Elegy

[Chrysophylax Dives]

I did not feel comfortable with this thread on this forum.

[Aikári Salmarinian]

Of all things, I find it ridiculous to find myself speaking as a literary critic, which is one thing I am not.

Anybody can be(come) a literary critic. Nothing rediculous about. Your hypothesis could be: "The underlying problem in the literature on Tolkien is that the relationship between his own stories and his study of Beowulf is not grasped; and the reason for this is that Tolkien's literary reading of Beowulf is overlooked." And after that you begin search for resources that underline this hypothesis and are against it. In between you build up your defence with your arguments, backed up by your found recourses, that this hypothesis is right. Your source quotes must carry the signature of origin by a footnote or endnote. At the end comes your conclusion your conclusion. All of Tolkien's essays are structured by this system, also before the war, albeit a bit old-fashioned. Even his valeditory address (farewell to professorship) has seven endnotes of sources he used to fundament this speech.

It is tedious work, emperical research. It is the consensus of the academic world. Just as wearing an uniform is part of performing a police-officer's job. If you don't want to wear this uniform of social authority, you cannot be a police officer (if you are patrolling the streets). You are the visible authority on the street where civilians can turn to, if there is social trouble. The empirical research system is visible authority that entitles researched works as academically or scholarly. It is different area than just fandom. But it could be fun.

[Chrysophylax Dives]

I felt uncomfortable with this thread on this forum.

[Aikári Salmarinian]

Chrys: I am sorry for the rough time you have been going through. It is understandable that biting into Beowulf took your mind of dire matters around you. I hope your young son is doing much better now. You're welcome for all the sorts of comforts we have been able to give and continue. It is always hard for a parent when a child falls ill and is hospitalised. But with the medical sciences of today lot can be met than people get better again, even matters are dire. Take care and hang on. You're doing great with your discussions.

[Chrysophylax Dives]

I did not feel comfortable with this post on this forum.

[Aikári Salmarinian]

Chrys: No, you we're not asking, but it would be odd not to feel sympathy? I did read. Everyone of us has a right to say, or better, to believe there is a higher power that brings or gives comfort in dire times. I know what agnostic people are. I heard of Keynes, Mills and Spencer. They popped up in my study Public Administration.