Tolkien Interview

[@teknoarcanist]

Lol this guy. "Is Frodo an allegory for Christ?" Tolkien: "What? No."

[@AngelSBolander]

This man is my great inspiration, I'm more found of Tolkien him-self than I am over his writing (and that's a lot considering how much I love reading the things he wrote). To dedicate your life to this amazing world, I can't begin to describe all the feelings regarding to this man. Never heard his voice until now, thank you for posting it.

[@JediHobbit89]

It's so awesome to hear the words of the master himself!

[@HiveTyrant96]

He speaks just like he writes :3

[@amellirizarry9503]

HiveTyrant96 like a genius

[@lollipoplouise1]

J.R.R Tolkien is my 4th cousin and I am so proud of him for inspiring so many people! x

[@artraxofastora1330]

"no not in a different era , in a different state of imagination" god i love that line

[@Gondin1]

One of the best writers of all time.

[@samwoodworth]

i love this man.

[@bigboy439]

He had one of the best imaginations in the world.

[@ilovelij]

Wow, Ian McKellen did an excellent job capturing the essence of Tolkien's speech in his performance as Gandalf!

[@Runeguy33]

His Books are literary classics for the ages. Never again will such masterpieces of Fantasy be written.

[@jmm1233]

He is so cool , thanks fro sharing

[@jaydoebud]

Tolkien's writings transcend absolute happiness for me. The man was a genius, a professor to professors at Oxford, had brilliant since philosophy and understanding of humanity and behavior, set tremendous examples by forcefully touching your heart through his work, and created for any fan, an easy to argue standpoint has The Hobbit and the LOTR trilogy being the best stories ever written.

[@UniversalBrother108]

this is great , thanks for posting :)

[@DrCruel]

Tolkien was absolutely brilliant. In particular the detail he included in his work was astounding, to include written and spoken language fragments for elves and dwarves. Quite an artist.

[@ilovelij]

Omg the way he talks x)

[@4672-m9f]

we love you Master*

[@redheadfo847]

absolutly marvelous

[@frandalfstormcrow]

Thanks for sharing! The interview is from 1964 though, according to the Tolkienlibrary.

[@Dirtfire]

They have a link to the entire transcript (hopefully accurate) to the right of the video.

[@cagataykaraca4442]

omg how couldnt i see this interview, now i have been chancing upon it. ur accent is very hard to understand at least for me but i have listened whole interview with pleasure and i dont know how to say but fortunately u wrote middle earth and fortunately i have recognized u and ur books.

[@myrrhbear]

I was looking around at these videos of Tolkien, whose writing I adore, and saw these comments you left. Reading them it looked like you had some genuinely, deeply f'd up hatred of Jewish people in some of the posts I saw here, and it disturbed me so much, I cried a little. What an awful thing to hate us like that. On the upside I am reminded how awful racism and hatred are, and how important to remember that we are all human beings, and all desreve the best respect and care we can muster.

[@ilovelij]

0:40 is that the sound of him smoking his pipe? :D

[@banistirtzis]

"Three rings for the Elven-kings under the sky, Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone, Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die, One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie. One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie."

[@LZentertainments]

I honestly think, after I've been working for a big project about Tolkien, that he, is among the greatest most genius men ever to have walked this earth.

[@PathofCultivation]

I like how he never chose to make a hobbit the ringbearer... but just had to go on from where he left the ring itself at the end of the hobbit (with bilbo).

[@kevingarrett6169]

google "jrr Tolkien interview transcript" and this should come up.

[@kapenzo]

Sir Tolkien.... The Master

[@Dirtfire]

@locsaretheshit Tolkien wrote a lot of stuff. "The Adventure of Tom Bombadil" is another one. "Farmer Giles of Ham", and other shorter works.

[@Warrenackerman5]

i love it how you can hear him smoking his pipe

[@Graenzig]

I think this man was the greatest genious to have ever lived.

[@scibby2]

You have to listen really hard (but it's worth it). It's an Edwardian way of speaking that's long gone!

[@lord69z]

Is it almost work for word? Or is the legend just similar?

[@RelsisFido]

What draws me into the Middle-earth universe isn't so much Middle-earth itself as much as it is the inspirations Tolkien had to create it. If you remove Tolkien from his writings, it just becomes a generic albeit complex mythical fantasy in the same manner as the storytelling of Hercules or the stories in 1001 Nights.

[@Technodreamer]

Sadly, the link to the interview transcript no longer works.

[@cedk144]

web.archive.org/web/20090214072814/www.geocities.com/misctolkien/TolkieninterviewBBC1971.txt

[@Emblematic]

The Lord of the Rings is a story about death. It is an inversion of the traditional quest story ( which, in it's inner meaning, is about growing from childhood to adulthood with the winning of treasure representing the acheivement of a healthy independant character ). TLotR is about the other end of life. Death can only be conquered if you give up attachment to the selfish ego (the One Ring). As a youth you had to win it, now you have to let it go. The life you lived is now the real treasure.

[@Pastayetta]

Oh, such a pity... my english is not good enough to understand everything. I really understand only a little of it. :-( Is this interview wrote down anywhere?

[@CHRIS1974100]

Tolkien is great

[@Nuukify]

The Silmarillion is by far the most impressive book I have ever read. Tho my favorite book is The Hobbit/There and Back Again. Gotta love the hobbits.

[@OldIronbark]

He sounds just as I imagine Gandalf sounding as I read through his works. Sir Ian McKellan made a great Gandalf in the movies, but I think Tolkien's voice suits much better.

[@imbeingdanmstraight]

can anyone provide a transcript link that actually works?

[@myrrhbear]

In letters 29 & 30, it appears that a German translation of The Hobbit was being negotiated in 1938. The German firm inquired whether Tolkien was of Arisch (Aryan) origin. Tolkien was infuriated by this, and wrote two drafts of possible replies for his publisher to choose.[1] The first one is not present - in it Tolkien is assumed to have refused to give any declaration whatsoever of his racial origins. The second, surviving, draft included: ...

[@PathofCultivation]

read the silmarillion... he pretty much wrote the history for an entire planet.

[@Pastayetta]

Oh... okay. I thought: Wow, my english is worse, than I thought. Now I feel much better. ;-D

[@galaxticdmonflame7736]

im reading the hobbit and lol bilbo is all like IM GOING ON AN ADVENTURE and whoops i left my hankerchief.

[@Laguero]

Tolkien's work draws more from the Northern tradition, i.e. Norse and Saxon mythology, than Greek.

[@chris_wicksteed]

Judging by other comments Tolkien made, I think the 'Jew' reference is about the Dwarves lacking a homeland and so being a kind of diaspora and a culture within a culture. Also their language inspired by Yiddish. The Dwarves love of gold comes directly from the Norse stories, so I don't think Tolkien was necessarily playing up the old stereotype.

[@ScoreFromAugusta]

actually mentions it at 3:12... Bloemfontein

[@ScoreFromAugusta]

He actually was born it what is now South Africa. It's not that crazy: S. Africa was occupied by Britain for like a hundred years before it become it's own republic in the 60s. Lot's of people there have british accents.

[@paulanthonyg]

umm jrr took many parts of his books on ancient norse mythology and not the occult ...

[@OldCottage2]

I can barely understand his thick old-fashioned English accent. I'm trying to picture Frodo and Aragorn talking with this accent (as Tolkien himself would have likely pictured them doing) and I really can't picture that.

[@GerryMcAveety]

I agree with you. It's a shame that the people commenting on this video feel the need to flag down your comment as opposed to having a civil debate. They will not consider any potential threat against Tolkien, even if you aren't attacking him but the myth surrounding him. Immature!

[@frandalfstormcrow]

But released in 1971, thats why there's some confusion about it!

[@Niqitillion]

People consider him the founder, not because people are arrogant but because his work is considered the best; he is a professor of English for gods-sake. His work is divine, and yes, I'm quite aware he isn't the founder, but he is the founder of: High-fantasy.

[@rgaleny]

You are a sweetheart and wise, in your way. I have wrestled with the idea for belonging for a long time. I find It best to belong to the University and the Republic of letters. Everything else is FOLK culture. I hope I helped you. I am Sicilian and it's history impressive and depressing. Northern Euros don't look to Larger Euro history till they are older. With that I find culture in the University. Perpetual Alexandria.

[@whatsername707]

I suppose I'm in a position where it doesn't matter what people think of me now - there were some frightful mistakes in grammar, which from a Professor of English Language and Lit are rather shocking. :)

[@Fardawg]

For those wondering about him saying the Dwarves are similar to Jews, some excerpts from his letters might be helpful. 29 From a letter to Stanley Unwin -- 25 July 1938 [Allen & Unwin had negotiated the publication of a German translation of The Hobbit with Rütten & Loening of Potsdam. This firm wrote to Tolkien asking if he was of 'arisch' (aryan) origin.] "I must say the enclosed letter from Rütten and Loening is a bit stiff. Do I suffer this impertinence because of the possession of a German name, or do their lunatic laws require a certificate of 'arisch' origin from all persons of all countries? Personally I should be inclined to refuse to give any Bestätigung (although it happens that I can), and let a German translation go hang. In any case I should object strongly to any such declaration appearing in print. I do not regard the (probable) absence of all Jewish blood as necessarily honourable; and I have many Jewish friends, and should regret giving any colour to the notion that I subscribed to the wholly pernicious and unscientific race-doctrine." 30 To Rütten & Loening Verlag -- 25 July 1938 [One of the 'two drafts' mentioned by Tolkien in the previous letter. This is the only one preserved in the Allen & Unwin files, and it seems therefore very probable that the English publishers sent the other one to Germany. It is clear that in that letter Tolkien refused to make any declaration of 'arisch' origin.] "...if I am to understand that you are enquiring whether I am of Jewish origin, I can only reply that I regret that I appear to have no ancestors of that gifted people." 176 From a letter to Naomi Mitchison -- 8 December 1955 "I do think of the 'Dwarves' like Jews: at once native and alien in their habitations, speaking the languages of the country, but with an accent due to their own private tongue....." 324 From a letter to Graham Tayar -- 4-5 June 1971 "My name is Tolkien, anglicized from To(l)kiehn = tollkühn, and came from Saxony in the 18th century. It is not Jewish in origin, though I should consider it an honour if it were."

[@TomorrowWeLive]

unbased :(

[@deanmark11]

I'm english, i live in acocks green birmingham, 1 mile from where tolkien lived, and he is pretty hard to understand, well some of it lol.

[@cuchulain55]

I believe he had subconcious insight into the nature of reality, unlike other fantasy writers.

[@grayfin]

It sounds as if the interviewer is trying to cut him down in sorts.

[@Hilbert123]

LOL... He didn't exactly say that... but I think he may have been leaning that way.

[@myrrhbear]

Thank you for your letter ... I regret that I am not clear as to what you intend by arisch. I am not of Aryan extraction: that is Indo-Iranian; as far as I am aware noone (sic) of my ancestors spoke Hindustani, Persian, Gypsy, or any related dialects. But if I am to understand that you are enquiring whether I am of Jewish origin, I can only reply that I regret that I appear to have no ancestors of that gifted people. -Tolkien, The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien, #30

[@lord69z]

@gringolazlo I probably read 80% of Silmarillion roughly 50 times on the train to work in the morning ( skipping the first 3 chapters - on a side note, if you want your friends to read it counsel them to do as well ) In my opinion its a thousands times more interesting and moving than Lord of the Rings.

[@Dirtfire]

Dwarves weren't beyong good and evil, for crying out loud. Only the Evil creatures in Middle-earth thought themselves to be so. Dwarves were primarily Good in Tolkien's works.

[@ScoreFromAugusta]

Nobody is trying to "take Tolkein from the English" It's just an interesting fact that he was born in the orange free state BECAUSE he is so very English. It's not like England is starved of great writers (Dickens, Austen, Carroll, Lawrence, Slick Willy) though. No need to defend England's literary legacy. I could see an Irishman getting upset at someone trying to claim James Joyce wasn't actually Irish though because let's face it, theres not much else (save for my homie Flann O'Brien)

[@Pastayetta]

I was not criticizing his speech. I was just sad, that I didn´t understand. But of course I know, here are speaking two native speaker. I am not. And I suppose that he is using "oldfashioned" words. (Because of his age. Is that right?)

[@aelfwine14]

In regards to Professor Tolkien's comparison of the dwarves to Jews, assuming his comments refer to cultural images or stereotypes is a bad road to go down. I take it rather that the dwarves are "like" the Jewish people insomuch as they are portrayed as having been habitually turned out of their homes in Middle-Earth, and forced to sell and trade wares among other folks and lands: a sort of medeival image of the Jews, as in "Ivanhoe." Maybe not accurate; but not particularly anti-Semitic.

[@Emblematic]

From 6:59 - "But the Dwarves of course, quite obviously are, couldn't you say that in many ways they remind you of the Jews? All their words are semitic obviously, constructed to be semitic." In the 1968 television interview, (posted as TOLKIEN ON RINGS MYTHOLOGY), he says several things about the Dwarves, including - "...they are not part of the Children of God" Sometimes he talks as if he feels he's tapped into something that's more than just fantasy fiction.

[@rdanino]

im peruvian and completely understand his accnt lol

[@CalvadosKid]

Second that.

[@14ricki]

I want to listen to this interview so bad, I know he's a genius and it's probably an interesting conversation but I can't understand a word he's saying.

[@Premoguys]

@nicholsml You have no idea of what you are talking about. Tolkien created Arda since 1905. Howard was born at 1907 or 6, and he began with Conan and his other fantasy work a decade and a half after, which makes your claims pointless. As for Lovecraft, I actually laughed when i read that Tolkien mimicked him. Lovecraft is writing on a completely different style, and you would know that if you have read Mountains of Horror or the Cthulhu Mythos. So excuse me, but you are ignorant yourself.

[@savagenoble7]

do unto others...kiddynamite

[@vegan4theanimals]

@gringolazlo i would but it's to damn long! haha only one by him i have not read yet

[@Ebuverthebicepcurler]

Very observant of you. Nothing else seemed to me Jewish. Some call Jewish folk misers and there certainly are many rich Jews, so the aspect of gold lust and such also makes sense to some degree.

[@CaptPoco]

Wow, and here I thought Dwarves were supposed to be Scottish caricatures, not Jewish ones!

[@ONI_LONI]

*American Krogan* (yt channel) brought me here

[@theBODNER1]

i cant understand what hes saying! :,(

[@hangtime41]

This interviewer has such a one track mind. Tokien is on a completely different level. This guy does not understand Tolkien at all. He fancies himself to have "discovered" the history of middle earth..not invented it. This interview guy wants explanations for everything and symbolism....

[@Shadowjak101]

thats hilarious

[@Emblematic]

(If you have lived well, that is) (!)

[@AngelSBolander]

I would say that you are. =) At least I am. ^^

[@DrunkenPoetic]

And he was very, very drunk.

[@savagenoble7]

really? I'm a "secularist" I've had no problem with the struggle of good and evil.

[@nat00ben06]

That could be but Buffett and Gates aint Jews.

[@PathofCultivation]

@Reeves987 makes no sense, please restate.

[@BenMcCormack91]

Hm! This guy was quite smart. Certainly didn't compliment the interviewer very much.

[@CrusteanParliament]

Nonsense. Howard created the sword and sorcery (fantasy adventure) sub-genre. It has very little in common with the fantasy *epic* and vast secondary worlds we see from Tolkein. Anyone who has read both their works wouldn't dream of calling them the same. Lovecraft created horror fantasy and horror sci-fi. Hugely important, but, again, completely divorced from what Tolkein did. Dunsany isn't worth mentioning. Have you even read his work?? Your claims are sophomoric, fatuous and ill-informed.

[@edualym]

5 Nazgul didn't like this video

[@Premoguys]

@nicholsml Hmm, strange. i believe i just gave you a lot of facts to reconsider your statement. Seems that you dont. So excuse me mr Troll but i have better things to do. No need to reply by the way, i wont read your next comment.

[@TheLoneGamr]

Frodo was more an allegory of a Christian. Gandalf is more of a Christ figure.

[@nat00ben06]

Tolkien's speaking voice or the way he speaks in conversation sounds to me, kinda of like Anthony Hopkins or John Cleese in his Fawlty Tower days.

[@etsneroj]

Its hard to say. If he based the Dwarves in part on his view of Jews, he gave Jews both a compliment and an insult. The Dwarves have courage and ingenunity, but they are insular and greedy. He was no more generous with Men, who are also not "part of the Children of God." Only the elves are idealistically portrayed. Anyway, he clearly drew on Norse mythology for the dwarves too.

[@etsneroj]

Boy, that remark about the Dwarves being like the Jews took me by surprise. No such similarity ever occurred to me after years of reading the books (and being a Jew). The only similarity I can think of is that both Dwarves and the stereotypes of Jews include long beards and greed. Not a very sympathetic view of Jews. I always assumed his dwarves were inspired by Norse mythological characters (from which he borrowed some of the dwarf names, etc).

[@hippojuice23]

dwarves are akin to Jews?!

[@Ebuverthebicepcurler]

hmm, also bearded...

[@Leman.Russ.6thLegion]

spoken like a true pimp.

[@antdog5549]

I hate the interviewer.

[@empyrean58m4]

it would be intimidating.