3 ms·

And mountains. With right angles, like those in Middle Earth [0]. Although to be fair to Tolkien, Ilúvatar probably wasn't bothered about credible plate tectoni

And mountains. With right angles, like those in Middle Earth [0]. Although to be fair to Tolkien, Ilúvatar probably wasn't bothered about credible plate tectonics. Actually, ignoring the issue of whether Middle Earth was geologically feasible, Tolkien went to great lengths to make sure that the story was consistent with the geography, e.g. in terms of making sure character times and locations were synchronised across the many plot strands. The LOTR map was specifically created to help him keep track of it. [0] https://www.tor.com/2017/08/01/tolkiens-map-and-the-messed-up-mountains-of-middle-earth/ https://www.tor.com/2017/08/01/tolkiens-map-and-the-messed-u...

TremendousJudge 8y ago
This essay[0] on the consistency of Middle Earth by the author of The Last Ringbearer[1] really explores the topic as well [0] https://ymarkov.livejournal.com/273409.html https://ymarkov.livejournal.com/273409.html [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Ringbearer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Ringbearer
empath75 8y ago
Plate tectonics wasn't a generally accepted theory until well after Tolkien made those maps, anyway.
- mikepurvis 8y ago
  Even without the underlying theory, though, you can still look at lots of real-life mountain ranges and see that they generally align themselves to continental contours and not geometric shapes like boxes.
- KineticLensman 8y ago
  Indeed. Actually the cosmology of Middle Earth (which is the first part of 'The Silmarillion' and barely mentioned in TLOTR) does require, to put it charitably, a certain suspension of disbelief. I'm paraphrasing somewhat... (spoilers) The creator, Eru / Ilúvatar creates a great theme and the Ainur (spirits) are then invited to create a music from it. The evil Morgoth (Sauron's boss) sows discord by breaking Eru's harmony. Eru then stops the music and the various spirits manifest in the world (Arda) created from it. The world is initially illuminated by stars and then the light from two great trees. Which Morgoth destroys, although their light bearing fruit are used to create the Sun and the Moon. The Valar (the most powerful good Ainur) create the westerly island Valinor, which (after a lot of misery which forms the main subject of the Silmarillion) Ilúvatar eventually makes inaccessible by sending a great wave, changing the shape of all the lands of Middle-earth. Hence my comment that plate tectonics (or whatever geological processes were understood in the early 20th C) wasn't an overarching concern for Tolkien. But once he'd made this world, he made sure that the LOTR characters would see the same phase of the moon at their respective parts of the story.

TremendousJudge 8y ago

This essay[0] on the consistency of Middle Earth by the author of The Last Ringbearer[1] really explores the topic as well [0] https://ymarkov.livejournal.com/273409.html https://ymarkov.livejournal.com/273409.html [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Ringbearer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Ringbearer

empath75 8y ago

Plate tectonics wasn't a generally accepted theory until well after Tolkien made those maps, anyway.

mikepurvis 8y ago
Even without the underlying theory, though, you can still look at lots of real-life mountain ranges and see that they generally align themselves to continental contours and not geometric shapes like boxes.
KineticLensman 8y ago
Indeed. Actually the cosmology of Middle Earth (which is the first part of 'The Silmarillion' and barely mentioned in TLOTR) does require, to put it charitably, a certain suspension of disbelief. I'm paraphrasing somewhat... (spoilers) The creator, Eru / Ilúvatar creates a great theme and the Ainur (spirits) are then invited to create a music from it. The evil Morgoth (Sauron's boss) sows discord by breaking Eru's harmony. Eru then stops the music and the various spirits manifest in the world (Arda) created from it. The world is initially illuminated by stars and then the light from two great trees. Which Morgoth destroys, although their light bearing fruit are used to create the Sun and the Moon. The Valar (the most powerful good Ainur) create the westerly island Valinor, which (after a lot of misery which forms the main subject of the Silmarillion) Ilúvatar eventually makes inaccessible by sending a great wave, changing the shape of all the lands of Middle-earth. Hence my comment that plate tectonics (or whatever geological processes were understood in the early 20th C) wasn't an overarching concern for Tolkien. But once he'd made this world, he made sure that the LOTR characters would see the same phase of the moon at their respective parts of the story.