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dreamflowerThe first quote for today comes from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Sanctifying Myths: Understanding Middle-earth by Bradley J. Birzer.
I just love this particular quotation, because it shows a side of JRRT that we don’t hear very much about--his sense of humor!
“Tolkien’s jovial personality led him to thoroughly enjoy playing pranks. With C.S. Lewis, he once dressed as a polar bear for a non-costume party, wearing ‘an Icelandic sheepskin hearthrug’ and painting ‘his face white’. As Tolkien and Lewis walked home heavily covered in fur, they claimed convincingly, according to another Inkling, ‘to be two Russian bears’. At a lecture in the 1930s, Tolkien told his audience that leprechauns really existed and pulled out a green, four inch long shoe to prove it. Tolkien’s biographer Humphrey Carpenter noted that Tolkien would chase neighbors away dressed as ‘an Anglo-Saxon warrior complete with axe’. As an elderly man, Tolkien often included his false teeth when paying store clerks. And he loved the slapstick humor of the Marx brothers.”
You know, he might not be as offended as some might imagine by stories about Merry and Pippin playing practical jokes!
And of course, that brings me to a book I must not pass up in quoting: the simply titled Tolkien: A Biography, by the aforementioned Humphrey Carpenter.
In the chapter titled “Oxford Life”, Mr. Carpenter details a typical day in the life of the Professor, from his waking early in the morning, through his meals with his family and his dealings with his students and colleagues. Finally, the end of the day has arrived, and the family is a-bed.
“Edith has gone to bed and the house is in darkness when he gets home. He builds up the fire in the study stove and fills his pipe. He ought, he knows, to some more work on his lecture notes for the next morning, but he cannot resist taking from a drawer the half-finished manuscript of a story that he is writing to amuse himself and his children. It is probably, he suspects, a waste of time; certainly if he is going to devote any attention to this sort of thing it ought to be to The Silmarillion. But something draws him back night after night to this amusing little tale, at least it seems to amuse the boys. He sits down at the desk, fits a new relief nib to his dip pen (which he prefers to a fountain pen), unscrews the ink bottle, takes a sheet of old examination paper ( which still has a candidate’s essay on the Battle of Maldon on the back of it ), and begins to write: ‘When Bilbo opened his eyes, he wondered if he had; for it was just as dark as with them shut. No one was anywhere near him. Just imagine his fright.’
We will leave him now. He will be at his desk until half past one or two o’clock, or perhaps even later, with only the scratching of his pen to disturb the silence, while around him Northmoor Road sleeps.”
What a lovely, peaceful picture of our beloved Professor!
I just love this particular quotation, because it shows a side of JRRT that we don’t hear very much about--his sense of humor!
“Tolkien’s jovial personality led him to thoroughly enjoy playing pranks. With C.S. Lewis, he once dressed as a polar bear for a non-costume party, wearing ‘an Icelandic sheepskin hearthrug’ and painting ‘his face white’. As Tolkien and Lewis walked home heavily covered in fur, they claimed convincingly, according to another Inkling, ‘to be two Russian bears’. At a lecture in the 1930s, Tolkien told his audience that leprechauns really existed and pulled out a green, four inch long shoe to prove it. Tolkien’s biographer Humphrey Carpenter noted that Tolkien would chase neighbors away dressed as ‘an Anglo-Saxon warrior complete with axe’. As an elderly man, Tolkien often included his false teeth when paying store clerks. And he loved the slapstick humor of the Marx brothers.”
You know, he might not be as offended as some might imagine by stories about Merry and Pippin playing practical jokes!
And of course, that brings me to a book I must not pass up in quoting: the simply titled Tolkien: A Biography, by the aforementioned Humphrey Carpenter.
In the chapter titled “Oxford Life”, Mr. Carpenter details a typical day in the life of the Professor, from his waking early in the morning, through his meals with his family and his dealings with his students and colleagues. Finally, the end of the day has arrived, and the family is a-bed.
“Edith has gone to bed and the house is in darkness when he gets home. He builds up the fire in the study stove and fills his pipe. He ought, he knows, to some more work on his lecture notes for the next morning, but he cannot resist taking from a drawer the half-finished manuscript of a story that he is writing to amuse himself and his children. It is probably, he suspects, a waste of time; certainly if he is going to devote any attention to this sort of thing it ought to be to The Silmarillion. But something draws him back night after night to this amusing little tale, at least it seems to amuse the boys. He sits down at the desk, fits a new relief nib to his dip pen (which he prefers to a fountain pen), unscrews the ink bottle, takes a sheet of old examination paper ( which still has a candidate’s essay on the Battle of Maldon on the back of it ), and begins to write: ‘When Bilbo opened his eyes, he wondered if he had; for it was just as dark as with them shut. No one was anywhere near him. Just imagine his fright.’
We will leave him now. He will be at his desk until half past one or two o’clock, or perhaps even later, with only the scratching of his pen to disturb the silence, while around him Northmoor Road sleeps.”
What a lovely, peaceful picture of our beloved Professor!
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Date: 2009-03-19 03:04 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2009-03-19 04:20 pm (UTC)You ease my mind with regard to my sometimes regretted decision to make these two a bit humorous on the subject of beer (which I have done yet again in the new chapter). Thank you--you know, we can get so serious we overlook this kind of thing, and the fact that he and his friends spent a LOT of time in the Eagle and Child--and you know, if they'd wanted to discuss their work over cups of tea, they probably would have chosen someplace else! :)
As always, wonderful additions to both mood and knowledge!
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Date: 2009-03-20 03:02 am (UTC)And you are quite right about the Bird and Baby! *grin*
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Date: 2009-03-23 12:07 am (UTC)A young man wished to purchase a birthday gift for a lady friend. After much meditation and consideration he decided upon a pair of gloves as being appropriate. As his sister had some shopping to do, he accompanied her to a ladies wearing apparel shop. While he was selecting the gloves, his sister made a purchase of a pair of drawers for herself. In delivering the parcels that afternoon, by mistake the drawers were left at his sweetheart's door with a note as follows:--
Dear Velma: This little token is to remind you that I haven't forgotten your birthday. I didn't choose it because I thought you needed them, or because you haven't been in the habit of wearing them, or because we go out evenings. had it not been for my sister I would have gotten long ones but she says they are wearing the short ones--with one button. They are a very delicate colour, I know, but the lady clerk showed me a pair she had worn for three weeks, and they were scarcely soiled at all. How I wish I might put them on you for the first time! No doubt many other gentlemen's hands will touch them before I get a chance to see you again, but I hope you will think of me every time you put them on. I had the lady clerk try them on and they looked very neat on her. I did not know the exact size, but I should be capable of judging nearer than anyone else. When you put them on for the first time put a little powder in them and they will slip on easier. When you remove them blow on them a little before laying them away, as they will naturally be a little damp from wearing. Hoping that you will accept them in the same spirit in which they are given and that you will wear them to the dance Friday night, I remain,
Lovingly yours:
John
P.S. Note the number of times I will kiss the back of them in the coming year!
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