Letter 324a

The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Letter 324a
Recipient	Phyllis Robertson
Date	10 June 1971
Subject(s)	Corpus Christi

Letter 324a is a letter written by J.R.R. Tolkien and published in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Revised and Expanded edition.

Summary

Tolkien wrote to Phyllis describing the weather in his area, reflecting on how May had been idyllic and consistent with poetic depictions of spring until the end of the month. However, on the day he wrote the letter, the weather had dramatically shifted, with continuous heavy rain persisting throughout the day.

Tolkien humorously remarked on the biblical play-cycles traditionally performed during the feast of Corpus Christi, noting that despite the outdoor performances, there are no historical records of these events being disrupted by rain. He speculated that rain during these performances might have added realism to the story of Noah's Ark but would have been detrimental to the dramatic delivery of other plays, such as the roaring speeches of King Herod.