Bet you don’t know these 6 facts about J.R.R. Tolkien
How well do you know J.R.R. Tolkien? Here are six facts about Tolkien that might even surprise super fans. See if you know them all.
Tolkien was a Master Linguist: Beyond just creating Elvish languages like Quenya and Sindarin, Tolkien was a serious philologist with a deep understanding of real-world languages. He knew or had a working knowledge of over 30 languages, including Old English, Welsh, Finnish (which heavily influenced Quenya), Gothic, and many more. He even said that his languages came first, and Middle-earth was created as a place for them to exist.
He Illustrated His Own Worlds: Tolkien was a talented amateur artist and illustrator. He created numerous drawings, paintings, and maps for The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion. Some of his artwork was even included in the first editions of The Hobbit. His visual style is said to have been influenced by William Morris.
The Lord of the Rings Was Almost One Book: Tolkien originally intended for The Lord of the Rings to be published as a single, massive volume, along with its appendices. It was his publisher who wisely suggested splitting it into the trilogy we know today due to its sheer length.
His Experiences Shaped Middle-earth: While Tolkien explicitly denied that The Lord of the Rings was an allegory for World War II, his experiences in the trenches of WWI deeply impacted his writing. The horrors of war and the loss of his friends are said to have influenced the darker aspects of Middle-earth and the themes of good versus evil.
Tolkien Created Detailed Backstories and Languages Before the Stories: Tolkien spent decades developing the history, mythology, and languages of Middle-earth, particularly the Elvish languages and the Silmarillion material, long before he even started writing The Hobbit. This incredibly detailed groundwork gives his world its unparalleled depth and realism.
C.S. Lewis Played a Crucial Role: Tolkien and C.S. Lewis were close friends and key members of the literary group "The Inklings." Lewis was a huge supporter of Tolkien's work and is credited with encouraging him to turn his linguistic and mythological creations into the novels that became The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien even dedicated The Lord of the Rings to the Inklings.
Did we stump you or surprise you? If so, drop us a comment. If not, perhaps you could give us a fact that you think no one knows about Tolkien. We’d love to hear it!
