Leaf by Niggle

Journal of tinkerers (English Leaf by Niggle ) is a short story that was (probably in 1943 ) written by JRR Tolkien. It was first published in 1945 in "The Dublin Review" and is now to be found in the books " The Tolkien Reader" and " Fabulous stories ".

Content

Tinker is a small man who vainly endeavored to paint the picture of a fantastic tree. He fixed all his other pictures at the edge of the image which eventually becomes so great that inventors must paint standing on a ladder. The masterpiece will not be finished, as he loses himself in details. He is a painter who leaves can paint better than trees. In addition, inventors also has many other things to do: First, he must go into the city, then visitors come, he will get sick and sometimes he is just being lazy and running things. And there is his neighbor, Mr. Paris. Using the lame leg is bothering him with all kinds of prayers which he can not refuse from kindness, although he feels very disturbed And in the back of the head white tinkerer well that the dreaded "journey" comes closer every day.

One day - much sooner than expected - he is torn from his work in the middle and the journey must begin. He is unceremoniously plugged into the nearest train and because he had no time to pack his bags, he ends up in a poorhouse. There he has to swallow bitter medicine and work hard in the dark, little gets to eat and mourning missed opportunities after. But he learns to better divide his time and work to be done properly, so he comes inside to rest. Mr. Paris also suddenly appears to him in retrospect as a friendly neighbor who has given him excellent potatoes. Finally, tinkerers, after a sort of court in the dark, in which the First and Second part to talk about him and he has the opportunity to stand up for Mr. Paris, discharged as cured. He continues his journey in a brand new train and in fact he is in a wonderful landscape his tree - done. Together with Mr. Paris, who shows up one day with him, he explored the woods, discovered his joy of gardening and eventually breaks with a shepherd in the direction of the mountains, behind which lies the unknown.

Meanwhile, we learn from the conversation of some men that they have actually deported tinkerer much too early for the big pile of garbage because they wanted to get hold of his property. This is the last time that tinkerer name is mentioned - at least on one side of reality. For the land with the wonderful tree is called in the future tinkerer Paris and is very useful for recreation for convalescents - such as the First and Second part are.

Reception

Tolkien himself would have an allegorical interpretation might not agree, because he did not like allegories. " Journal of tinkerers " he wanted to see accordingly understood as a myth. However, he once mentioned in a letter that he wanted to show his " purgatory " story " Journal of tinkerers " in an allegorical manner as the second creation could find their way into creation.