06-25-2002, 01:43 AM | #1 |
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Hemingway and Tolkien
One of my friends and I had this discussion comparing Tolkien and Hemingway. She says that Hemingway is better, and I say that Tolkien is better. She's never read any Tolkien, and I've only read one Hemingway short story (The Big Two-Hearted River). So I was hoping that I could get some input from people here who have read both Hemingway and Tolkien. What are your thoughts about the two authors?
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06-25-2002, 12:54 PM | #2 |
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Well first of all, their writing styles are completely different. I don't think there's any point in comparing the two. Hemingway's prose possesses a certain terse simplicity. Tolkien writes in a far more classical register, in both dialogue and narrative, and is more descriptive. Hemingway is studied because his writing marks the transitional stage into a new era of American prose composition; Tolkien kept to more traditional, fiercely English ways.
It boils down to a matter of personal preference, I suppose.
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06-25-2002, 12:59 PM | #3 | |
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While their styles are vastly different, the intent of both authors are similar - they both just wanted to tell a good story. The strongest similarity between Hemingway and Tolkien can be demonstrated in quotes such as these:
Quote:
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06-25-2002, 02:00 PM | #4 |
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I agree w/ IP, but as far as which I prefer, of course it's Tolkien, although I do enjoy the little Hemingway I've read.
A question: Why is it that when we read and discuss Hemingway in school, the teacher always talks about what everything represents, if he, like Tolkein, did not write allegory? |
06-25-2002, 10:45 PM | #5 |
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Maybe he wrote in allegory and didn't realize it. I know that "The Big Two-Hearted River" was full of it.
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06-26-2002, 12:21 AM | #6 | |
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Well to quote Tolkien once again:
Quote:
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06-26-2002, 01:50 AM | #7 |
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Your friend is being silly. There is no way to compare the two, let alone establish superiority. They have completely different styles. Tolkien's style is very rich and detailed and he uses that to his advantage. Hemmingway is very terse and clean. I find him almost minimalist (I'm using the term in a general way, not in the artsy definition that a professional critic would). And he does that very well.
They make different demands on the reader. It comes down to personal preference. |