311: Tolkien's Leaf by Niggle and Farmer Giles of Ham

<p>The boys drink and review Sweet Baby Banana by DuClaw, then discuss two short works by Tolkien. </p> <p>In this latest installment of their &quot;shortcut to the classics&quot; series, Longinus joins Pigweed and Crowhill to review these two interesting stories. </p> <p>Niggle is a quiet little man who would like to spend his life on his grand work, which was a painting of a tree. His neighbor, Parish, keeps interrupting him with irritating requests. Niggle helps Parish when he can, but fails to prepare for a long journey, and is caught unawares when the day comes. </p> <p>The story can be interpreted as an allegory about death, Purgatory, and the beatific vision. It also touches on the legacy of a man and his art, and man as a subcreator. </p> <p>Farmer Giles is a much sillier story about a simple man who becomes the unlikely local hero that scares away a giant and defeats a dragon, with the help of a magical sword and a talking dog. </p> <p>These stories illustrate two different elements of Tolkien&#39;s writing: philosophical seriousness, and light, silly writing. </p>