All great stories have to start somewhere. They gain special shape through different layers of author’s experience. However, they could only become exquisite when they continue living outside of author’s mind. There is no need to prove that the stories depicted in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings received their special lives. In fact, they belong to the popular culture phenomenon that is addressed to many (Hall 1). Not only do they continue living after the death of J.R.R. Tolkien, but they also remain an inspiration for the myriads of other minds in various fields. Tolkien is a prominent writer who managed to connect with people of different backgrounds, professions, nations, and ages. Because of the richness and complexity, his stories’ influence is undeniable. In this essay, we are going to analyze the impact of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings on the life of the twentieth century when the books about hobbits’ adventures had just been published. There is no doubt that the works of J.R.R. Tolkien has given new aspects to the literature, helped to shape new movements in the 1960s, and changed the perception of inner home.
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings have brought new meaning to the genre of fantasy. This genre was widely admired long before Tolkien decided to create his own stories, but he did something surprisingly unusual to the growing popularity of ‘serious heroic fantasy’ (Shippey 378). He managed to create a vivid picture of the imagined reality. His heroes possess family trees and follow a special calendar. When we are talking about the works of Tolkien, we could not refer to them as to simple fairy tales. Instead, they show how complex the world of fantasy could be. For instance, Tolkien gave special features to particular races. By providing his characters with the special traits, he made people believe in the existence of elves, dwarves, orcs, and hobbits. It influenced other writers to produce similar stories about the imagined creatures. Some of the writers are Terry Brooks, Robert, Jordan, and Denis L. McKiernan (Hall 19). As a result, his tradition was transformed to the works of others. Fortunately, his complexity inspired authors not only to borrow his ideas, but also to create their unique worlds. According to Tom Shippey, to the second group of writers, we could add Terry Pratchett and J.K. Rowling. Additionally, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are the examples of an accurate and methodological work which unites Tolkien’s passions. He combined myths and poems in order to make better “dramatic and comparative” effects (Stanton 27). He used his linguistics skills in order to make a new language. All his attempts made the genre of fantasy more serious and complex. It turns to be what inspires people for so many years.
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are the multi-layered texts which also played a crucial part in the response to the industrialization and wars. The stories were born during Tolkien’s service in World War I (Hooker 37-47). Although he did not like to associate his books as an allegory to war, the readers tend to find conscious and unconscious connections between Middle-east and the reality of that time. Sue Zlosnik mentions that The Lord of the Rings is filled with the “fears of a twentieth century,” such as tyranny, deforestation, growing industrialization, and wars (Zlosnik 117). Obviously, the authors cannot avoid modern problems even in the fantasy. Tolkien has also transmitted his worries and experience into the texts. It is another thing that made The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings so appealing to the public because the feelings conveyed in the stories are familiar. For instance, Sam’s devotion to Frodo was clear to the soldiers of World War One. His image was taken from the real batman who helped Tolkien during the war (Hooker 37). Being based on the sincerity of the author, the texts also became important during the American “counterculture” in the 1960s (Shippey 382). Tolkien is one of a few authors that could have been proud of influencing the whole culture of flower children who were trying to resist industrializations and wars in a peaceful way. The images of Frodo and Gandalf were highly popular in the slogans during the 1960s. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings could be both an intimate representation of Tolkien’s experience and an inspiration in the fight against injustice in the real world.
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings show how it is vital for people to find their home. The adventures of Bilbo and Frodo had a great influence on human minds, especially on those that were restless and could not fit in. To my mind, after reading The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, many had started their journeys. For example, Robert Piant started his personal journey with the themes from Tolkien’s Middle-east. He has taken those themes to Led Zeppelin eventually (Hall 14). Some might also head for new destinations and fight against obstacles from the outer and inner worlds. Some might remain in one place but also fight against the same obstacles. What unites them is the belief that they would come back to the Shire and, more importantly, to themselves. As it was mentioned before, Tolkien created something more complex than an ordinary fairy tale. He filled his stories with lessons which help to find support during the darkest times. Tolkien shows the power of friendship and how it helps to find the way to personal understanding. During this way, both the heroes from the stories and the heroes from the real life will face many challenges. However, Tolkien inspires and reassures that the journey will be rewarding.
Drawing the conclusion, it is worth mentioning that J.R.R. Tolkien is the greatest author of fantasy literature. His impact on this genre is huge as he showed how complex and deep could be an imagined world. His most famous books, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, have an influence not only on the literature, but also on the culture of the 1960s as he managed to speak to the ‘counterculture’ through his personal experience and inspire young generation to save nature and other nations. His impact could be seen in the crowd, but he helps also every individual to find their home together with Bilbo and Frodo. Consequently, it is not surprising that The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings still live in the hearts of their readers.
Works Cited
Hall, Michael A. “The Influence of J.R.R. Tolkien on Popular Culture.” Southern Illinois University, 2005. Honors Theses. Web. 20 Mar. 2016.
Hooker, Mark T. “Frodo’s Batmant.” J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings: New Edition. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Infobase Publishin, 2008. 37-47. PDF.
Shippey, Tom. “Literature, Twentieth Century: Influence of Tolkien.” J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarships and Critical Assessments. Ed. Michael D.C. Drout. New York: Routledge. Taylor & Francis Group, 2007. PDF.
Stanton, Michael N. “Mind, Spirit, and Dream in The Lord of the Rings.” J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings: New Edition. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Infobase Publishin, 2008. 27-36. PDF.
Zlosnik, Sue. “Gothic Echoes.” J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings: New Edition. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Infobase Publishin, 2008. 117-128. PDF.
