Leaf by Niggle

Niggle’s tree is the focal point of the entire story, and the reason Niggle has a difficult time preparing for his journey. However, the leaves and branches that continually grow and expand symbolize the unpredictability of life and the creative cycle. The narrator remarks that “it had begun with a leaf” and kept growing larger and larger from there (88). The leaf is a symbolic reminder that even the smallest concepts and ideas, no matter how insignificant, can grow and develop into something amazing. Moreover, the sprawling branches and roots that come from this single leaf are indicative of the creative process, especially for artists. Though Niggle felt like the picture just kept getting bigger and bigger over time, he trusted the process of creating his art despite receiving critical remarks from his neighbors. Though Niggle never physically finishes his masterpiece before he must take his long journey, a corner of his canvas is preserved in a museum. By adding this small detail to the story, Tolkien is validating Niggle’s struggle with his own creative process, because even though Niggle didn’t quite finish his picture and he wasn’t considered very good at painting, people still recognized the worth of his picture, and they only got to see one very tiny corner of it.