol6/iss1/8

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Additional Keywords Additional Keywords Tim Callahan; Karl Whittenberg; Bg Callahan

Authors Authors Alex Whitney, Judi Davidson, Benjamin Urrutia, Margaret R. Purdy, Wendell Wagner Jr., Paul Torongo, Renée Haynes, Margaret L. Carter, Ruth Berman, Pierre H. Berube, Gord Wilson, Mary Kay Bond, and Mary M. Stolzenbach

This letter is available in Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol6/iss1/8

D e a r M i s t r e s s E l l w o o d

A lex W hitney 66 O ld S o u th Ro adS o u th p o r t, C onn. 0 6 490

A bout th e com m ents on th e r e l a t io n s h ip b e tw een " S ta r W ars" an d The L o rd o f th e R in g s , I th in k t h a t th e s i m i l a r i ­t i e s a r e m e re ly c o in c id e n ta l . I th in k t h a t G eorge L ucas w a s , a s he s a id ( " S ta r W ars" S o u v e n ir P ro g ram b y S.W . V en­t u r e s , I n c . ) , in s p ir e d b y A lex R aym ond 's F la s h G ordon an d E d g ar R ic e B u rro u g h s ' "Jo h n C a r te r o f M ars" s e r i e s . (W hat h ad s p a rk e d B u rro u g h s o f f w as a s c ie n c e - f i c t io n f a n ta s y c a l le d G u lliv e r on M a rs, w r i t te n b y E dw in A rn o ld an d pub­l i s h e d in 1 9 0 5 .) The r e s t w as p ro b a b ly in f lu e n c e d by s c ie n c e - f i c t io n a n d a d v e n tu re a c tio n t h a t h e 'd se e n an d r e a d .

J u d i D av id so n Hinm an Box 0 8 43D artm o u th C o lle g e H an o v er, NH 03755

I w ould l i k e to re sp o n d to A lb e r t P ro u d h a in 's l e t t e r in th e A u g u st M y th p r in t, a s w e ll a s to a l l th o s e fo n d o f co m p arin g T o lk ie n w ith e v e ry th in g u n d e r th e su n . G ra n te d , a n y th in g one re a d s an d e n jo y s /a d m ire s can in f lu e n c e one in w h a te v e r one d o e s , b u t i t i s r id ic u lo u s to ta k e c e r t a in c h a r a c te r ty p e s , su c h a s " i n f i n i t e l y w ise an d p o w e rfu l o ld m an" o r "one who d o es e v i l f o r th e sa k e o f b e in g n a s ty ," f in d them in tw o d i f f e r e n t s t o r i e s , an d s a y t h a t one h a s in f lu e n c e d th e o th e r . " S ta r W ars" i s an a d v e n tu re s to r y ; i t m ust th e r e f o r e h av e i t s h e r o , v i l l a i n , an d b e a u t i f u l la d y , an d th e s e s to c k c h a r a c te r s c a n n o t be s a id to h av e b e e n draw n from T o lk ie n a lo n e . (M ind y o u , I l i k e " S ta r W a rs ," b u t on i t s own m e r i ts , n o t a s a T o lk ie n t a k e - o f f . )

T h ere a r e m any p e o p le , m o s tly e d i t o r s , I s u p p o s e , who l i k e to p u sh an y new w ork o f f a n ta s y a s "T he b e s t s in c e T o lk ie n " o r "co m p arab le in pow er o f sc o p e to L o tR ." I am s u re y o u w i l l a g re e t h a t i t ta k e s a g r e a t d e a l o f im a g in a ­t io n an d a t t e n t io n to d e t a i l to come any w h ere n e a r T o lk ie n ' s " s c o p e ," an d a w r i t in g s k i l l m atch ed by few to a p p ro a c h h is "p o w e r." I s in c e r e ly w ish t h a t new b o o k s , f i lm s , e t c . w ou ld be a llo w e d to s ta n d on t h e i r own m e r i ts . S im p ly b e c a u s e a book d e a ls w ith e lv e s o r th e l i k e , i t i s n o t n e c c e s s a r i ly in e i t h e r th e g e n re o r th e c la s s o f T o lk ie n . T hank y o u f o r y o u r tim e .

B enjam in U r r u tia N .Y . C ity M iss io n2 L in c o ln S q u a re 125 C olum bus Ave New Y o rk , NY 10023

C h r is to p h e r T o lk ie n ( in S p . 357) r e f e r s t o "Car n im ir ie 'r e d - j e w e l l e d ', th e ro w a n -tre e in T re e b e a rd 's ( s i c ) so n g " ( l ) . O u tra g e o u s . The so n g o f th e row an t r e e s w as su n g n o t by T re e b e a rd , b u t by Q uickbeam , o r B re g a la d . The sam e r e ­g r e t ta b le e r r o r i s c o m m itted b y D o n ald Swann in The R oad G ees E v e r On. I t b eh o o v es a l l o f u s B re g a la d fa n s to se n d p o l i t e b u t f irm l e t t e r s to M r. T o lk ie n a n d M r. Swann r e ­q u e s tin g them to ack n o w led g e an d c o r r e c t t h e i r e r r o r .

B re g a la d t r a n s l a t e s in to E n g lis h a s Q uickbeam . B reg i s sp e e d y , f a s t , q u ic k ( r e l a t e d to b r a g o l, s u d d e n ); an d g a la d h i s o f c o u rs e th e S in d a r in w ord f o r t r e e .

B re g a la d a c h ie v e d h i s nam e b y s a y in g " y e s " to an E n t E ld e r who h ad n o t y e t f in is h e d a s k in g h i s q u e s tio n ; b u t

Q uickbeam " in th e E n g lis h la n g u a g e i s a ls o a name o f th e row an t r e e . J .R .R . T o lk ie n h a s h e re co m m itted a n o th e r p u n .

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A ure (Q uenya) o r a u r ( S in d a r in ) , " s u n lig h t" becom es Or— when i t " i s p r e f ix e d to th e nam es o f th e d ay s o f th e w e e k ." (S p . 365) . I w ou ld d a re to s u g g e s t t h a t i t a lw ay s ta k e s th e fo rm O r- w hen i t i s a p r e f ix . T hus O rb e re th w ou ld m ean " k in d le r o f s u n l ig h t" an d O r d il " lo v e r o f s u n l ig h t" . The w ord Or in H ebrew m eans " l i g h t ."

Ur i s th e Q uenya a n d S in d a r in w ord f o r " h e a t , b e h o t" — a n d se e m in g ly a ls o f o r " f i r e " , s in c e U r o lS k i m eans " f i r e - s e rp e n t . " Ur in H ebrew m eans " f la m e , f i r e ."

T h a t p r e c i s e ly th e s e w o rd s s h o u ld h av e su c h a s tr o n g s i m i l a r i t y in H ebrew an d E ld a r in p u ts u s in m ind o f th e w o rd s o f B a la n - B e o r: "A d a rk n e s s l i e s b e h in d u s , an d weh av e tu rn e d o u r b a c k s upon i t . . . W estw ards o u r h e a r ts h av e b e e n tu r n e d , an d we b e lie v e t h a t th e r e we s h a l l f in d L ig h t ." (S p . 1 4 1 ) . F o r th e E d a in , th e E ld a r w ere th e sym bol an d em bodim ent o f t h e i r h o p e to f in d L ig h t, an d i t w o u ld b e e x p e c te d t h a t th e y w o u ld ta k e in to t h e i r own la n g u a g e th e w ord f o r l i g h t , an d r e l a t e d te r m s , t h a t th e E lv e s ta u g h t th em .

The a n c e s to r s o f th e H ebrew s m ust h av e b e e n a t r i b e o f th e E d a in ( s in g u la r a d a n , "m an ", d o u b tle s s ly r e l a t e d to He­b rew Adam , m an, an d A ra b ic A d a n , m an ).

The u s u a l p lu r a l in th e E lv is h la n g u a g e s w as fo rm ed by - r , b u t i f th e s in g u la r e n d ed in r ( e .g . w o rd s in c lu d in g th e m orphem e h i r , " m a s te r , l o r d " ) , th e n th e p lu r a l w as fo rm ed w ith th e s u f f ix r im , " g r e a t n u m b er, h o s t ." T h is h a s s u rv iv e d in th e H ebrew p lu r a l s u f f ix - im (A ra b ic - i n ) .

The A ra b ic A rd (E a r th ) i s p ro b a b ly r e l a t e d to A rd a .The e q u iv a le n t in H ebrew i s E r e ts (so m e tim es A r e t s ) , co g ­n a te w ith E r (E a r th in P r im itiv e In d o -E u ro p e a n ).

* * *

The s to r y o f T u rin s h o u ld b e re n d e re d a s an o p e ra .I t i s a lr e a d y an o p e ra in a l l b u t th e la c k o f m u s ic . I w o u ld c a l l i t b y V e rd i o u t o f W agner. T h a t i s , th e e l e ­m en ts a r e W ag n erian : A D rag o n , a D w arf, a T re a s u re , B u t th es ty l e i s p u re V e rd i, a s in Rigoletto a n d La Forza del Destl- no. T h is u n u s u a l c o m b in a tio n g iv e s th e t a l e m uch o f i t s p o w er, j u s t a s th e u se o f th e t r a d i t i o n a l m o n s te rs o f G o th ic h o r ro r — V am p ires an d W erew olves— in a new an d c o m p le te ly u n u s u a l w ay , c o n tr ib u te s to th e g r ip p in g q u a l i ty o f th e u n p a r a lle le d n a r r a t iv e o f B e ren an d L u th ie n T in u v ie l.

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I h av e a re v ie w o f S ta r W ars in th e F a l l 1978 is s u e o f DIALOGUE (B ox 1 3 8 7 , A r lin g to n , VA 2 2 2 1 0 , $5 a c o p y ) , in w h ich I t r a c e p a r a l l e l s to T o lk ie n an d o th e r s o u r c e s . B ut one m ust b e c a r e f u l n o t to o v e rd o i t . L uke S k y w a lk e r, who i s b y n a tu r e a d v e n tu ro u s , r a r in g to le a v e hom e, an d i n d i f ­f e r e n t to h i s fo o d , i s n o t l i k e F ro d o o r l i k e an y o th e r H o b b it. Han S o lo d o es n o t h av e A r a g o rn 's - le a d e r s h ip q u a l i t i e s . He fo llo w s th e p la n s o f O bi-W an, Luke an d L e ia w ith o u t e v e r s u g g e s tin g one o f h i s ow n. T o lk ie n , l e t u s fa c e i t , w ou ld h av e no u se f o r m a n -lik e m ach in es su c h a s R2-D2 an d C3P0. T h e ir g o d fa th e rs a r e r a th e r I s a a c A sim ov ( n o tic e how f a i t h f u l l y th e y o b ey th e th r e e law s o f R o b o tic s ) an d F ra n k Baum.

25

M a rg a re t R. P u rd y 307 K e n s in g to n D r iv eR idgew ood, N .J . 07450

T h is l e t t e r i s a b o u t m o v ie s : o n e p r e s e n t , an d o n e tocom e. The p r e s e n t o n e I w i l l s a v e f o r l a t e r . The one to come i s , n a t u r a l l y , th e f i lm v e r s i o n o f THE LORD OF THE RINGS b e in g c r e a t e d by R a lp h B a k s h i . . .

By th e t im e t h i s l e t t e r i s p u b l i s h e d , th e m ovie w i l l m o st p ro b a b ly b e o u t a l r e a d y , and some o f t h e p o i n t s I in t e n d t o make may b e a c a d e m ic . H ow ever, I t h i n k t h a t t h i s w ho le b u s in e s s a b o u t th e m ovie h a s s e rv e d to p o i n t up some r a t h e r u n p le a s a n t a s p e c t s i n t h e th in k in g o f some S o c ie ty members w h ich s o u ld b e b ro u g h t t o t a s k . . .

. . . B a k s h i i s n o t some s o r t o f m e rc e n a ry , k n o w -n o th in g y a h o o , b u t r a t h e r a c r e a t i v e a r t i s t who lo v e s THE LORD OF THE RINGS a s much a s we do an d c a r e s enough a b o u t i t t o sp e n d g r e a t am ounts o f t im e , m oney, and e f f o r t t o make s u r e t h a t th e f i lm i s done r i g h t . I t i s t r u e t h a t h i s i d e a o f " r i g h t " may d i f f e r from o u r s , b u t one c a n p i c k up any i s s u e o f M yth - lo r e and s e e g r a p h ic d e m o n s tr a t io n s o f t h e d i f f e r e n c e s i n d i f f e r e n t p e o p l e 's p e r s o n a l v i s u l i z a t i o n s o f t h e c h a r a c t e r s and s c e n e s o f THE LORD OF THE RINGS. D e s p i te th e o c c a s io n a l d i s c u s s i o n o f su c h n i g g l i n g m a t t e r s a s p o in t e d e a r s , no one seem s to t h i n k t h a t t h e s e a r t i s t s sh o u ld b e d e p r iv e d o f th e o p p o r tu n i ty to s h a r e t h e i r c o n c e p t io n s w i th o t h e r s . R a lp h B a k sh i d e s e rv e s t h e same c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h a t o u r own M y th lo re a r t i s t s r e c e i v e , and he c e r t a i n l y h a s t h e r i g h t t o h a v e h i s im ages lo o k e d a t b e f o r e th e y a r e ju d g e d . I p la n to go and s e e th e RINGS m o v ie . I may h a t e i t . I may th i n k t h a t i t m akes t h e B r o th e r s H i ld e b r a n d t lo o k l i k e t h e R e v e a le d T ru th . B ut I t h in k i t i s w rong f o r an yone t o condemn an y w o rk t h a t he o r sh e h a s n o t ev en s e e n . Such p r e j u d i c e i s w orse , th a n th e o b tu s e n e s s o f som eone l i k e Edmund W ilso n — a t l e a s t he re a d th e book b e f o r e g iv in g h i s o p in io n on i t !

G len G oodK night— and p o s s ib ly o t h e r s — seem t o t h in k t h a t R a lp h B a k sh i i s t o t a l l y u n f i t to make a m ovie o f THE LORD OF THE RINGS b e c a u s e h e e n jo y s h o t dogs and p i n b a l l .B ut sh o u ld th e m ovie p ro v e to b e a s u c c e s s , i t w ou ld n o t b e th e f i r s t i n s t a n c e i n th e h i s t o r y o f th e RINGS w h e re a man t r a n s c e n d e d h i s b a c k g ro u n d to c r e a t e a m a s te rw o rk . I seem to rem em ber a c e r t a i n O x fo rd d o n , who l e d on th e w h o le a r a t h e r u n re m a rk a b le , m i d d l e - c l a s s , humdrum s o r t o f l i f e , who em erged n e v e r t h e l e s s a s th e c r e a t o r o f a p o w e r fu l m ythos w ith th e a b i l i t y to to u c h th e h e a r t s and s o u l s o f many d i f f e r e n t k in d s o f p e o p le , fro m e s te e m e d p o e t s an d l i t e r a r y men to " p i n b a l l w iz a r d s " fro m th e s t r e e t s o f New Y o rk . And w h o 's to sa y t h a t o n ly th e l i t e r a t i h a v e th e " r i g h t " i n t e r ­p r e t a t i o n o f t h i s w ork? The M y th o p o e ic S o c ie ty h a s n ' t g o t a m onopoly on T r u th , ev en t r u t h a s r e v e a l e d i n THE LORD OF THE RINGS. We m ig h t ev en l e a r n so m e th in g from R a lp h B a k sh i.

The c o n c e rn h a s b een v o ic e d t h a t many p e o p le w i l l s e e th e m ovie and th i n k t h a t t h a t ' s a l l t h e r e i s to THE LORD OF THE RINGS. N ot o n ly do I a g r e e w i th J u l i e W a tk in s t h a t m ost o f th e p e o p le who t h i n k t h a t w ould n o t h a v e r e a d th e bo o k i n any c a s e : I o f f e r a m ore p o s i t i v e com m ent. A g la n c e a t t h eb e s t s e l l e r l i s t s w i l l show im m e d ia te ly t h a t b o o k s c o n n e c te d w ith s u c c e s s f u l f i lm s , e i t h e r n o v e l i z a t i o n s o r o r i g i n a l w orks from w h ich th e f i lm s a r e m ade, a r e s e l l i n g v e ry w e l l t h e s e d a y s . I f th e B a k sh i f i lm i s a s u c c e s s , t h e r e w i l l b e many p e o p le who w i l l r e a d th e boo k (who w ould p ro b a b ly n e v e r h a v e re a d i t u n d e r n o rm a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s ) , s im p ly b e c a u s e o f i t s c o n n e c t io n w i th th e m o v ie . Once th e y s t a r t r e a d i n g , I t h i n k we can t r u s t th e M a s te r W izard t o c a s t h i s s p e l l w i th o u t any e x t r a e f f o r t from u s . And i f h e f a i l s , how c o u ld we h o p e to su c c e e d anyway?

L e t 's f a c e i t : c o n s id e r in g th e p o p u l a r i t y o f THE LORDOF THE RINGS, i t was i n e v i t a b l e t h a t som eday a m ovie w ould be made o f i t . J u d g in g fro m th e v a r io u s a r t i c l e s I h a v e re a d , I w ould sa y t h a t B a k s h i 's i s t h e b e s t a p p ro a c h t o th e s u b j e c t t h a t I have h e a r d o f so f a r . And i f w o r s t comes t o w o r s t , we can a lw a y s w a i t t h i r t y y e a r s o r s o , an d th e n do a rem ake!Any v o l u n t e e r s to t r y i t ?

W e ll , enough o f th e rh o d o m o n tad e f o r t h e p r e s e n t . Now to move on to a h a p p ie r s u b j e c t , STAR WARS. I r e a d w ith g r e a t i n t e r e s t A lb e r t P r o u d h o r n 's l e t t e r i n t h e A u g u st i s s u e o f M y th p r in t. I a g r e e t h a t G eorge L u cas u n d o u b te d ly re a d

THE LORD OF THE RINGS an d u s e d many o f t h e sam e e le m e n ts , b u t I t h i n k i t i s g o in g to o f a r t o s a y t h a t he was " p r i m a r i l y i n s p i r e d " by T o lk ie n . Remember t h a t we a r e d e a l in g w i th a r c h e ty p e s h e r e , f i g u r e s common i n a l l k in d s o f f a n t a s t i c f i c t i o n . L u cas h im s e l f h a s s a i d i n many a r t i c l e s and i n t e r ­v ie w s t h a t h i s p r im a ry i n s p i r a t i o n , i f a n y , came fro m o l d - f a s h io n e d " s p a c e o p e r a " l i k e F la s h G ordon and Buck R o g e rs .And i n s a y in g t h a t Obi-W an K en o b i " i s " G a n d a lf o r t h a t D a r th V ad er " i s " S a u ro n , we a r e f a l l i n g i n t o t h e sam e e r r o r t h a t T o lk ie n h im s e l f w a rn s a g a i n s t i n h i s e s s a y on F a i r y - S t o r i e s ( p . 18 o f t h e e s s a y ) , w h ere h e c e n s u r e s f o l k l o r e s t u d e n t s who make s t a te m e n ts l i k e "T h e B la c k B u ll o f Norroway i s Beauty a n d th e B e a s t ." G iv en th e s e r e s t r i c t i o n s , I ' d l i k e to draw a few p a r a l l e l s o f my own.

Luke S k y w a lk e r c e r t a i n l y r e s e m b le s F ro d o i n many r e s p e c t s , b u t b e a r i n m ind t h a t n o t o n ly i s h e a T a to o in e fa rm b o y ; h e i s a l s o t h e so n o f a J e d i k n ig h t and (o n e a s su m e s) one o f t h e l a s t s c io n s o f t h a t n o b le O rd e r . I n t h i s h e i s v e r y much l i k e t h e young A ra g o rn , h e r e d i t a r y c h i e f t a i n o f t h e D u n ed a ln an d a h e ro b o r n . Or l i k e t h e young K ing A r th u r , f o r t h a t m a t t e r . A le c G u in n e s s h a s d e s c r ib e d h i s own r o l e (Ben K en o b i) a s " a b le n d o f t h e W iza rd M e r l in an d a S am u ra i w a r r i o r " ( " a n d you c a n ' t b e a t t h a t , " h e a d d s ) .

D a r th V ad er i s in d e e d l i k e b o th S a u ro n an d S aru m an , b u t I w ou ld te n d to l e a n h im to w a rd t h e Sarum an s i d e s im p ly b e ­c a u s e we h a v e n ' t m et t h e G a l a c t i c E m peror y e t : I w ould g u e s st h a t t h e " S a u ro n " r o l e i s a l r e a d y t a k e n . The i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f h i s name a s "D ark F a th e r " i s i n t e r e s t i n g ; I h a v e a l s o s e e n i t i n t e r p r e t e d a s "D ark I n v a d e r " o r "D e a th I n v a d e r . " P ro b a b ly a l o t o f d i f f e r e n t , u n c o n s c io u s e le m e n ts w en t i n t o nam ing t h e c h a r a c t e r , a s th e y d id f o r C .S . L ew is w hen h e was nam ing h i s d e v i l s .

The o t h e r c h a r a c t e r p a r a l l e l s seem a b i t f a r - f e t c h e d .I p e r s o n a l l y d o n ' t f i n d much o f A ra g o rn i n Han S o lo ( y e s , i t ' s H an , n o t H a n s ! ) , an d I f i n d P r i n c e s s L e ia d e l i g h t f u l l y u n iq u e : i n a l l o f T o lk ie n t h e r e i s no one l i k e h e r . F u r t h e r ­m ore I m u s t c o n f e s s t h a t I s e e n o th in g E lv i s h i n e i t h e r T h re e p io o r C hew bacca th e W ookie.

STAR WARS and LORD OF THE RINGS a r e b o th w o n d e r fu l w orks and I lo v e them b o th ( I h a v e s e e n STAR WARS e i g h t and a h a l f t im e s now, an d r e a d th e RINGS so m e th in g l i k e tw e n ty t i m e s ) , and o f c o u r s e t h e r e a r e s i m i l a r i t i e s . B u t I t h i n k t h a t th e d i f f e r e n c e s a r e a l s o q u i t e c l e a r — an d sh o u ld b e e n jo y e d and a p p r e c i a t e d .

P a r t i n g n o te : d o e s an y b o d y rem em ber a n a r t i c l e way b a c k i n one o f t h e o ld M y th lo r e s o r T o lk ie n J o u r n a ls ( I t h i n k i t may h a v e b e e n M y th lo re t 1) i n w h ich th e p o s s i b i l i t y o f a m ov ie w as d i s c u s s e d ? The Tim K irk c a r to o n i n a r e c e n t M yth - p r i n t w as r e p r i n t e d fro m i t , I b e l i e v e . Anyway, i n t h i s a r t i c l e i t w as s u g g e s te d t h a t A le c G u in n e ss sh o u ld p la y th e r o l e o f G a n d a lf . W e ll , R a lp h B a k sh i may b e d o in g THE LORD OF THE RINGS i n a n im a t io n , b u t A le c G u in n e s s s t i l l g o t t o p la y G a n d a l f . . . s o r t o f . . .

W en d e ll W agner, J r . C olum bus, Ohio

W h ile r e a d in g D av id M u rp h y 's l e t t e r i n Mythlore 18 on th e re s e m b la n c e b e tw e e n M id d le E a r th an d E u ro p ean h i s t o r y an d g e o g ra p h y , I was rem in d ed o f a n o t io n I h a v e had f o r some t im e o f t h e r e s e m b la n c e b e tw e e n t h e h i s t o r y o f Gondor and th e h i s t o r y o f I s r a e l . I n b o th c a s e s , a " c h o s e n " p e o p le r e t u r n from e x i l e t o fo rm a kingdom w h ich so o n b r e a k s up i n t o a N o r th e rn an d S o u th e rn k ingdom . In th e l a r g e r k ingdom th e d e s c e n d a n ts o f th e o r i g i n a l r o y a l l i n e e v e n t u a l l y d i e o u t , w h i le i n t h e s m a l le r k ingdom th e r o y a l l i n e c o n t in u e s e v e n a f t e r t h e end o f t h e k ingdom . F i n a l l y , a d e s c e n d a n t o f th e r o y a l l i n e comes o u t o f o b s c u r i t y t o b e , i n some s e n s e , a k in g and a s a v i o u r . N o te t h a t t h i s s e t s up th e e q u a t io n " A ra g o rn = C h r i s t " . I n a n o th e r s e n s e , F ro d o , A ra g o rn an d G a n d a lf a r e a l l C h r i s t f i g u r e s . N o te a l s o t h a t th e F e l lo w s h ip s e t s o u t o n C h r is tm a s and th e R ing i s d e s t ro y e d on a p p r o x im a te ly E a s t e r . T h is a l s o s e t s up a s a r e l a t i o n ­s h ip "The Silmarillion — The O ld T e s ta m e n t" and "The Lord of the Rings = The New T e s ta m e n t" . (Many h a v e n o te d th e r e s e m b la n c e b e tw e e n th e s t y l e s o f t h e f i r s t two b o o k s .)

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When I w e n t to s e e t h e m ov ie o f The Lord of the Rings,I had m ore c o n f id e n c e i n R a lp h B a k sh i th a n G len G oodK night ( ju d g in g from h i s r e v ie w o f W iz a rd s ) a p p a r e n t l y h a d . To ju d g e from h i s b e s t w ork (H eavy Traffic i s s t i l l p ro b a b ly h i s b e s t m o v ie ) , B a k sh i i s a g e n iu s o f some p e r v e r t e d s o r t , an d w h i le h e m ig h t e i t h e r do j u s t i c e t o t h e book o r th o ­r o u g h ly m ess i t u p , he w ou ld n o t j u s t t r i v i a l i z e i t , a s m ere c o m p e te n t workm en l i k e R a n k in and B a ss d id to The Hobbit, U n f o r t u n a t e l y , I w as r a t h e r d i s a p p o in t e d w i th t h e r e s u l t . G r a n te d , t h e r e w as p r o b a b ly no way f o r B a k sh i t o g e t money t o m ake th e m o v ie an y l o n g e r , b u t i n s e v e r a l w ays he c o u ld h a v e made b e t t e r u s e o f w h a t t im e h e d id h a v e . H is t e c h n iq u e f o r i n t e g r a t i n g l i v e a c t i o n w i th a n im a t io n i n b a t t l e s c e n e s w as v e r y w e l l d o n e , b u t h e a p p e a re d to b e s o f a s c i n a t e d w i th i t t h a t m o st o f t h e f i g h t s e q u e n c e s w en t on f a r to o lo n g . On th e o t h e r h a n d , h i s e x p o s i t i o n s c e n e s i n t r o d u c in g p l a c e s and c h a r a c t e r s w e re so t r u n c a t e d t h a t som eone u n f a m i l i a r w i th th e b o o k w ou ld p ro b a b ly b e l o s t much o f t h e t im e . Some p l a c e s w h e re l i v e a c t i o n and a n im a t io n w e re i n t e g r a t e d , a s i n t h e s c e n e a t "T he P ra n c in g P o n y " , w e r e n ' t e v e n i n t e r e s t i n g b u t j u s t d i s c o n c e r t i n g .

G e n e r a l ly t h e a n im a t io n w as v e r y w e l l d o n e in d e e d , a v o id in g b o th th e c a r to o n i s h n e s s o f W iz a rd s an d th e w ax - w o rk r e a l i s m o f th e H i ld e b r a n d t b r o t h e r s ' d r a w in g s .B i lb o , B o ro m ir , G im li and a l l t h e E lv e s seem ed p a r t i c u ­l a r l y w e l l d o n e . G a ld a l f s h o u ld p e r h a p s h a v e b e e n a b i t m ore d i g n i f i e d an d A ra g o rn a b i t l e s s ro u g h lo o k in g .Some p e o p le th o u g h t G ollum th e b e s t a c t e d o f t h e c h a r a c ­t e r s ( i n te rm s o f v o i c e , I m e a n ) , b u t I th o u g h t h e s h o u ld h a v e b e e n t r e a t e d m ore a s d e s p e r a t e and p i t i f u l r a t h e r th a n w i t t y an d r e s o u r c e f u l . A m ore s u b t l e p o in t i s t h a t F ro d o was d raw n and sp o k e n a s th o u g h he w as i n h i s e a r l y tw e n t i e s an d M erry a n d P ip p in a s th o u g h th e y

w e re t e e n a g e r s , w h e re a s a c t u a l l y F ro d o w as a b o u t 35 and th e y o u n g e r h o b b i t s i n t h e i r e a r l y t w e n t i e s i n te rm s o f human m a t u r i t y . (1 am a ssu m in g t h a t h o b b i t s m a tu re tw o - t h i r d s a s f a s t a s humans s i n c e h o b b i t s come o f a g e a t 3 3 .) F i n a l l y , t h e r e w e re a c o u p le o f c a r e l e s s m i s t a k e s .S arum an w as s e v e r a l t im e s c a l l e d Am m an and I s e n g a r d w as p ro n o u n c e d w i th a lo n g " i " .

I w o u ld b e i n t e r e s t e d t o know why J o e C h r i s t o p h e r 's I n k l i n g s B io g ra p h y i s u s u a l ly c u t i n l e n g t h e v e r y i s s u e ( a s i s c l e a r from s e n te n c e s s a y in g "S e e e ls e w h e re i n B ib l io g r a p h y " w hen t h e r e f e r e n c e g iv e n d o e s n o t a p p e a r e l s e w h e r e i n th e B ib l i o g r a p h y ) . I t h i n k th e B ib l io g r a p h y i s m ore i n t e r e s t i n g th a n some o f t h e a r t i c l e s .

The Inklings Bibliography has been c u t v e r y little , and that with Mr. Christopher' s consent. It has been divided between issues because we wanted to publish as many of the articles in our backlog as possible.

Paul Torongo 27628 B a rk le y L iv o n ia , M ic h ig a n 48154

[A b o u t] t h e m o v ie by B a k s h i: [ a t ] th e b e g in n in g , t h ea n im a t io n w as a b i t r o u g h , b u t t h i s so o n d i s a p p e a r e d a s t h e f i lm w e n t o n . The l i t t l e h i s t o r y I th o u g h w as e x c e l ­l e n t . The b a c k g ro u n d s o f th e S h i r e w e re b e a u t i f u l , b u t i n t h e b e g in n in g o f t h e f i lm t h e c h a r a c t e r s k e p t w a lk in g so c l o s e t o t h e c a m era t h a t a l l we c o u ld s e e w e re t h e i r l e g s I T h e re w e re a few i n t e r e s t i n g p a r t s a ro u n d h e r e , su c h a s S am 's " D o n 't l e t 'im t u r n me i n t o a n y th in g u n n a t u r a l ! " T hen G a n d a lf g o e s o f f to s e e S aru m an , and t h i s i s w h a t m ade me m ad: t h e c h a r a c t e r s k e p t r e f e r r i n g t o h im a sA ru m an !! A l l a n g e r a s i d e , why w as S a ru m a n 's c lo a k re d ?

Now w hen th e h o b b i t s l e a v e t h e S h i r e , we s e e my f a v o r i t e n a s t i e s , t h e N S zg u ll E x c e l l e n t l y d o n e , w i th b e a u t i f u l l y a c c e n t i n g b a c k g ro u n d m u sic ! Now i n B re e th e y s t a r t e d u s in g h u m a n s /a n im a t io n f i l m , w h ic h a t t h i s p o i n t d i d n ' t lo o k so h o t . A ra g o rn seem ed ( t o m e, anyw ay) to b e to o much l i k e C onan. On W e a th e r to p t h e hum an s/ a n im a t io n w as u s e d , t h i s t im e v e r y w e l l , to show th e N a z g u l 's n e g a t i v i t y . O kay, so f a r so g o o d , B a k sh i h a s n ' t d o n e a n y th in g to o a w f u l . B u t . . . L e g o l a s . . .w as th e w o r s t E l f I h ad e v e r s e e n ! A c r o s s - e y e d t w i t ! . . .S k ip p in g t o M o r ia , I t h i n k B a k s h i 's c a v e rn s w e re g r e a t .And f o r t h e f i r s t t im e we s e e o r e s . V ery n i c e . . . .

The b a t t l e s c e n e s w e re v e r y w e l l d o n e , b u t no o n e e v e r b l e d , t h a t i s , u n t i l G a n d a lf came an d r i p p e d o u t o r c - b a c k s i n s lo w m o tio n .

A l l i n a l l , t h e f i lm w as q u i t e g ood .

Renee Haynes The G ard en F l a t 41 S p r i n g f i e l d Road

London NW8 OQJ E n g la n d

A bout C h a r le s W il l ia m s , h e and I c o n t r i b u t e d to Time and Tide i n th e 1 9 3 0 's an d th e l i t e r a r y e d i t o r , E l l i s R o b e r t s , i n i t i a t e d a s e r i e s o f s h o r t r e l i g i o u s e s s a y s o f w h ich C h a r le s w r o te o n e (He Cams Down From Heaven) an d I a n o th e r (P a n , Caesar and God), an d we m et a t a d in n e r f o r c o n t r i b u t o r s , and t h e r e g o t t o know o n e a n o th e r . He was a t a l l m an, w i th v e r y b r i g h t b l u e - g r e y e y e s , and a c u r io u s s o r t o f q u iv e r a b o u t h im , l i k e t h e a i r o v e r a r o a d on a v e r y h o t d a y . I do n o t know w h e th e r i t w as p h y s i c a l , o r a s o r t o f p a r a p s y c h o lo g i c a l im p re s s io n o r p r o j e c t i o n , o f o n e 's a w a re n e s s o f h i s i n t e n s e i n t e l l e c t u a l e x c i t e m e n t - i n t e n s e and c o n t in u o u s . He had a p a s s io n f o r M i l t o n 's e p i c w h ic h I d id n o t s h a r e , and h e o n c e s p e n t a n e n t i r e lu n c h t im e ( I S uppose h e m u st h a v e e a t e n a t i n t e r v a l s , b u t I d o n ' t r e c o l ­l e c t i t ! ) i n r e c i t i n g , by h e a r t , t h e f i r s t c a n to o f Para­dise Lost, to th e g r e a t i n t e r e s t o f t h e l i t t l e B lo o m sb u ry r e s t a u r a n t a t w h ic h we had m e t! An i n t e r e s t w h e t te d by th e f a c t t h a t h e h ad a n e x t r e m e ly s t r o n g Cockney a c c e n t , i n ­c r e a s in g u n d e r t h e s t r e s s o f h i s e n th u s ia s m ! I w as n o t c o n v e r t e d .

27

I l i k e d h i s poem s a n d h i s s e r i o u s w o rk m ore th a n h i s n o v e l s , w h ic h g a v e me w h a t I c a n o n ly c a l l t r a n s c e n d e n t a l c r e e p s ! I p a r t i c u l a r l y e n jo y e d The Descent of the Dove a n d The Figure of Beatrice. I n t h e l a t e 1 9 3 0 's , I th o u g h t o f w r i t i n g a b o o k c o m p a rin g h i s poem s w i th t h o s e o f R i lk e a n d o f P a u l V a le r y , b e c a u s e I w as so much i n t r i g u e d by t h e f a c t t h a t a l l t h r e e o f them seem ed t o f e e l som e s o r t o f m y s t i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e i n m a th e m a t ic a l s y m b o ls ; b u t b e f o r e I c o u ld g e t v e r y f a r - I s h o u ld h a v e h ad t o s tu d y German b e f o r e g e t t i n g down t o R i l k e , whom I h ad o n ly r e a d i n t r a n s l a t i o n - t h e w ar b r o k e o u t , and e v e ry o n e w as s c a t t e r e d . My h u s b a n d , who c o u ld h a v e h e lp e d me w i th G erm an , w o rk ed i n t h e N o r th o f E n g la n d w i th th e C e n s o r s h ip , and th e n su c c e e d e d i n h i s e f f o r t s t o j o i n t h e Army. I w e n t w i th o u r two s m a l l s o n s t o . . . l i v e w i th my m o th e r a t B u r f o rd a n d C h a r le s w as e v a c u a te d w i th th e O x fo rd U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s t o O x fo rd ( b u t w e n t home e v e r y w eekend t o h i s w i f e , who lo v e d L ondon a s much a s h e d i d , an d w o u ld n o t l e a v e i t . She i s t h e M ic h a l o f t h e p o e m s .)

I d id s e e him o n c e o r tw ic e i n O x fo rd , b u t t h e b o o k p r o j e c t h ad t o b e a b a n d o n e d ( q u i t e a p a r t f ro m t h e q u e s t io n o f R i l k e , no p u b l i s h e r w ould h a v e c o n s id e r e d t h a t k in d o f boo k d u r in g th e p a p e r s h o r t a g e , a n d X h ad v a r i o u s War odd jo b s u n t i l I g o t f u l l t im e w o rk w i t h t h e B r i t i s h C o u n c il i n J a n u a ry '4 1 . )

. . . I had h o ped we m ig h t a l l m e e t a g a in a f t e r t h e w a r , b u t a s you know , C h a r le s d ie d i n 1 9 4 5 , o f a h e r n i a . . . .

Margaret L. Carter 1 0 439 L en C o u r t L a k e s id e , C a l i f o r n i a 92040

[T h e] p o e m . . . " S t a r C a l l s " e v o k e s t h e q u e s t o f J o y a s so o f t e n d e s c r i b e d by L ew is an d a l s o re m in d s me o f t h e q u e s t f o r th e u n a t t a i n a b l e l o s t h o m elan d d e s c r i b e d so p o ig n a n t ly i n some o f L o v e c r a f t ' s D u n s a n ia n t a l e s — a p e r f e c t e x a m p le o f a h a r d -h e a d e d a t h e i s t who y e t f e e l s t h e l u r e o f t h e S o u rc e fro m w h ic h we a r e e s t r a n g e d .

As f o r " M s ." , I d o n ' t t h i n k women n e e d t o l o s e m a r i t a l d e s i g n a t i o n s ; I t h i n k men n e e d t o g a in th em . ( I 'm b e g in n in g to s e e som e s e n s e i n L e w is ' v ie w o f r e l a t i o n s b e tw e e n th e s e x e s . ) The i d e a l w o u ld b e to a d o p t th e a r c h a i c "Goodm an" a n d "G o o d w ife" t o i d e n t i f y m a r r ie d p e o p le . W e l l , s o c i e t y w o u ld n e v e r go f o r i t . . . .

R u th B erm an 5620 E d g e w a te r B o u le v a rdM in n e a p o l i s , M in n e s o ta 55417

I n #16 P a u l H. K o ch e r a s k e d i f t h e r e w e re e x a m p le s o f B i b l i c a l i n f l u e n c e on T o l k i e n ' s n a m e - in v e n t io n s , a s i d e fro m G i l g a l . The o n ly l e t t e r co m m enting (Ju d y C o l e 's i n # 17) r e a d th e q u e s t i o n a s a s k in g f o r o t h e r s o u r c e s , an d c i t e d M a lo ry . A p p a r e n t ly no o n e who r e a l l y know s H ebrew h a s a n s w e re d .

I know o n ly a s m a t t e r i n g o f i n d i v i d u a l w o rd s i n H eb rew , and I h a v e d i f f i c u l t y lo o k in g up w o rd s i n t h e H ebrew a l p h a b e t , s o I h a v e n ' t a t t e m p te d a n y f u l l c h e c k o f T o l k i e n ' s nam es i n t h a t s e n s e . H o w ev er, I ' v e n o t i c e d th e f o l lo w in g s i m i l a r i t i e s : A b ra h a m 's M ount M o ria h( a c c e n te d on t h e s e c o n d s y l l a b l e ) an d T o l k i e n ' s Moun­t a i n s o f M o r ia ( a c c e n te d o n t h e f i r s t s y l l a b l e ) ; Tom B o m b a d i l 's E lv i s h n am e, I a w a in b e n -A d a r s u g g e s t s " b e n " (H ebrew f o r s o n o f ) , a l t h o u g h A dar i s o n ly t h e nam e o f a m onth i n H eb rew , and I d o n ' t t h i n k t h e r e i s an y s u c h w ord i n H ebrew a s I a r v a i n ( a s i t w o u ld p r o b a b ly h a v e to b e i f i t w e re a n y th in g i n H eb rew , o r p e r h a p s Y a r v a in ) , a s i f t h e E lv i s h " o l d e s t , f a t h e r l e s s " c o u ld b e c o n s t r u e d a s " o l d e s t , s e n o f no o n e " ; " b a r u c h " m eans " b l e s s e d " , a s i m i l a r i t y i r o n i c a l l y i n a p p r o p r i a t e t o t h e D w arf b a t t l e c r y "B a ru k K h a z a d l" ( I d o n ' t t h i n k t h e r e i s a " k h a z a d " i n H ebrew — a l th o u g h " k h a z a k " m eans " c o u r a g e " ) ; t h e E lv i s h " E l" r o o t a p p a r e n t l y m e a n in g " s t a r " and H ebrew

E l " , a "g o d " o r name o f God (a r o o t fo u n d i n s u c h nam es a s M ic h a e l o r J o h n R o n a ld R e u e l ) . P ro b a b ly m o s t o f t h e s e s i m i l a r i t i e s a r e c o i n c i d e n t a l . T hey d o n ' t s u g g e s t an y p a t t e r n o f d e f i n i t e i n f l u e n c e .

R e: D av id M u rp h y 's l e t t e r o n T o l k i e n ' s u s e o fr a c i a l s t e r e o t y p e s — I d o n ' t t h i n k i t ' s b e e n p o i n t e d o u t t h a t o n o n e p o i n t T o lk ie n c a r e f u l l y p la y e d a g a i n s t t h e s t e r e o t y p e . The b lo n d , A r y a n - l i k e R o h ir r im a r e a

l e s s e r b r e e d " t h a n th e d a r k D u n e d a in .

I t i s s a d t o n o t e t h a t o n e l i n e o f L ee S p e t h 's r e v ie w i s o u t - o f - d a t e : R u th P lu m ly Thompson i s n o ta l i v e . S h e d i e d A p r i l 6 , 1 9 7 6 , a t t h e a g e o f 8 4 .

P i e r r e H. B e ru b e S t . J o h n s b u r y , V erm ont

I h a v e m i s l a i d t h e r e f e r e n c e , b u t s e v e r a l e d i t i o n s ag o a r e a d e r w r o te i n t o e n q u i r e t h e s o u r c e o f t h e l i n e s ( r e f e r r i n g t o t h e M yth o f E v o lu t io n ) q u o te d by C. S . L ew is i n h i s e s s a y "T he F u n e r a l o f a G r e a t M y th " :

I t h a s g r e a t a l l i e sI t s f r i e n d s a n d p r o p a g a n d a , p a r t y c r i e sAnd b i l g e , an d M a n 's i n c o r r i g i b l e m in d .

T h is i s a p a ro d y ( v e r y l i k e l y by L e w is h i m s e l f ) o f t h e c o n c lu d in g l i n e s o f W o r d s w o r th 's s o n n e t a d d r e s s e d to t h e g r e a t H a i t i a n r e v o l u t i o n a r y T o u s s a i n t L 'O u v e r tu r e :

. . . th o u h a s t g r e a t a l l i e sThy f r i e n d s a r e e x u l a t i o n s , a g o n i e s ,And l o v e , a n d m a n 's u n c o n q u e r a b le m in d .

A n n e t te H a r p e r 's w o rk i s f a r an d aw ay t h e b e s t T o lk ie n i l l u s t r a t i o n I h a v e e v e r s e e n . Can s h e n o t f i n d a p u b l i s h e r ? W hat a m a g n i f i c e n t T o lk i e n c a l e n d a r t h i s w o u ld m ak e , a n d w h a t a n im p ro v e m e n t o n t h e e x e c r a b l e H i l d e b r a n d t s !

Does a n y o n e know o f a good c r i t i c a l w o rk o n E . R. E d d is o n ? T h is m a g n i f i c e n t a u t h o r h a s b e e n s a d l y n e g l e c t e d , d e s p i t e b e i n g s e c o n d o n ly t o T o lk ie n h i m s e l f i n m o d ern r o m a n t ic e p i c . H is o n e m a jo r f la w i s t h a t h e g l o r i f i e s m a r t i a l a d v e n t u r e f o r i t s own s a k e : h i s h e r o e s a r eB o r o m i r 's , n o t F a r a m i r 's . P e r h a p s t h e tw o e x c e l l e n t i l l u ­s t r a t i o n s i n t h e l a s t M y th lo re w i l l m ark a t u r n i n g p o i n t .

T h re e p a r a l l e l s to B e o rh tn o th B e o r h th e lm 's s o n , w h o se e x c e s s o f c h i v a l r y l e d h i s f o l l o w e r s t o t h e i r d e a t h s :R o la n d a t R o n c e s v a l l e s d e l a y i n g t o b lo w h i s h o r n t i l l t h e b a t t l e w as l o s t . P r i n c e I g o r l e a d i n g h i s h o s t i n a g l o r i o u s b u t doomed r a i d a g a i n s t t h e K um ans, h a v in g f a i l e d t o c o o r d i n a t e w i th h i s b r o t h e r p r i n c e s . E a rn u r L a s t - K in g t a k i n g up t h e t r e a c h e r o u s c h a l l e n g e o f Angm ar an d r i d i n g t o h i s d e a t h .

We h a v e b e e n d e lu g e d b y c o n c o r d a n c e s an d b i b l i o g r a ­p h i e s t o T o lk i e n . W here i s t h e s c h o l a r who w i l l g i v e u s a n annotated T o lk i e n , t r a c i n g t h e p l o t e l e m e n t s , t h e th e m e s , a n d o f t e n t h e v e r y w o rd s t o t h e i r s o u r c e s ?T o l k i e n ' s t r iu m p h w as t o d i g e s t an d u n i f y a n d t r a n s m u te n e a r l y e v e r y t h i n g i n m y th o r e p i c t h a t h a d p r e c e d e d h im .L ik e a good m e d i e v a l i s t h e s o u g h t n o t t o o r i g i n a t e , b u t t o r e - t e l l ; an d h i s m a s t e r p i e c e c a s t s a l i g h t on a l l t h a t h a d g o n e b e f o r e . We who h a v e n o t h i s e r u d i t i o n m is s m o st o f t h i s , a n d a s o u r c e - b o o k w o u ld b e a n i n v a l u a b l e h e l p .

Mythlore . . . i s a s goo d a s e v e r ; I w is h y o u e v e r y c o n t in u e d s u c c e s s .

28

Gord Wilson 1248 Humboldt S t r e e t B e llin g h a m , Wash. 98225

M ich ael H ayk in ’ s c l a r i f y i n g n o te on The Place o f The Lion was q u it e a p p r e c ia te d , and th e e x p la n a t io n he o f fe r e d . We would c e r t a in ly n o t want r e a d e r s put o f f from W ill ia m s , a s a re s tu d e n ts o f h ig h e r c r i t ­ic ism from th e G o sp e ls . " G n o stic ism ," a s Henry Chadwick p o in t s o u t in The E a r ly Church ( P e l ic a n , c f . pp 3 4 ) , was a c a t c h - a l l phrase r e f e r r in g to a v a r ie t y o f t h e o s o p h ic a l , h e r e t i c a l a d a p ta t io n s o f C h r is t ia n i t y . As m ost G n o st ic s c la im ed f o r them­s e l v e s a s e c r e t know ledge or p r iv a t e r e v e l a t io n , th ey d i f f e r e d l i t t l e from th e p r o l i f e r a t io n o f a n c­i e n t m a g ica l c u l t s , each w ith i t s own i n i t i a t i o n s and e s o t e r i c know ledge f o r i t s a d e p ts . T h is was in marked c o n t r a s t to th e e a r ly C h r is t ia n 's f r e e and unguarded p ro c la m a tio n o f "the Good News." Theo­l o g i c a l l y , G n o st ic s ten d ed to o v e r - s p i r i t u a l i s e r e ­l i g i o n , a d o p tin g th e P la t o n ic s u p e r io r i t y o f th e s o u l over th e body, f r e q u e n t ly r e le g a t in g th e body to m erely e s o t e r i c s i g n i f i c a n c e .

I a g re e w ith H aykin t h a t Anthony i s q u it e ob­v io u s ly and sim p ly a c o n t r o v e r s i a l i s t . What o c ­cu rs betw een him and Mr. R ich ard son i s s im p ly con­tr o v e r s y . But f o r W ill ia m s , i t was c o n tr o v e r sy o f a se m in a l k in d , b etw een th e G n o stic v ie w o f th e body a s m erely a means o f d iv in a t io n , and th e s a c ­ram en ta l v iew t h a t a c c e p ts th e body a s i t s e l f , and good b ecau se o f th e " tru e g n o s is" o f th e In ca rn a ­t io n . The p h rase " tru e g n o s is" i s C lem e n t's o f A le x a n d r ia . I t r e f e r s , in C hadw ick 's w ord s, to th e s p i r i t u a l know ledge g iv e n "to th o se humble enough to w alk w ith God a s a c h i ld w ith h i s f a t h e r ."

W illia m s' n e g le c t e d v ie w o f "the in d ex o f th e body" i s th e more am azing in l i g h t o f th e modern ten d en cy to eq u a te th e s p i r i t u a l w ith th e non­m a te r ia l . He r e s t o r e s th e sa c r a m e n ta l, f i g u r a l v iew o f n a tu re by ju x ta p o s in g th e human body w ith geography (n o t u n lik e B la k e 's E m a n a tio n s), in con­t in u a l co rresp o n d en ces b etw een m a th e m a tic a lly p re ­c i s e form s and s e v e r e ly d e f in e d dogma, and in By­zan tiu m , where "the s t r e e t s r e p e a t th e sound o f th e T hrone."

W illia m s r e s i s t s th e G n o stic ten d en cy to d iv in ­i s e th rough th e f l e s h . In h i s l i f e - l o n g a tte m p t to fo rm u la te a th e o lo g y o f rom an tic lo v e , h i s "K ierke- g a a rd ia n in t e g r i t y " i s c l e a r ; he d oes n o t " s p i r i t ­u a l is e " th e body. " I t ' s no good t r y in g to be more r e l i g i o u s th an God," he once w r o te . In m a rr ia g e , h is s e x u a l e t h i c was "play and p r a y , b u t on th e w h o le , do n o t pray w h ile you a re p la y in g ." The p a tte r n i s one o f r e v e la t io n ; more th an t h a t , o f s u p e r f lu i t y ; more th an t h a t , o f en joym en t. He co u ld c e le b r a te D. H. L aw ren ce's d is c o v e r y o f " f e e l ­in g w ith th e b lo o d ” a s he co u ld th e e c s t a s i e s o f S t T h eresa . To W ill ia m s , l i f e i s a l l o f a p i e c e , and m a te r ia l c r e a t io n perhaps u n j u s t i f i e d , b u t s e n su ­o u s , lu s h and ab ou n d in g ly good . I t i s h ere he lo c k s horns w ith modern day G n o s t ic s . S a t i r i s i n g V ic t o r ­ia n s t a n d - o f f i s h n e s s , he once w rote on th e "scandal" o f th e In c a r n a t io n ; "Handle me and s e e ." R e p u ls iv e

m a te r ia lism I Y et t h a t i s how th e D iv in e Word t a l k e d . "

"The p r ic e o f h ea v en , h e l l or e a r th i s s i m i l ­a r ," sa y s th e S k e le to n in Thomas Cranmer o f Canter­bury, "alw ays a broken h e a r t , som etim es a broken n eck ." G n o s t ic s au c o n t r a ir e , i t i s c l e a r ly in t h i s w orld t h a t we l i v e and more and have our b e­in g , in t h i s w orld t h a t we have to w ork, to b eh old th e B e lo v e d , to exchan ge c o u r te s y and lo v e .

Mary Kay Bond 1918 MarcS a l in a , Kansas 67401

Re; "A N ote on C h a r les W ill ia m s ’ The place o fThe Lion

I'm in d e b ted to M ich ael H aykin f o r sp u r r in g me to some in te r e s - t in g d ig g in g . H is in t e r p r e t a t io n d id n ' t r in g tr u e to me— w hich m eant I had to th in k and r e re a d to s e e what I th o u g h t!

F i r s t , o f c o u r s e , th e r e q u e s t f o r S t , I g n a t iu s ' t r e a t i s e a g a in s t th e G n o st ic s i s a p lo y . I t n e a t ly g e t s th e c o n v e r s a t io n begun on th e r i g h t t r a c k , d oes n o t o b l ig a t e Anthony to buy a ( n o n e x is te n t ) book, nor commit him to a to o -d e e p d i s c u s s io n w ith an unknown p erso n .

R ic h a r d so n 's "grave" r e p ly d oes n o t im ply t h a t he th in k s su ch a t r e a t i s e e x i s t s , b u t th a t he ta k e s th e su b jec t s e r i o u s l y . He can n ot s e l l what he d o e s n 't h a v e , b ut im p lie s th e r e i s more to be s a id — perhaps on b o th s i d e s . R e c o l l e c t Anthony has j u s t had an e x p e r ie n c e o f th e b a la n c in g i n t e l l i g e n c e o f th e e a g le . T h is r e a c t io n o f R ic h a r d so n 's makes a good im p r e ss io n . He may n o t be an a l l y , b u t w i l l n o t be an enemy.

T h is a l l s a id — th e r e are in t e r e s t i n g im p lic a ­t io n s f o r th e re a d e r who knows a l i t t l e ( I know only a l i t t l e ) ab ou t I g n a t iu s . H is surnam e, Theo- p h o r u s , m eaning God-borne or G od -b earer , a g a in e c h ­o es A n th on y 's e x p e r ie n c e s w it h /w it h in th e e a g le .H is f i g h t a g a in s t th e D o c e t i s t s , who would say C h r is t had no r e a l b od y, no p h y s ic a l p a s s io n , i s A n th on y 's s t r u g g le w ith D am aris, who p la y s w ith id e a s a s w ith a d eck o f card s and d oes n o t know Abe­la r d i s r e a l . H is method o f d e a l in g w ith th e h eresy i s a l s o A n th o n y 's— p e r s o n a l and h ie r a r c h ic a l a u th ­o r i t y .

But h is t h i r s t f o r martyrdom i s R ic h a r d so n 's .He t h e r e fo r e com bines some im p ortan t f e a t u r e s

o f b oth th e young men and i s , t h e r e f o r e , a p e r f e c t m eetin g ground f o r them.

Mary M. S to lz e n b a c h

, . .And someone e l s e sh a r e s my p r e fe r e n c e fo r " M is tr e s s ," a s our c o l o n ia l a n c e s to r s u sed i t , in ­s t e a d o f t h a t a b o r t io n "Muzzz!" I t i s a l s o ob­v io u s t h a t b u s in e s s l e t t e r s n eed a new s a lu t a t io n to r e p la c e "Gentlemen" and "Dear S i r s ." I am s t r o n g ly in fa v o r o f " G e n tle fo lk ;" b ut th e y w i l l u nd ou b ted ly come up w ith some h o rro r in s t e a d . ("Dear G e n t le p e r so n s"?)

B u t D o n 't S h u t th e D o o r

On Sunday and Monday, A p r il 1 and 2 , CBS T e le ­v i s i o n w i l l show an anim ated v e r s io n o f The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, a j o in t p ro d u c tio n o f th e E p isc o p a l Radio-TV F ou n d ation and th e C h ild r e n 's T e le v is io n Workshop ( o f Sesame s tr e e t fa m e ). David C o n n e ll, V ice P r e s id e n t fo r P ro d u c tio n f o r th e CTW, has announced t h a t i f th e sp o n so r i s p le a se d and th e r a t in g s are h ig h , work w i l l b e g in on ano­th e r o f th e N arnia s t o r i e s .

S tay tuned to f in d o u t w heth er N arnia s e l l s enough a i r fr e s h e n e r and c o ld remedy to be worthy o f co n tin u ed e x i s t e n c e on th e sm a ll s c r e e n .