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But there is also, I suppose, a real question of taste involved: a judgment that the heroic or tragic story on a strictly human plane is superior. Doom is held less literary than ἁμαρτία [sin]. The proposition seems to have been passed as self-evident. I dissent, even at the risk of being held incorrect or not sober.

—J. R. R. Tolkien, “Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics”

Discussion

    • I’ll add a footnote. Ἁμαρτία is sin; Tolkien is basically making the same point I made (using his works as an example!) here last week: some folk think internal conflict is far more interesting than external.

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      • Eric Dorbin thought to say:

        Ah, it makes sense now. It is an excellent point and I quite like the way he presents it. His use of doom especially is atypical in today’s vernacular. I tip my hat to both of you.

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