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

The English writer John Ronald Reuel Tolkien can rightfully be called the lord of the thoughts of an entire generation. And not just one generation – the popularity of his books, which gave rise to a true subculture, grows with each passing decade. "The Lord of the Rings" has been recognized as one of the most read works in the history of world literature. First published in 1954–1955, the novel maintains a constant interest among new and new generations of readers.
Within the framework of the subculture, "The Lord of the Rings" ceases to be exclusively a work of art; it becomes the primary element of a special world and simultaneously a testimony to the existence of this world.
In order to partly approach an understanding of this world, we will attempt to analyze it in several aspects. First, as a reflection of a system of knowledge drawn from the natural and exact sciences (which creates an exceptionally credible material basis for the world). Secondly, we will examine the world of Middle-earth through the lens of three cultures that inspired Tolkien: Celtic, Scandinavian, and Finnish. And thirdly, we will provide an overview of images and plots from the perspective of typology, that is, the refracting of universal mythological categories within the text, which have been preserved at a deep level in human thought from ancient times to the present day.