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To many, perhaps to most people outside the small company of the great scholars, past and present, 'Celtic' of any sort is, nonetheless, a magic bag, into which anything may be put, and out of which almost anything may come. ... Anything is possible in the fabulous Celtic twilight, which is not so much a twilight of the gods as of the reason.

J. R. R. Tolkien#34

LanguageCultureHistoryMysteryMythReason

About this quote

What does it mean?
The term 'Celtic' is often used as a vague container for anything mysterious or undefined.
In plain terms
People use 'Celtic' to mean anything they want without clear meaning.
What can you take from it?
Vague labels can obscure reason and promote mystification.

Where it applies

  • discussing cultural history
  • analyzing terms
  • reading folklore

Putting it to work

  • define terms clearly
  • question vague labels

Questions to consider

  • How do you define cultural terms?
  • When does mystery become misleading?

Another view

Some ambiguity allows for artistic freedom and interpretation.

More from J. R. R. Tolkien

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  2. No language is justly studied merely as an aid to other purposes. It will in fact better serve other purposes, philological or historical, when it is studied f…

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  3. The blossom on the Great Tree was shining like flame. All the birds were flying in the air and singing. Then he smiled, and nodded to Parish, and went off with…

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