The name: Middle-earth

[Arien the Maia]

Originally posted by Nurvingiel
Is this all part of Middle-earth?

What about the part to the east, as in east of Rhun, that looks like the rest of the continent?

If Middle-earth is the western bit of a continent, then it's not really 'middle' is it?

What geographic boundary does Middle-earth refer to?

If we go by today's continents, I guess I always refer to Middle Earth as being, Europe, Asia and Africa. But I got that from the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Tolkien...

[Nurvingiel]

But I thought Tolkein didn't intend any connections to the 'real world'.

[Arien the Maia]

Originally posted by Nurvingiel
But I thought Tolkein didn't intend any connections to the 'real world'.

I was always told that Lotr and the Sil took place in the same world as today but at a much earlier time...like 6000 years ago or something. But I'm not totally sure

[Nurvingiel]

Originally posted by Arien the Maia
I was always told that Lotr and the Sil took place in the same world as today but at a much earlier time...like 6000 years ago or something. But I'm not totally sure

I think it did happen like that, except he didn't want any direct links with the world of today, or associations related to geography.

But I am also confused.

I think it's time for a well-read person with a copy of "Letters" to step in here... er Rian? Someone?

[dragonlilly]

maybe middle earth is between the sundering seas, maybe its midgard, or maybe its the middle or at the center of the story. maybe middle earth is an attempt not to offend any one person from the east west south or north of real earth. maybe its only that simple? am i reaching too far?

[Nurvingiel]

I don't think you're reaching dragonlily, that's a good point. Maybe it's called Middle-earth because it represents something of each of us.

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