Leaf by Niggle

An allusion is an indirect reference to something outside the text—often another work of literature, but sometimes a historical event or figure, an idea, etc. “Leaf by Niggle” contains several allusions to the Bible and Christian belief broadly. For example, the shepherd Niggle and Mr. Parish meet alludes to the biblical image of Jesus as a shepherd tending to his flock (humanity), while Niggle’s “summons to a King’s feast” alludes to another image of Jesus (112)—as king. More specifically, the summons alludes to Matthew 22:1-14, which liken heaven to a feast held by a king, solidifying what follows as a representation of the afterlife. However, the most significant allusion is likely Niggle’s tree itself, which evokes the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden. Tolkien consistently capitalizes Niggle’s tree, suggesting that it is not simply a tree but unique or archetypal in some way. It later appears, perfected, in the region Niggle settles in after leaving the workhouse. While this area is not quite heaven, it is paradisical: A stream in the forest, combined with a “tonic” from the workhouse, heals all of Niggle and Mr. Parish’s pains. The story eventually begins to refer to Niggle’s tree as the “Great Tree,” further underscoring its importance and strengthening the association with Eden.