Posted: September 07, 1999 at 14:32:48: by shadowfax
: Here's a question, though. I have not read much of HoME (just parts of 1,2 and all of 5) but I haven't found mention of Melkor's inability to create life. In fact, in Quenta Silmarillion (part of HoME 5), Tolkien says that Melkor (or Melko) created the Balrogs. Where does it say (other than Sil) that Melkor couldn't create life?This is a good point. It's dangerous to deduce things by taking a passage Tolkien wrote as an old man, taking another passage from the 1902s, and making some cross-conclusions. Tolkien's work is not wholy consistent, and Tolkien knew this. He changed his mind about things. When talking about these things, we should state whether we main his early or intermediate or final views on ME.
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