Tree and Leaf

Tree and Leaf
by J.R.R. Tolkien
read: 2013

Tree and Leaf is not a novel but a collection of two of J.R.R. Tolkien's earlier works. Pairing them together emphasizes how the themes in the essay "On Fairy-Stories" resonate in the story "Leaf: by Niggle." Tolkien was a devout Christian. Today fantasy novels come under attack for being occult and against Christian values, but Tolkien didn't see it that way. He spells this out explicitly in "On Fairy-Stories," making the case for both the recreational value of fantasy and also its ability to expose the reader to wonder, wonder that ultimately can only come from God. He also makes the case implicitly in "Leaf," telling an allegorical story to prove the value of art and its role in helping people find faith and salvation.

These are the first readings in Professor Corey Olsen's course on Tolkien. I just finished Lord of the Rings, and it'll be interesting to see how he relates Tolkien's world view to his magnum opus, which is much longer and more subtle than "Leaf."