Combining songs with story telling

[Munshie]

I have read novels that contain poetry - I think the first one was probably the Hobbit or Lord of the Rings. Personally I didn't really like the poems included, but that's not the point. As far as I am aware people readers don't get worked up about the principle of poems being included to enhance the story telling.

So what about including songs in novels? Is that a step too far?

We're all familiar with the genre of the musical in movies. If one of those films were novelised how would the essential songs be included in the novel? Would people take to such novels?

[YesNo]

One could include the songs by just printing the lyrics. If it were an audio book, or perhaps even an ebook, the song might be included. I don't know if that is possible with ebooks at the moment, but I suspect it is. However, publishers would likely want to market the song separately just as one markets the audio book separately from the ebook now.

[Ecurb]

Much of the poetry in Tolkien's novels is meant to be song lyrics (the dwarves song in The Hobbit, or the song Sam sings to find Frodo in Minus Morgul or the song about Luthien that Aragorn sings on the path to Rivendell). Per the thread in the poetry section, perhaps that explains why they aren't great poetry. (Of course the most famous poem is that inscribed on the One Ring, which is a written inscription.)

"The Jungle Books" contain "song lyrics" (without the tunes), too. A great many novels include poetry, including those by Lewis Carrol, Nabokov (Pale Fire) and Byatt (Possession).

[Munshie]

Much of the poetry in Tolkien's novels is meant to be song lyrics (the dwarves song in The Hobbit, or the song Sam sings to find Frodo in Minus Morgul or the song about Luthien that Aragorn sings on the path to Rivendell). Per the thread in the poetry section, perhaps that explains why they aren't great poetry. (Of course the most famous poem is that inscribed on the One Ring, which is a written inscription.)

"The Jungle Books" contain "song lyrics" (without the tunes), too. A great many novels include poetry, including those by Lewis Carrol, Nabokov (Pale Fire) and Byatt (Possession).

IMO, if it includes only song lyrics, then it's poetry - not a song. :)

[Nikonani]

Would people take to such novels?

Well, Thomas Pynchon certainly thought so, and he won a National Book Award. Your answer is Yes.

[UlyssesE]

Some complain of Tolkiens lyrics, but I always found them to be a smart and intelligent part of his worldbuilding. They can serve a number of functions in literature. It is not coincidence that many include a quote, poem or lyrics at the start of a story. They can help set tone. And during the story, can do things that regular prose can't.

[Munshie]

Some complain of Tolkiens lyrics, but I always found them to be a smart and intelligent part of his worldbuilding. They can serve a number of functions in literature. It is not coincidence that many include a quote, poem or lyrics at the start of a story. They can help set tone. And during the story, can do things that regular prose can't.

What you say may well be the case, but my experience of reading Tolkein was I pretty much skipped the poems, and some of the prose i found boring and overly-detailed. I just was impatient for him to get on with the 'action'. Then again, I read Tolkein when I was 16 - 18 years old. (That's more than 40 years ago!) I can't say I've been tempted to go back and re-read his work. I took the easier option of watching the film versions. I couldn't persuade my son to read Tolkein but he enjoyed going to the cinema to watch the first part of the Hobbit story. BTW my wife who accompanied us, said she nearly died of boredom.

[ennison]

Clever writer for kids.