Metanarrative

That there is a Tolkien quest in search of the narrative form that best suits the needs of his inspiration, is proven by the fact that The Lord of the Rings is always presented as a metaromanzo, a work in progress, a fairy tale that talks about itself. The metanarrative reflection unfolds throughout the book.

During the stop in Rivendell, Bilbo and Frodo meet and talk about the book that Bilbo is writing and which will be finished by Frodo and Sam. It concerns the War of the Ring and is none other than “The Red Book of Western Borders”, that same book which, “revised and corrected by Tolkien”, readers find themselves in the form of “The Lord of the Rings . The debate between Bilbo and Frodo is Tolkien’s reflection on his own work. The writer talks to his character:

“What about helping me with my book, and making a start on the next?” suggests Bilbo / Tolkien

“Have you thought of an ending?”

“Yes, several, and all are dark and unpleasant;” said Frodo. “Books ought to have good endings. How would this do: and they all settled down and lived together happily ever after? “,” It will do well, if it ever comes to that “said Frodo.”

Tolkien is considering with the characters the possibilities of his own tale. What to do with it? A fairy tale with a happy ending, easy to read like The Hobbit? A mirror of real life where happy endings are few?

Up to Rivendell the novel follows in the footsteps of The Hobbit and is quite light. The first chapters, in particular…