In our elated rampage through the tales of this world, it is crucial that we do not forget the Story: the Story of stories, the Tale from with all tales tend. This is a concept which I fully intend to bring up often throughout the life of this blog, but for the moment, let us … Continue reading The Story of Stories
The Wearing of Time on Mortal-Immortal Relationship
Sometimes, in reading a work of literature, I encounter a snippet of wording which illuminates a previously unnoticed pattern in another work. This was the case with a particular reference in W.B. Yeats’ preface to Lady Gregory’s translation of the Finn Cycle to the degradation of the mortal-immortal relationship over the course of Irish mythology. … Continue reading The Wearing of Time on Mortal-Immortal Relationship
A Particle of Truth Spoken by Lord Henry Wotton
Lord Henry Wotton is one of the chief characters in The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde. He is a young aristocrat who seeks to bring himself attention by an apparent careless attitude and wit. His flippant tongue drips with hedonic philosophy which he dolls out for the purpose of sensation alone. However, amongst … Continue reading A Particle of Truth Spoken by Lord Henry Wotton
The Pro-Vision of Provisions
Provision is composed of two Latin words: pro ‘ahead’ or ‘forward’, and videre ‘to see’. Thus provision means ‘to see ahead’. But this is not the meaning as it is used in modern English. When one says ‘provision’ he refers to the food and supplies needed for a journey...
Rereading The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings, Part 4: The Return of the King (Raw Reflections)
It appears that The Return of the King is the hardest book in the trilogy for me to put down or, more accurately, the hardest for me to resist picking up. This may be because of the many day-spring moments in The Return of the King: flashes of incredible beauty...
“What the Bird Said Early in the Year,” by C.S. Lewis (Advent 2020, Week 4)
I heard in Addison’s Walk a bird sing clear: / This year the summer will come true. This year. This year. / Winds will not strip the blossom from the apple trees / This year, nor want of rain destroy the peas...
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, trans. by John M. Neale & Henry S. Coffin (Advent 2020, Week 3)
O come, O come, Emmanuel, / And ransom captive Israel, / That mourns in lonely exile here / Until the Son of God appear. / Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel / Shall come to thee, O Israel! ...
“The world is stopp’d,” by Nicole K. (Advent 2020, Week 2)
The world is stopp’d. / Day closes with night, / Night with day. / Morn upon morn, / Eve upon eve. / Each is the same. / We may do naught: / Speak. / Sing. / Dance. / Travel. / Share...
The Coming, by R.S. Thomas (Advent 2020, Week 1)
Greetings, friends! We take a hiatus from Raw Reflections: Rereading The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings as I will now be embarking on a brief four-part poetry series celebrating Advent and also because I have yet to finish reading The Return of the King! We will commence Raw Reflections after Christmas. Advent is … Continue reading The Coming, by R.S. Thomas (Advent 2020, Week 1)
Rereading The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings, Part 3: The Two Towers (Raw Reflections)
Do you remember your first reading of The Lord of the Rings? What was your reaction when you discovered Gandalf was not dead, as you and the members of the Company believed, but fully alive? ...
