Is there a connection between the Red Book of Westmarch, The Hobbit, and Lord of the Rings?












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Ostensibly, the Red Book of Westmarch includes the stories of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. However, the narrator's style and knowledge seem quite different between the two latter books. That is, in The Hobbit the narrator knows the entire story, referring to future events and feelings, yet is somehow bound by time, not delving into too much backgroud when there isn't enough time. Conversely, iirc, in Lord of the Rings, the narrator is simply a narrator, telling over the events as they happen, perhaps with a more serious tone.



Is there a connection between the Red Book of Westmarch, The Hobbit, and Lord of the Rings? That is, are they one and the same? Is the Red Book just source material for a later writer to author the other books? Or, is there no connection at all, the Red Book existing inside the world, The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings outside it.










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    19















    Ostensibly, the Red Book of Westmarch includes the stories of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. However, the narrator's style and knowledge seem quite different between the two latter books. That is, in The Hobbit the narrator knows the entire story, referring to future events and feelings, yet is somehow bound by time, not delving into too much backgroud when there isn't enough time. Conversely, iirc, in Lord of the Rings, the narrator is simply a narrator, telling over the events as they happen, perhaps with a more serious tone.



    Is there a connection between the Red Book of Westmarch, The Hobbit, and Lord of the Rings? That is, are they one and the same? Is the Red Book just source material for a later writer to author the other books? Or, is there no connection at all, the Red Book existing inside the world, The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings outside it.










    share|improve this question



























      19












      19








      19


      1






      Ostensibly, the Red Book of Westmarch includes the stories of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. However, the narrator's style and knowledge seem quite different between the two latter books. That is, in The Hobbit the narrator knows the entire story, referring to future events and feelings, yet is somehow bound by time, not delving into too much backgroud when there isn't enough time. Conversely, iirc, in Lord of the Rings, the narrator is simply a narrator, telling over the events as they happen, perhaps with a more serious tone.



      Is there a connection between the Red Book of Westmarch, The Hobbit, and Lord of the Rings? That is, are they one and the same? Is the Red Book just source material for a later writer to author the other books? Or, is there no connection at all, the Red Book existing inside the world, The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings outside it.










      share|improve this question
















      Ostensibly, the Red Book of Westmarch includes the stories of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. However, the narrator's style and knowledge seem quite different between the two latter books. That is, in The Hobbit the narrator knows the entire story, referring to future events and feelings, yet is somehow bound by time, not delving into too much backgroud when there isn't enough time. Conversely, iirc, in Lord of the Rings, the narrator is simply a narrator, telling over the events as they happen, perhaps with a more serious tone.



      Is there a connection between the Red Book of Westmarch, The Hobbit, and Lord of the Rings? That is, are they one and the same? Is the Red Book just source material for a later writer to author the other books? Or, is there no connection at all, the Red Book existing inside the world, The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings outside it.







      the-lord-of-the-rings tolkiens-legendarium the-hobbit






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      edited Mar 12 '17 at 2:37









      Rand al'Thor

      98k42465654




      98k42465654










      asked Jul 8 '14 at 13:16









      please delete meplease delete me

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          2 Answers
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          25














          The Red Book of Westmarch is actually a total of 5 volumes, comprising the collected writings of both Bilbo and Frodo, the first book containing both There and Back Again (Bilbo's memoirs aka The Hobbit), and The Downfall of the Lord of the Rings and The Return of the King (The LOTR trilogy), a further three-volume work titled Translations from the Elvish (Bilbo's translations of Elvish writings from the Elder Days, published as The Silmarillion), and a 5th volume on Hobbit genealogical tables and other miscellany (Contained in the appendices to the LOTR).



          The Real World published versions of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion are supposed to be translations of the respective portions of the Red Book (actually from a copy of the Red Book possessed by Tolkien known as Thain's Book) from the original languages into English.






          share|improve this answer


























          • Who is the narrator then?

            – please delete me
            Jul 8 '14 at 15:56






          • 7





            Bilbo is narrating in third person the There and Back Again portions, and Frodo similarly the Downfall portions.

            – ilinamorato
            Jul 8 '14 at 16:17











          • In other words, it's all Found Footage.

            – Spencer
            Mar 9 at 13:42



















          13














          The concept in LOTR is that the Red Book of Westmarch includes the material we know as both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, but the earlier "Hobbit" chapters were written by Bilbo, while the later ones were written by Frodo. This explains the differences in style between the two.



          As I recall the Red Book is described towards the end of Return of the King as starting with pages in Bilbo's handwriting, but soon changing to Frodo's script.






          share|improve this answer


























          • I thought that Sam wrote the "LOTR" chapters?

            – Jerry Schirmer
            Jul 10 '14 at 16:38











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          2 Answers
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          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

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          active

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          active

          oldest

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          25














          The Red Book of Westmarch is actually a total of 5 volumes, comprising the collected writings of both Bilbo and Frodo, the first book containing both There and Back Again (Bilbo's memoirs aka The Hobbit), and The Downfall of the Lord of the Rings and The Return of the King (The LOTR trilogy), a further three-volume work titled Translations from the Elvish (Bilbo's translations of Elvish writings from the Elder Days, published as The Silmarillion), and a 5th volume on Hobbit genealogical tables and other miscellany (Contained in the appendices to the LOTR).



          The Real World published versions of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion are supposed to be translations of the respective portions of the Red Book (actually from a copy of the Red Book possessed by Tolkien known as Thain's Book) from the original languages into English.






          share|improve this answer


























          • Who is the narrator then?

            – please delete me
            Jul 8 '14 at 15:56






          • 7





            Bilbo is narrating in third person the There and Back Again portions, and Frodo similarly the Downfall portions.

            – ilinamorato
            Jul 8 '14 at 16:17











          • In other words, it's all Found Footage.

            – Spencer
            Mar 9 at 13:42
















          25














          The Red Book of Westmarch is actually a total of 5 volumes, comprising the collected writings of both Bilbo and Frodo, the first book containing both There and Back Again (Bilbo's memoirs aka The Hobbit), and The Downfall of the Lord of the Rings and The Return of the King (The LOTR trilogy), a further three-volume work titled Translations from the Elvish (Bilbo's translations of Elvish writings from the Elder Days, published as The Silmarillion), and a 5th volume on Hobbit genealogical tables and other miscellany (Contained in the appendices to the LOTR).



          The Real World published versions of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion are supposed to be translations of the respective portions of the Red Book (actually from a copy of the Red Book possessed by Tolkien known as Thain's Book) from the original languages into English.






          share|improve this answer


























          • Who is the narrator then?

            – please delete me
            Jul 8 '14 at 15:56






          • 7





            Bilbo is narrating in third person the There and Back Again portions, and Frodo similarly the Downfall portions.

            – ilinamorato
            Jul 8 '14 at 16:17











          • In other words, it's all Found Footage.

            – Spencer
            Mar 9 at 13:42














          25












          25








          25







          The Red Book of Westmarch is actually a total of 5 volumes, comprising the collected writings of both Bilbo and Frodo, the first book containing both There and Back Again (Bilbo's memoirs aka The Hobbit), and The Downfall of the Lord of the Rings and The Return of the King (The LOTR trilogy), a further three-volume work titled Translations from the Elvish (Bilbo's translations of Elvish writings from the Elder Days, published as The Silmarillion), and a 5th volume on Hobbit genealogical tables and other miscellany (Contained in the appendices to the LOTR).



          The Real World published versions of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion are supposed to be translations of the respective portions of the Red Book (actually from a copy of the Red Book possessed by Tolkien known as Thain's Book) from the original languages into English.






          share|improve this answer















          The Red Book of Westmarch is actually a total of 5 volumes, comprising the collected writings of both Bilbo and Frodo, the first book containing both There and Back Again (Bilbo's memoirs aka The Hobbit), and The Downfall of the Lord of the Rings and The Return of the King (The LOTR trilogy), a further three-volume work titled Translations from the Elvish (Bilbo's translations of Elvish writings from the Elder Days, published as The Silmarillion), and a 5th volume on Hobbit genealogical tables and other miscellany (Contained in the appendices to the LOTR).



          The Real World published versions of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion are supposed to be translations of the respective portions of the Red Book (actually from a copy of the Red Book possessed by Tolkien known as Thain's Book) from the original languages into English.







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited Mar 9 at 10:21









          Glorfindel

          4481614




          4481614










          answered Jul 8 '14 at 14:39









          Compro01Compro01

          3,2671723




          3,2671723













          • Who is the narrator then?

            – please delete me
            Jul 8 '14 at 15:56






          • 7





            Bilbo is narrating in third person the There and Back Again portions, and Frodo similarly the Downfall portions.

            – ilinamorato
            Jul 8 '14 at 16:17











          • In other words, it's all Found Footage.

            – Spencer
            Mar 9 at 13:42



















          • Who is the narrator then?

            – please delete me
            Jul 8 '14 at 15:56






          • 7





            Bilbo is narrating in third person the There and Back Again portions, and Frodo similarly the Downfall portions.

            – ilinamorato
            Jul 8 '14 at 16:17











          • In other words, it's all Found Footage.

            – Spencer
            Mar 9 at 13:42

















          Who is the narrator then?

          – please delete me
          Jul 8 '14 at 15:56





          Who is the narrator then?

          – please delete me
          Jul 8 '14 at 15:56




          7




          7





          Bilbo is narrating in third person the There and Back Again portions, and Frodo similarly the Downfall portions.

          – ilinamorato
          Jul 8 '14 at 16:17





          Bilbo is narrating in third person the There and Back Again portions, and Frodo similarly the Downfall portions.

          – ilinamorato
          Jul 8 '14 at 16:17













          In other words, it's all Found Footage.

          – Spencer
          Mar 9 at 13:42





          In other words, it's all Found Footage.

          – Spencer
          Mar 9 at 13:42













          13














          The concept in LOTR is that the Red Book of Westmarch includes the material we know as both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, but the earlier "Hobbit" chapters were written by Bilbo, while the later ones were written by Frodo. This explains the differences in style between the two.



          As I recall the Red Book is described towards the end of Return of the King as starting with pages in Bilbo's handwriting, but soon changing to Frodo's script.






          share|improve this answer


























          • I thought that Sam wrote the "LOTR" chapters?

            – Jerry Schirmer
            Jul 10 '14 at 16:38
















          13














          The concept in LOTR is that the Red Book of Westmarch includes the material we know as both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, but the earlier "Hobbit" chapters were written by Bilbo, while the later ones were written by Frodo. This explains the differences in style between the two.



          As I recall the Red Book is described towards the end of Return of the King as starting with pages in Bilbo's handwriting, but soon changing to Frodo's script.






          share|improve this answer


























          • I thought that Sam wrote the "LOTR" chapters?

            – Jerry Schirmer
            Jul 10 '14 at 16:38














          13












          13








          13







          The concept in LOTR is that the Red Book of Westmarch includes the material we know as both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, but the earlier "Hobbit" chapters were written by Bilbo, while the later ones were written by Frodo. This explains the differences in style between the two.



          As I recall the Red Book is described towards the end of Return of the King as starting with pages in Bilbo's handwriting, but soon changing to Frodo's script.






          share|improve this answer















          The concept in LOTR is that the Red Book of Westmarch includes the material we know as both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, but the earlier "Hobbit" chapters were written by Bilbo, while the later ones were written by Frodo. This explains the differences in style between the two.



          As I recall the Red Book is described towards the end of Return of the King as starting with pages in Bilbo's handwriting, but soon changing to Frodo's script.







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited Jul 9 '14 at 7:09









          Liath

          7,22385196




          7,22385196










          answered Jul 8 '14 at 13:25









          Royal Canadian BanditRoyal Canadian Bandit

          33.8k6105129




          33.8k6105129













          • I thought that Sam wrote the "LOTR" chapters?

            – Jerry Schirmer
            Jul 10 '14 at 16:38



















          • I thought that Sam wrote the "LOTR" chapters?

            – Jerry Schirmer
            Jul 10 '14 at 16:38

















          I thought that Sam wrote the "LOTR" chapters?

          – Jerry Schirmer
          Jul 10 '14 at 16:38





          I thought that Sam wrote the "LOTR" chapters?

          – Jerry Schirmer
          Jul 10 '14 at 16:38


















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