One blogger sums up Tolkien's influence on the fantasy genre writing, "J.R.R. Tolkien is to epic fantasy what Jimi Hendrix is to rock guitar; what Edgar Allan Poe is to horror stories; what William Shakespeare is to drama. It is impossible to write an epic fantasy without being somehow influenced (directly or indirectly) by the work of Tolkien. The man did not necessarily invent the fantasy genre, but he did create the modern conception of what epic fantasy looks and feels like." (Fultz, 2013) No, Tolkien did not invent the fantasy genre. Influence and change, yes. Invent, no. The Lord of the Rings was an achievement in and a promoter of the "genre of fantasy, so much of which was allowed to blossom through Tolkien's pioneering work in creating modern fantasy for an adult readership." (Duriez, 2012 )
Hoards of scholars and laypeople alike have come together under the common umbrella of The Lord of the Rings forming societies and interest groups. Richard Plotz, founder of the Tolkien Society, described the society's meetings in an interview.
"We eat hobbit food, but, basically, when we get together, it's an ordinary meeting-type setup. Our members are doctors, teachers, lawyers, Army officers, housewives and businessmen, as well as students. Until the last time, we've always met at my house, and sat around on the floor talking about theogony and the geography of Middle-earth and things like that." (Meras, 1967)
The Lord of the Rings opened up a common ground for a wide variety of readers and has laid a foundation for so much scholarship related to the text. Everything from Christianity to geo-politics to gender studies and so much more has been explored by lovers, haters, and indifferent folks delving deep in to The Lord of the Rings.
Hoards of scholars and laypeople alike have come together under the common umbrella of The Lord of the Rings forming societies and interest groups. Richard Plotz, founder of the Tolkien Society, described the society's meetings in an interview.
"We eat hobbit food, but, basically, when we get together, it's an ordinary meeting-type setup. Our members are doctors, teachers, lawyers, Army officers, housewives and businessmen, as well as students. Until the last time, we've always met at my house, and sat around on the floor talking about theogony and the geography of Middle-earth and things like that." (Meras, 1967)
The Lord of the Rings opened up a common ground for a wide variety of readers and has laid a foundation for so much scholarship related to the text. Everything from Christianity to geo-politics to gender studies and so much more has been explored by lovers, haters, and indifferent folks delving deep in to The Lord of the Rings.
Reference:
Duriez, C. (2012). J.R.R. Tolkien. Newton Abbot: David & Charles.
Fultz, J. (2013, January 7). Epic Fantasy in a Post-Tolkien World by John R. Fultz | Orbit Books. Retrieved April 29, 2015, from http://www.orbitbooks.net/2013/01/07/in-the-masters-shadow-epic-fantasy-in-the-post-tolkien-world/
Meras, P. (1967, January 15). Go, Go, Gandalf. Retrieved April 30, 2015, from https://www.nytimes.com/books/01/02/11/specials/tolkien-gandalf.html
Image: Retrieved via Wikimedia Commons - http://www.councilofelrond.com/wp-content/uploads/modules/My_eGallery/gallery/illustrations/tolkien/rivendell.jpg
Duriez, C. (2012). J.R.R. Tolkien. Newton Abbot: David & Charles.
Fultz, J. (2013, January 7). Epic Fantasy in a Post-Tolkien World by John R. Fultz | Orbit Books. Retrieved April 29, 2015, from http://www.orbitbooks.net/2013/01/07/in-the-masters-shadow-epic-fantasy-in-the-post-tolkien-world/
Meras, P. (1967, January 15). Go, Go, Gandalf. Retrieved April 30, 2015, from https://www.nytimes.com/books/01/02/11/specials/tolkien-gandalf.html
Image: Retrieved via Wikimedia Commons - http://www.councilofelrond.com/wp-content/uploads/modules/My_eGallery/gallery/illustrations/tolkien/rivendell.jpg