Quote by C.S. Lewis

The two things that came out clearly were the sense of reality in the background and the mythical value: the essence of myth being that it should have no taint of allegory to the maker and yet should incipient allegories to the reader.[C.S. Lewis writes to J.R.R. Tolkien on December 7, 1929]

The two things that came out clearly were the sense of reali

Summary

In this quote, C.S. Lewis reflects on the elements that he observed in J.R.R. Tolkien's writing. He identifies two key aspects: the presence of a realistic backdrop and the infusion of mythical value. Lewis believes that a myth should not appear allegorical to its creator, yet it should contain hidden allegorical meanings for the reader to discover. Essentially, he suggests that good mythologies should strike a balance between embodying a tangible reality and housing deeper symbolic layers that provoke imaginative thought and interpretation.

Topics

Myth Allegory Lord Of The Rings

By C.S. Lewis

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