Jan. 20th, 2021 01:38 pm
Progress on The Hobbit, Part 1
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bunnybooI'm not even an official page in the book, but I have to talk about the small author's note in my edition. It just perfectly sets the tone for what's to come.
"This is a story of long ago. At that time the languages and letters were quite different from ours of today... (2) Orc is not an English word...Orc is the hobbits' form of the name given at that time to these creatures... Runes were old letters originally used for cutting or scratching on wood, stone, or metal, and so were thin and angular. At the time of this tale only the Dwarves made regular use of them, especially for private or secret records. Their runes are in this book represented by English runes, which are known now to few people." (I)
Presenting this as a historical account, introducing linguistic concepts in a way kids can understand, actually connecting the writing system of Middle-Earth to one of our own, introducing the runes and explaining them - it's all perfect! My childhood edition didn't have this, and I think it was a big loss.
"This is a story of long ago. At that time the languages and letters were quite different from ours of today... (2) Orc is not an English word...Orc is the hobbits' form of the name given at that time to these creatures... Runes were old letters originally used for cutting or scratching on wood, stone, or metal, and so were thin and angular. At the time of this tale only the Dwarves made regular use of them, especially for private or secret records. Their runes are in this book represented by English runes, which are known now to few people." (I)
Presenting this as a historical account, introducing linguistic concepts in a way kids can understand, actually connecting the writing system of Middle-Earth to one of our own, introducing the runes and explaining them - it's all perfect! My childhood edition didn't have this, and I think it was a big loss.