Leaf by Niggle Essay Questions

How can "Leaf by Niggle" be seen as an allegory of Tolkien's own life?

"Leaf by Niggle" is seen by many critics as a sort of allegory representing the author himself, bringing significant elements of autobiography into this short fictional work. Niggle, for example, bears a remarkable resemblance to Tolkien, given room for self-criticism; he is an artistic dreamer who wants nothing more than to be left to himself so he can work on his masterpiece, but there are continually interruptions to this process that rob him of his precious time, such as the neediness of his neighbors, his good heart, and the demands of the "real world." As an academic who loved his fiction more than his job, Niggle seems to be a direct parallel of Tolkien, and his complaints could be those of Tolkien himself.

The most compelling evidence for this story's allegorical nature, however, is the similarity between Niggle's artistic output and that of Tolkien himself. Niggle has made other works of art, but his most important one is a giant Tree, an enormous picture that is almost entirely self-contained as a secondary world. It began with a single detailed leaf, and it seemed to grow of its own accord into a large Tree, complete with dozens of other leaves, branches, bark, trunk, and even a detailed yet fuzzy landscape in the background. This Tree is a direct parallel to Tolkien's master creation, the world of Middle-earth. It began with a "leaf" - The Hobbit, a children's adventure story that he turned into a book and published. From this fantasy world sprung the opportunities for so much more; the subsequent ideas took off, and Tolkien turned them into The Lord of the Rings (the body of the Tree). Finding this world needed more background information and history, Tolkien wrote many volumes of backstory and lore, such as The Silmarillion, that make up the background of the Great Tree.

All of these similarities provide ample evidence for considering "Leaf by Niggle" to be, if not blatantly allegorical, then at least symbolic of Tolkien's own life.

Explain the significance of the Workhouse in the story as it relates to Niggle's overall character arc and the progression of his journey.

The Workhouse seems to be some sort of representation of Purgatory, an idea belonging to certain Christian traditions of an intermediate place between Earth and Paradise where Christians are purged of their sins before entering the presence of God. This is traditionally represented as a place of great suffering, but characterized by an overarching joy (as in Dante's Divine Comedy, specifically Purgatorio). Tolkien's version of the Workhouse, however, does not fit the traditional mold; Niggle is only vaguely uncomfortable instead of suffering, and his existence is characterized more by simple complacency than the extremes of joy and anguish.

The function, however, is the same. After his death, Niggle is sent to this Workhouse on account of his lack of luggage (preparation for "the journey"). At the Workhouse, he is given extensive work to do, mostly menial tasks that fall into the category of physical labor. As he goes about this new routine, he becomes aware that his old habits of viewing time as his birthright have fallen away, replaced by joy and gratitude. His aversion to physical labor similarly passes away without ceremony. Once he is deemed ready to move on to "the next stage" by the Voices, he does so. The function of the Workhouse in Niggle's journey is especially evident in Niggle's perception of it as a sort of hospital. Like in a hospital, Niggle is given bitter medicine, subjected to a sort of physical therapy, and forced to interact with stern nurses and doctors, all of which contribute to his overcoming of his illness and his progression to ultimate spiritual wellness.

How does the story comment on the act of creation and creativity?

At first, it may seem as though the narrative is critical of Niggle's creative energy, as the narrator remarks that Niggle was not necessarily a popular painter and that he struggled to complete his painting before his "long journey." However, by the end of the story, Niggle's creative work becomes a central and important part of the allegorical Afterlife portrayed through Niggle's Parish. The story juxtaposes Niggle's reputation on earth with his contributions to the Afterlife through the conversations between the townspeople and the two Voices at the end. The townspeople write Niggle off as someone who failed to help society as the laws dictate, and they even mock his commitment to his painting. By contrast, the Voices explain that Niggle's Parish has become a worthwhile place to send people before the Mountains, preparing them for the ultimate Afterlife. As such, the story ultimately suggests that creativity is valuable and efficacious, even if it is not always directly valued by society on earth.