Thursday, 10 March 2016

lord of the rings - Do regular folk in Middle Earth know about its creation?

Gandalf as one of the Maiar was more than merely well-educated, he was one of the Ainur and therefore actually took part in the creation. So yes, we can assume that he at least knows about it.



Tolkien's view on the origin and nature of the myths shifted back and forth, but the final viewpoint seems to be that given in a note in the Myths Transformed material in History of Middle-earth 10:




The cosmogonic myths are Numenorean, blending Elven-lore with human myth and imagination.




Despite that, all notes attached to the texts of the Ainulindale explicitly specify that it itself was an Elvish work; I give here that from the "D version", likewise sourced from HoME 10:




This was made by Rumil of Tuna in the Elder Days. It is here written as it was spoken in Eressea to AElfwine by Pengolod the Sage. To it are added the further words that Pengolod spoke at that time concerning the Valar, the Eldar and the Atani; of which more is said hereafter.




As to what Balin, Grima or even Barliman Butterbur would know or not know of the creation, I can find no evidence in Tolkien's writings to indicate either way.

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