JRR Tolkien tells CS Lewis about his new character

JRR Tolkien tells CS Lewis about his new character #llotr #narnia #lionthewitchandthewardrobe #jrrtolkien #books #cslewis #comedy #funny #academia #history

[@tylergebar587]

Given how Tolkien felt about trees, I feel this must have been an honor.

[@KalonOrdona2]

This was my first thought as well!

[@laceandribbonsviolin]

Yes, agreed! And I think you meant honour 🤪

[@mayleespann4552]

I bet Lewis was delighted

[@tylergebar587]

"In all my works I take the part of trees as against all their enemies."

[@the_bookish_took5348]

My thoughts exactly

[@ledfloyd9035]

Tolkien would often spend long periods of time walking amongst trees. Just by reading his books you can easily tell how much he loved them. So for Tolkien to base and ent on someone I would take as an incredibly sincere compliment.

[@macehilmatecilof4140]

"Trees are fucking tight" - JRR Tolkien

[@danielawesome36]

@@macehilmatecilof4140 "Ayo bro🤨📸" - CS Lewis

[@francescafrancesca3554]

That is very lovely, and I think you are right.

[@Freexnme]

When CS Lewis died, Tolkien described it as feeling as if he was a tree that someone had taken an axe to.

[@PaulTheSkeptic]

Well I don't know much about Lewis except that he's kind of a Bible thumper and I understand he's kind of a bigot. Didn't really have a very modern or enlightened view of the differently colored people. But maybe he knew something about him that was good.

[@navigatoroftherealms8237]

It's entirely true that Treebeard was based on C.S. Lewis due to his loud, booming voice during lectures, which could be heard even down the hall at times. It was very common for Lewis to begin lectures immediately as he opened the door to his classroom, and not ending until he had put his coat on and walked out the door, followed by some of his students.

[@everydayuntilyoulikeit1501]

Some of his students? Were the rest paralysed by the volume of his lecturing?

[@navigatoroftherealms8237]

@@everydayuntilyoulikeit1501 The ones who cared and the ones that were his tutees.

[@reeven1721]

Comes in. Lectures for entire class. Does not elaborate. Leaves.

[@micahsnow346]

I love this 😂😂 that’s boss energy

[@Dachusblot]

I also heard that Tolkien would begin his classes by diving right into an epic recitation of "Beowulf" in Old English.

[@yaw613thewonder8]

Fun fact, the ents inspiration was from Macbeth, J r r Tolkien hated how the trees never actually come up dussinane hill like prophesied, and decided to include that in his book

[@predwin1998]

Just like how Éowyn (and Merry) forming as the loophole to the whole "no man can kill me" prophecy was designed because Tolkien was disappointed at how Macbeth handled the "no man of woman born can kill me" prophecy.

[@phoebegilliland8897]

I gather from these two comments that Tolkien was disappointed with Macbeth as a whole.

[@euansmith3699]

Macbeth looking out of his tower, "Ah, I see, Macduff hath disguised his troops with tree boughs, so that I might not know their true number." Saruman looking out of his tower, "WTF!!!!"

[@yaw613thewonder8]

@@phoebegilliland8897know I really wonder what would happen if Shakespeare and Tolkien met

[@phoebegilliland8897]

@@yaw613thewonder8 I've heard that Tolkien once dressed as a Viking and chased his neighbor down the road, so maybe that.

[@xenomorph6599]

"Although I do have just one question- why is this tree in such desperate search of a wife?" Tolkien:

[@marianhreads]

🤣

[@MrDUneven]

Checked what wikipedia said about his love live. There is something to this...

[@mayleespann4552]

And Lewis lost his wife just like the ents lost the entwives 🥺

[@jeffersonjjohnson]

@@mayleespann4552 she was killed in the Brown Lands by a dark lord?

[@mayleespann4552]

@@jeffersonjjohnson hahaha no

[@henryolsen8232]

Great video! Only criticism is that you depict Treebeard as boring and dull, when he is quite the opposite. However, Treebeard would love this video, as the pacing still works while not being too “hasty”

[@TheGreatDearLeaderJimPickens]

Hmmmm hummmm... that is rather well put Mr. Olsen....... Very well put indeed..........

[@ashwinnmyburgh9364]

Yes! first thing I was thinking when I saw it. I am currently reading through the Lord of the Rings for the first time, and Treebeard is actually one of my favorite characters XD

[@TankTaur]

So true! It's only the movie version that's depicted as "boring", since Jackson & Co. weren't big fans of the ents, and turned them into senile old men to be laughed at. Book Treebeard is fascinating, and his young friend Quickbeam would be anything but boring, had he made it into the film!

[@henryolsen8232]

@@TankTaur Imagine if “The tree-killer!” made it into the film. That would be awesome

[@bloodangel19]

Just put it to 0.5 speed for good measure.

[@DCapybara]

I love Treebeard, he's a very simple character in a world filled with complex characters. There's a beauty in it

[@rafaelbalsan4512]

Yes I love Treebeard too

[@manfrombritain6816]

complex characters? Tolkien was a genius world builder and linguist and writer of *mythology* but lets please not get carried away, his characters are archetypes with very little actual human personality save perhaps for Frodo and Sam. I would say that Denethor was the most complex character but by the standards of most books he's still a cardboard cutout

[@raylast3873]

not sure if simple is the word I‘d use.

[@raylast3873]

@@manfrombritain6816 while Tolkien clearly isn‘t the greatest character writer, it‘s not true that his characters have no depth.

[@squamish4244]

@@manfrombritain6816 For the YA audience that mostly reads LOTR the archetypes in the books are fine. The movies made the characters more interesting for sure. I would say that 20 years later Peter Jackson's 'modernized' archetypes remain in vogue because we have been so carpet-bombed with morally ambiguous clusterfucks everywhere in media that we find it a relief now when a hero is a hero and a villain a villain.

[@MadameTamma]

Tolkien and Lewis's friendship reminds me of that scene in How I met your mother where Ted and Marshal are trapped in a snow storm. "If I die out here, I give you permission to eat my body so you can survive." "Thank you. If I die out here, leave my body alone."

[@profezzordarke4362]

except Ted ans Marshal never ended in very odd one-sided hostility. Out of reasons we can only guess Tolkien disdained Lewis in his later life.

[@peterkroger4311]

@@profezzordarke4362 Tolkien didn‘t disdain him, he was saddened that Lewis didn‘t want to convert to Catholicism, but remain an Anglican out of misunderstood patriotism.

[@ultimateshipper8997]

@@peterkroger4311 What do you mean with "misunderstood patriotism?"

[@peterkroger4311]

@@ultimateshipper8997 Lewis thought it his patriotic duty to stay in the Church of England. Leaving it would have felt like treason to him. It is a misunderstanding because Truth (which is God himself) is more important even than the love of your country. Truth demands to be in union with the one true Church, Rome and the Chair of St Peter. Lewis decided against Truth out of patriotism, by that he put God aside for a worldly good.

[@ultimateshipper8997]

@@peterkroger4311 Thank you for the kind reply, although I totally disagree with your point of view and feel like you're assuming and presuming too much in regard of C. S. Lewis and the Church. Anyway, I appreciate your insights on the matter.

[@ScotsThinker]

Tree? He is no Tree. He is an Ent.

[@euansmith3699]

A tree, not is he; in fact, a tree he en't.

[@vanessah.4120]

I 100% read that in Treebeard's voice. 🤣

[@johnbyron1077]

@@vanessah.4120 Me too. Very slowly as well

[@惠卿月]

i cant hear that

[@TheGrunaldi]

Yes and the name of the not tree ent is TREEBeard

[@MrSamMaloney]

Trees are incredibly important to Tolkien's fictional worlds. This is the greatest honor Tolkien could bestow upon his friend.

[@annwyn321]

As happy as this made me throughout, it was the Mervyn Peake reference that sealed the deal. Not nearly enough Peake references get made anymore. Hats off to you!

[@crimsongirl6080]

Given that I've seen jokes about this subject before, I was not expecting to laugh, but, you nailed it, it was great 😂

[@blurvough]

The Mervyn Peake gag took the skit to unexpected heights! Fantastic work.

[@jasondowns940]

The reason I love Jack: he never said anything, unless it was worth taking a very long time to say.

[@josephbell9027]

That's, quite possibly, the shortest and simplest way Tolkien would have described anything ever.

[@caitlinryan394]

The timing in this one is comedic gold.

[@chungbertflabbergast5995]

As a tremendous fan of your sketches and the works of Tolkien, I find these videos absolutely delightful.

[@theoreticalphysics3644]

*"Trees."* -J.R.R. Tolkien, author of _Lord of the Rings_

The punchline was absolutely brilliant! Poor Mervyn.

[@chasformer3091]

Imagine if CS Lewis saw Peter Jacksons version of Treebeard. I'd think he'd be pleased.

[@StephensCrazyHour]

Peter Jackson's Treebeard was too small.

[@LordVader1094]

Ehh I doubt it, they mostly made the Ents into fools compared to the books.

[@zeroattentiongaming820]

@@LordVader1094 They were quite hasty compared to their source material

[@fredneecher1746]

I think he'd throw up seeing anything of Peter Jackson's travesty of LOTR.

[@goldengail3418]

@@fredneecher1746 no

[@Tardsmat]

I was so happy to hear you mention Mervyn Peake, gormenghast is super overlooked and probably the best thing I've ever read

[@orbismworldbuilding8428]

YESS Edit: More intelligently than my simple fangirling, yeah it's really underrated for such an intricate and honestly in the best way visceral world and characters. It is long and thick with words and described scenery but it is honestly all the more immersive for it

[@pandorabox82]

I so agree with you about Gormenghast!

[@shinywarm6906]

yes, it's so much better written that Narnia or LOTR. It benefits enormously from not giving you the feeling that the author is constantly bashing you over the head with constipated metaphors or adolescent fantasies

[@orbismworldbuilding8428]

@@shinywarm6906 mhm It's also character centered so it works better as a story.

[@kvlteacher5911]

Superb! The Peake quip at the end had me over the top!

[@AfroChef]

10/10 and I even disagree Treebeard is one of my favorites but you got the Pipe down perfeftly, that inhale of smoke to give him time between answers was hilarious!

[@wherefancytakesme]

From the footage of Tolkien I've watched, you absolutely nailed him.

[@hugoclarke3284]

Tolkien you stud

[@Cernicalogirl]

The relationship between these two was fantastic.

[@leahl5007]

I choose to believe Tolkien is holding a small lizard upside-down in his hand, and he’s periodically sucking on it’s tail in this video. 👍

[@orbismworldbuilding8428]

XD this is just what i needed It turns blue each time he does too

[@leahl5007]

@@orbismworldbuilding8428 😂😂😂

[@EleanorMortonable]

Hahahaha that made me laugh out loud

[@silverpslm]

Classic. If this is true, you gotta appreciate how Treebeard goes from "old tree" to pissed off, ready to flood an entire army badnass.

[@zabchan]

Now I want one that mentions how Tolkien totally put in himself and his wife in LOTR as 'totally original characters do not steal" self inserts who just so happen to be the ultimate standard for ideal heteroromantic love in that universe. XD

[@theodorepinnock1517]

Edith: Raven hair, grey eyes. Luthien: Raven hair, grey eyes, canonically the most beautiful woman to have ever lived.

[@poki580]

hes also eru since he created that universe

[@DCapybara]

@@theodorepinnock1517 I thought she's referring to Tom Bombadil?

[@orangeismyfavoritecolor]

@@DCapybara Tbh I thought they were referring to Galadriel and Celeborn

[@metaouroboros6324]

@@DCapybara I thought so as well.

[@tobybartels8426]

I always took professor Kirke as a stand-in for Lewis himself, explaining Lewis's theological position. He even hits the kids with the lunatic/liar/Lord trichotomy. But I suppose his character fits Tolkien. Conversely, _Out of the Silent Planet_ strongly hints that Elwin Ransom is Tolkien (and the epilogue states outright that the events really happened but the names were changed). But it must be a younger Tolkien than the one we see in interviews after he became famous.

[@Malygosblues]

Exactly. Was waiting for this. Absolutely love the Space Trilogy.

[@dixonbuttes]

Really?! This is so cool, I had no idea. Thank you

[@helenegraham]

what's the lunatic/liar/lord trichotomy, if you don't mind me asking? I haven't read Narnia since I was a kid so I don't remember if that came up

[@metallsnubben]

​@@helenegraham I googled "lunatic liar lord" and the first result was "Lewis's trilemma" (well, first after an Exodus song that's definitely referencing this lol). It's an argument for jesus being god, the idea is if he himself claimed to be god he's either a lunatic (believes he's god but wrong) a liar (doesn't believe it but wants others to) or the Lord (believe's he's god and is correct). Because he doesn't think jesus seems like the first 2 he must be the 3rd option And apparently in particular he didn't like when people said "I'm not a christian but I think jesus was a nice guy" cause with this argument he's saying if jesus was actually nice then he has to be god too EDIT: I shouldn't say "nice" but more "a good moral example", as in "should you try to emulate jesus if you believe he was delusional/lying" kind of

[@Prismatic_Truth]

@@helenegraham To answer your question, it's the scene where the Professor is reasoning with Susan & Peter as to whether or not Lucy is telling the truth about her discovery of Narnia in the wardrobe.

[@pepperbird67657]

Treebeard is my favourite character, I love the way that Rob Inglis voices him during the last march of the Ents in my audiobook

[@moonjellymusic]

Your ability to mime smoking a pipe with no pipe at all amazed me. Such incredible mouth shapes!

[@stapler942]

Omg the invisible pipe is an amazing touch.

[@timopper5488]

Two very charming and clever performances! 👏👏👏

[@keviiinramaaaage7650]

Well in his published letters he admitted that some characteristics of Treebeard were based on Lewis. Particularly his long striding gate, his imposing presence, and his booming voice which Tolkien claimed could be heard well down the hall from his lecture hall even behind a closed door. I think too that Treebeard is quite noble and honorable as well as wise. I think there you can see the admiration Tolkien held for his close friend

[@CelebrimborCurufinwe]

Ok that Mervyne Peak bit made me cackle out loud excellent work xD

[@thebowshot9341]

Excellent, Eleanor, loving it. Also loving how absolutely every commenter on this video is a massive Tolkien fanboy/girl. Including me, to be honest. But, I feel that ol' C.S. needs some sugah too - so, here it is: on a train home from Embra tae Polmont recently I overheard a gang of youths discussing their favourite offerings from the Marvel comic universe to grace the silver screen recently, when one of them diverged to declare, "But, y'know, 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' is the hill I'll die on! Love that movie!" There you go, Lewie.

[@redblarin8030]

This was so much funnier than it had any right being. I love it

[@Isrjisoneavalable]

So glad there’s a second CS and JR video!

[@freddypowell7292]

I'm going to assume that the Mervyn Peake Galadriel thing isn't true, because otherwise I have a lot of rereading to do.

[@michaelgreen8393]

Galadriel, the "Lady of Light" represented Mary, Queen of Heaven in J.R.R. Tolkien's works. The elves conveyed an understanding of "divine grace" as Tolkien saw Mary (Jesus' Mother) as "Beauty in Majesty and Simplicity". As Tolkien was a Catholic and LOTR's contains many symbolism and not so hidden parallels to his Catholic Beliefs and love of religion, despite him being a man for great dislike for allegories.

[@freddypowell7292]

@@michaelgreen8393 I'm not surprised. Certainly less so than I would be an she were based on the man who produced Titus Groan.

[@LaughingOwlKiller]

@@michaelgreen8393 Tolkien himself said that while he disdained allegory and avoided it his personal beliefs and values would naturally "creep" into his world. Similarities are expected but they are still not 1:1.

[@JosephAlanMeador]

... ... You got me down to a T! - I lost it! very funny

[@jojomj]

your tolkien impression is fantastic! haha!

[@men_del12]

Wait, really? Tolkien thought of him as talking tree? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Nazgy]

He was a man who took a great long time to say things, liked to remain where he was and who had a great stubbornness to him; the metaphor isn't entirely insulting haha

[@ChristianMLee]

The PIPE ACTING WORK! 🤣🤣🤣

[@KL-hr2kj]

"I do that! I do all of that!" I'm losing my mind

[@Vinemaple]

This killed! Thanks so much for not assuming we don't know about the Inklings, it really made the bit.

[@impastabowl2328]

I think about this fact every time I read LOTR, and it makes me smile.

[@shokojimhollingsworth3940]

I like how Mervyn Peake is always coming in for a bit of hard news...

[@dallaslogic]

I love your commitment to the pipe bit! 😁

[@bowmain1577]

The funniest thing about this is that Tolkien telling Lewis about a new character he was thinking about probably happened a lot. Historically, they were good friends.

[@javierpatag3609]

Yeah... but later they weren't. So this video fills me with bittersweet feelings.

[@hannabaal150]

Right you are. The Inklings. They met weekly at the Bird and Baby (I think that's the name) for a brew and critiqued each other's works, including the 3 other authors in the group.

[@ktkc1o7]

I was not expecting to laugh so hard. But the timing, the expressions! 😂

[@randomobserver8168]

Spot on performances. It was like seeing those two men come alive!

[@WesleyLawton]

Treebeard is my favorite character, maybe tied with Gandalf (especially the Gray) depending on the day. Learning he's based on C.S. Lewis actually makes me like Lewis more than I did!

[@helenakhudyna2360]

You are very funny! Thanks for cheering up my days!

[@iamtheSoup]

Lewis's Space trilogy also has an amazing character based on Tolkien

[@mrsmmoose6775]

I’ve only just found your stuff and it’s making me cackle like a loon. Your writing is brilliant and your accents are top notch.

[@abigailshorz]

their friendship is goals

[@technonarg5978]

It's like I'm witnessing the Inklings,you really have captured Tolkien puffing away on his pipeweed. I love your work Eleanor. :-)

[@WhyX11]

You got some serious skills :)

[@ballisticsquid]

Comedy timing to a tee, great delivery

I still want the Mervyn Peake Tolkien convos!

[@zaidlacksalastname4905]

I love the air-pipe smoking. It makes this 10 times funnier

[@richardvandeursen2395]

Hi I just been put onto you and your channel. Laugh out loud funny and I am actually reading about Lewis and Tolkien as part of the Inklings. Timing is everything.

[@alexia3552]

I am so glad youtube showed me your channel, you're delightful

[@CreativeIsolation]

That was very cute. Made me smile.

[@kevinredding5804]

Funniest damned thing I’ve seen all week! Kudos

[@theosprey7111]

The virtual pipe bit just cracks me up.

[@Fuzz32]

I want one showing Tolkien explaining to his wife how he based two characters on her.

[@Syllogyzym]

that last line is gold

[@XoXitsSaruhh]

I absolutely love treebeard. I throw out "I am on nobodies side because nobodies on my side" a lot

[@paulmdevenney]

love it! I also love treebeard though. Particularly his depiction in the BBC audio adaption.

[@cedk144]

When you enter Paradise, they'll both greet you with a pint.

[@brendannahor1460]

Apparently CS Lewis told his best friend JRR Tolkien that he loved the Lord Of The Rings n Tolkien said he wasn't keen on Narnia n thought it very childish!! 🤔

[@MistbornPrincess]

I think he mostly disliked it because it was allegory and Tolkien hated allegory. He also hated Lewis mixing mythologies, like Father Christmas and river gods and Bacchus.

[@oldplace2844]

@@MistbornPrincess Of all the Narnia books, I liked Voyage of the Dawn Treader best. However, of his fictional work, Till We Have Faces is hands down my favorite with the Great Divorce a close second.

[@mayleespann4552]

Yesss! Thank you! I love those books in that order too! TWHF comforted me so much in a sad time, but I loved it even before then. Most people have never heard of it

[@rileybright-canton6888]

To be fair, the Chronicles of Narnia are definitely geared more towards children. The tone is much lighter and they are significantly easier for a child to comprehend. Source: was a child and read both as a child.

[@LaughingOwlKiller]

Tolkien did not bandy words..when he spoke he was to the point. If he didn't like something...he said as much. This is the man who told the Nazi Government to essentially Fuck off. He's not afraid to tell his best friend he didn't like his story.

[@themercer4972]

Bravo. that was more fun than I expected.

[@gideonbast9995]

This is amazing! Laughed so hard thank you

[@jerryrichardson2799]

I love these, they're hilarious.

[@jamesha175]

LOL when the guy on the right says "Yup."

[@JordanFrgsn]

Your Tolkien impression is aces, keep it up!

[@yorktown99]

It's delightful to see a bit of ribbing about between Mervyn Peak, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien.

[@matthewbilich9979]

You have quite a sense of humor! Love your videos!

[@michaelokeke4976]

As an actor and a fantasy bookworm, I really enjoyed your one woman skit. This was FANTASTIC 🎭😂 📚 🌈 Nice Job

[@NC1195_]

Can you recommend me fantasy books please? I have read wizard of oz, Narnia, Harry Potter, lord of the rings. I need to read more. Fantasy books always makes me very happy.

[@michaelokeke4976]

@@NC1195_ sure. The Wheel of Time series(14 books, including a prequel), Mistborn, Anansi Boys, The Graveyard Book, Neverwhere, Stardust, Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, Norse Mythology(Neil Gaiman’s rendition), Elantris, Good Omens, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, The Dark Tower series, Tolkien’s other novels outside LOTR, Warrior of the Altaii, The Kishi, Emperor’s Soul, The Sandman series, Dracula( yes it’s gothic horror but it’s vampire fantasy too 😝), Bloodchild, Dune(science-fantasy), The Kingkiller Chronicles, Ryeria Revelations and Legends of the First Empire series

[@NC1195_]

@@michaelokeke4976 thank you so much! I love Neil gaiman. I love gothic stories, I have a collection of gothic tales. Again thank you so much!

[@bill8383]

@@NC1195_ May I recommend Shadow and Claw by Gene Wolfe (and the whole book of the new sun series) *also , Prince of Thorns / King of Thorns / Emperor of Thorns , by Mark Lawrence

[@NC1195_]

@@bill8383 oh thank you so much! I will definitely go shop for those!

[@tremorsfan]

My favorite story about JRR Tolkien is that when he was reading an excerpt from his book Freeman Dyson woke up from a nap and said “Oh God, not another ****ing Elf”.

[@rmisionero]

This is a wholesome joke. I love it.

[@zjifzmifzukjtrzjghuk]

That's marvelous acting, very entertaining!

[@RabbidTribble]

What fun!! How about some vids about G.K. Chesterton? Aside from being quite a character on his own, he had some great stuff with George Bernard Shaw and H.G. Wells.

[@luzlikescats1668]

Those two are my favorite author duo so this is the best series haha

[@catw4729]

Loved the last line!

[@RagenRibbonz]

just went for a rewatch of the original and found the new sequel, what luck! hilarious perfection.

[@wilkoufert8758]

The pipesmoking alone!

[@Musika1321]

You're a star hun. Love your work x

[@tomvesely4008]

Tolkien impression is spot on.

[@glennllewellyn7369]

Absolute perfection. Well done!

[@llkjjjss]

Lol this made me smile yet laugh on the inside ❤️

[@swaralipimukherjee8363]

"Tree? I'm no tree, I'm an Ent (or rather....a walking stick, 'cuz he's basically a stick and he's walking lol)"

[@joegarcia3214]

Such a funny person . Love your vids 👍

[@SgtEnder]

Tolkien convinced Lewis of the resurrection

[@graendread1704]

Great, some love for Peake, made my day :)

[@brainplay8060]

I believe it was CS Lewis that once complained to their literary group meeting about "Tolkien and his damn elves!" as Tolkien would ramble on about them as he was developing his story world.

[@theflickchick9850]

Tolkien rambling about his world to his friends while planning it hits a little too close to home for me...

[@nathaniellee5277]

Love the acting and characterization

[@jasoncarnevale2998]

Treebeard was 100% not boring nor dull, last march of the ents is one of the sickest moments in lotr

[@jonylawson73]

Brilliant ..made me chuckle