There's another layer to the Fox mystery. How did his private thoughts come to be recorded in the Red Book?
I like the theory that he's from Valinor---and I also wonder if the writers of the Red Book learned about his thoughts secondhand through Gandalf, who heard it from Radagast.
Maybe, in-universe, the hobbits had a whole pile of animal quotes that didn't make it into the final cut!
I can't remember offhand (and I am not at home with my books), but in The Hobbit, wasn't Beorn also conversing with animals/ beasts, and wasn't Bard given knowledge of Smaug’s weakness by the bird sent by Bilbo?
I’ve always loved our talking fox friend! His existence has always been proof to me that Tolkien enjoyed a bit of whimsy and added another layer to the world-building for Middle-Earth. I appreciate your theory about how he came to exist. I had never thought about it that deeply before.
Tolkien definitely loved his whimsy! There's actually a lot of it to be found in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. And the Fox is a beloved example. Thanks for reading. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
I def like the view of the fox being from Valinor. In part it’s because we know for a fact they had them there by way of Mahtan Urundil’s nickname of Rusco (‘fox’). Probably came over on the Fëanorian ships as Rusco’s older grandson, Maitimo Russandol Nelyafinwë (Maedhros), could’ve possibly be fond of them along with Ambarussa. I don’t know, I see the three redheads of Fëanáro as keeping the vulpine association & having some as pets/companions.
I've also always read this as a moment of whimsy, a playfulness from Tolkien. It's seeming randomness is probably part of the reason it stands out so much to me every read through. Even though it's early in the book I'm left wondering about it for a long time after.
I take it as mystery, and I appreciate the depth you've added to the "randomness" of it, Breanne. It's something to look on with wonder, knowing there will never be a definitive answer about it. I love to think that it's a nod to the mysterium of Ilúvatar, and by extension, the Valar in the thought and designs of Arda and the life within it.
Yes, it's probably the thing that intrigues me the most about the works of Tolkien; the room he gives for exploration and further mystery. That all of this came from one man's mind is truly staggering.
I think the fox is a remnant of the tone of straight “Hobbit” sequel that the work began as. It reminds me more of the good and intelligent beasts of Beorn’s house more than Huan. There are other remnants in the early chapters, the dragon firework “passed like an express train” comes to mind. I’m glad the fox was never removed in the editing process because I think the shift in tone from the world of The Hobbit to something much grander over the course of the work is what makes L.R. so enduring. Although I’m not sold on the Valinor theory, who can say? That’s what makes it fun. 🦊
This post is more about imagining an "in-universe" answer for the existence of the Fox. I do think, practically in the real world, the Fox was a leftover vestige from the more whimsical mood of The Hobbit (which I love). This post was about exploring the mythology itself and what wider theories that opens us up to. Thanks for reading!
I have a slightly different take: Since Tolkien was very knowledgeable about medieval literature, he understood how the fox was used in the literature of the time. Of course, the fox has always been considered "crafty," "clever," and "deceitful," but the fox in FOTR does not display these characteristics. This leads me to believe, then, that Tolkien uses the fox in one of the lesser-known medieval ways: Fox tales were used as critiques of society and as cautionary tales, warning against the dangers of deception and the importance of remaining vigilant against falsehood and evil.
So, I think Tolkien inserted this little scene to give the knowing reader a hint that the hobbits' lack of fear or naivete, even in the heart of the Shire, was mistaken, and that they should have been more vigilant against the evil that hunted them. BTW, the fox's comment about them sleeping out of doors points out just how vulnerable they were, not even concealed and protected by a hobbit-hole or house!
Your take is more of literary analysis of what messaging the author might have been trying to convey in that scene and I definitely see what you mean. I agree with you. This post is more about imagining an "in-universe" answer for the existence of the Fox. Both ideas compliment each other from my perspective!
I love this! I remember reading that section and then actually laughing out loud because it was so random but cute. I like the idea that this fox is a descendant from Valinor. I mean there are trees with family roots (haha) from Valinor, why not foxes? I choose to err on the side of whimsy.
Erring on the side of whimsy sounds like a solid plan to me! And yes, it's such a cute little moment. I love it every time I come back to read it in Fellowship of the Ring.
I’ve always subscribed to the theory that the fox is just a bit of Tolkien whimsy woven into the light-hearted tone of the beginning of the Trilogy, but I think your post changed my mind. I also believe now that the fox is a descendant of Valinor, and the reason I now believe this is because it gives the scene a touch of melancholic irony: the fox questions the presence of the hobbits, never realizing that their presence (and unbeknownst to him, their quest) is the very thing that will keep the old Magic alive in the world, the same old Magic that allowed for his existence as a sentient woodland creature.
There’s also a fun theory that the fox is descended from Númenor, which again, lends beautiful irony to this scene in that the hobbits’ quest is the thing that will also restore the Númenorean line in Middle-earth.
I love knowing that this post maybe changed your mind (and that you're the sort of person who is open to changing their mind). Your note about the fox not knowing that the Hobbits' quest is the very thing that will keep the Magic alive in the world really delighted me. Thank you for sharing that!
And I hadn't heard about the theory of the fox being from Númenor. I'll have to look into that one!
There's another layer to the Fox mystery. How did his private thoughts come to be recorded in the Red Book?
I like the theory that he's from Valinor---and I also wonder if the writers of the Red Book learned about his thoughts secondhand through Gandalf, who heard it from Radagast.
Maybe, in-universe, the hobbits had a whole pile of animal quotes that didn't make it into the final cut!
I can't remember offhand (and I am not at home with my books), but in The Hobbit, wasn't Beorn also conversing with animals/ beasts, and wasn't Bard given knowledge of Smaug’s weakness by the bird sent by Bilbo?
I’ve always loved our talking fox friend! His existence has always been proof to me that Tolkien enjoyed a bit of whimsy and added another layer to the world-building for Middle-Earth. I appreciate your theory about how he came to exist. I had never thought about it that deeply before.
Tolkien definitely loved his whimsy! There's actually a lot of it to be found in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. And the Fox is a beloved example. Thanks for reading. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
I def like the view of the fox being from Valinor. In part it’s because we know for a fact they had them there by way of Mahtan Urundil’s nickname of Rusco (‘fox’). Probably came over on the Fëanorian ships as Rusco’s older grandson, Maitimo Russandol Nelyafinwë (Maedhros), could’ve possibly be fond of them along with Ambarussa. I don’t know, I see the three redheads of Fëanáro as keeping the vulpine association & having some as pets/companions.
I love that you added in these layers. It fits so well even if we don't have explicit confirmation from the author!
I've also always read this as a moment of whimsy, a playfulness from Tolkien. It's seeming randomness is probably part of the reason it stands out so much to me every read through. Even though it's early in the book I'm left wondering about it for a long time after.
I take it as mystery, and I appreciate the depth you've added to the "randomness" of it, Breanne. It's something to look on with wonder, knowing there will never be a definitive answer about it. I love to think that it's a nod to the mysterium of Ilúvatar, and by extension, the Valar in the thought and designs of Arda and the life within it.
Yes, it's probably the thing that intrigues me the most about the works of Tolkien; the room he gives for exploration and further mystery. That all of this came from one man's mind is truly staggering.
I think the fox is a remnant of the tone of straight “Hobbit” sequel that the work began as. It reminds me more of the good and intelligent beasts of Beorn’s house more than Huan. There are other remnants in the early chapters, the dragon firework “passed like an express train” comes to mind. I’m glad the fox was never removed in the editing process because I think the shift in tone from the world of The Hobbit to something much grander over the course of the work is what makes L.R. so enduring. Although I’m not sold on the Valinor theory, who can say? That’s what makes it fun. 🦊
This post is more about imagining an "in-universe" answer for the existence of the Fox. I do think, practically in the real world, the Fox was a leftover vestige from the more whimsical mood of The Hobbit (which I love). This post was about exploring the mythology itself and what wider theories that opens us up to. Thanks for reading!
Yeah, sorry if I came across as neg.
I have a slightly different take: Since Tolkien was very knowledgeable about medieval literature, he understood how the fox was used in the literature of the time. Of course, the fox has always been considered "crafty," "clever," and "deceitful," but the fox in FOTR does not display these characteristics. This leads me to believe, then, that Tolkien uses the fox in one of the lesser-known medieval ways: Fox tales were used as critiques of society and as cautionary tales, warning against the dangers of deception and the importance of remaining vigilant against falsehood and evil.
So, I think Tolkien inserted this little scene to give the knowing reader a hint that the hobbits' lack of fear or naivete, even in the heart of the Shire, was mistaken, and that they should have been more vigilant against the evil that hunted them. BTW, the fox's comment about them sleeping out of doors points out just how vulnerable they were, not even concealed and protected by a hobbit-hole or house!
Your take is more of literary analysis of what messaging the author might have been trying to convey in that scene and I definitely see what you mean. I agree with you. This post is more about imagining an "in-universe" answer for the existence of the Fox. Both ideas compliment each other from my perspective!
An alternative in-universe "origin story" for the fox is that the elves taught language to foxes just as they did to trees, producing the Ents.
I love this! I remember reading that section and then actually laughing out loud because it was so random but cute. I like the idea that this fox is a descendant from Valinor. I mean there are trees with family roots (haha) from Valinor, why not foxes? I choose to err on the side of whimsy.
Erring on the side of whimsy sounds like a solid plan to me! And yes, it's such a cute little moment. I love it every time I come back to read it in Fellowship of the Ring.
I’ve always subscribed to the theory that the fox is just a bit of Tolkien whimsy woven into the light-hearted tone of the beginning of the Trilogy, but I think your post changed my mind. I also believe now that the fox is a descendant of Valinor, and the reason I now believe this is because it gives the scene a touch of melancholic irony: the fox questions the presence of the hobbits, never realizing that their presence (and unbeknownst to him, their quest) is the very thing that will keep the old Magic alive in the world, the same old Magic that allowed for his existence as a sentient woodland creature.
There’s also a fun theory that the fox is descended from Númenor, which again, lends beautiful irony to this scene in that the hobbits’ quest is the thing that will also restore the Númenorean line in Middle-earth.
All unbeknownst to the fox.
I love knowing that this post maybe changed your mind (and that you're the sort of person who is open to changing their mind). Your note about the fox not knowing that the Hobbits' quest is the very thing that will keep the Magic alive in the world really delighted me. Thank you for sharing that!
And I hadn't heard about the theory of the fox being from Númenor. I'll have to look into that one!