The Mythology of Tolkien. From Elves and Hobbits to Numenor and the Eye of Sauron

The world of Middle-earth, created by J.R.R. Tolkien under the influence of Celtic, Scandinavian, and Finnish epics, gave rise to a new mythology that, in turn, changed world culture. In this book, folklorist and devoted Tolkienist Alexandra Barkova discusses the origins of the plots of "The Lord of the Rings," "The Hobbit," and "The Silmarillion" and how universal mythological categories that have persisted in human thought since ancient times are refracted in them. A separate chapter is devoted to the subculture of Tolkienists, which has become a source of its own legends and traditions.