#you keep using that word...

[rox-and-prose]

Got called an incel today lmao

[existingcharactersdiehorribly]

Do you put out the fire? Or do you let it burn?

[feste-the-jester]

Once more for the people in the back:

Literary criticism is essentially an opinion, supported by evidence

Literary criticism is NOT a plot summary, a biography of the author, or simply finding fault with the literature.

and

Critical evaluation or assessment requires sufficient knowledge about the subject matter.

“LoL I have to admit to living for a bit of drama myself, or I wouldn’t be doing this, would l?”

Coming up next, on how (not) to write a critique.

[lawyernovelistpersonal]

White Council Remix 3/63

Gandalf: Lady Galadriel.

Galadriel: Mithrandir. [subtitled] It has been a long time.

Gandalf: [subtitled] Age may have changed me, but not so the lady of Lorien.

Galadriel: It hasn't been that long; age hasn't changed you either. Did you forget we're both immortal?

Gandalf: I was trying to be gallant.

Elrond: Please don't; I just ate.

[lawyernovelistpersonal]

White Council Remix 4/63

Gandalf: I had no idea Lord Elrond had sent for you.

Galadriel: Sent for me? What, I can't visit my own son-in-law without being sent for?

Gandalf: Sorry, I assumed -

Galadriel: That I can't do anything without a man's instructions?

Gandalf: Well, uh, obviously Elrond must have summoned you or we'd not be having this meeting at Elrond's house.

Galadriel: So you're the only person who can show up uninvited?

Saruman: Actually, Elrond didn't summon her; I did.

Gandalf: See, I was almost right.

[lawyernovelistpersonal]

White Council Remix 17/63

Gandalf: Smaug owes allegiance to no one. But if he should side with the enemy, a dragon could be used to terrible effect.

Saruman: What enemy? Gandalf, the enemy is defeated. Sauron is vanquished. He can never regain his full strength.

Elrond: What? Is that a joke? Because as the only person here who was present during the final battle of the Last Alliance, I don't find it all that funny. You know as well as I do, Saruman, that Sauron will never truly be destroyed while the One Ring survives.

Saruman: The One is lost; it fell from Isildur's hand and was rolled down to the Sea, as I have often said.

Elrond: Lost is not destroyed. Perhaps Sauron cannot regain his full strength without his Ring, but he is not vanquished and, in fact, could have even more use for a powerful servant. Continue, Gandalf.

[lawyernovelistpersonal]

White Council Remix 38/63

Saruman: The question of this dwarvish company, however, troubles me deeply. I’m not convinced, Gandalf. I do not feel I can condone such a quest.

Galadriel: I don't think 'condone' is the word you want.

Saruman: What?

Galadriel: 'Condone' implies that you're giving sanction to an action by someone under your authority - for example, if Haldir were to chase a patrol of Moria Goblins all the way back to the Dimrill Dale when I'd told him just to make sure they stayed clear of the banks of the Nimrodel, I might condone his actions - but Thorin is not under your authority. I think the word you want is 'support'.

Saruman: Does it matter?

Galadriel: Yes, because we were created by an expert in language who is already turning in his grave. There's no need to make matters worse by refusing to put in the effort to choose the right word rather than a word that means something broadly similar to the right word if you squint.

[lawyernovelistpersonal]

White Council Remix 39/63

Saruman: The question of this dwarvish company, however, troubles me deeply. I’m not convinced, Gandalf. I do not feel I can condone such a quest.

Galadriel: I don't think 'condone' is the word you want. In fact, I'm surprised Gandalf isn't quibbling this, given that you're claiming authority over Thorin.

Gandalf: Well, he's actually right; wizards have authority over all Middle-earth. That's why we're allowed to overrule any decisions made by anybody else if they don't accord with our own opinions of what's best for our aims.

Elrond: Both of you, out of my house and back to Mordor where you belong!