Date of Award

2026

Abstract

Fantasy authors existed well before and during J.R.R Tolkien’s time, but he brought a new gravitas to the genre, building upon but disposing of and reconceptualizing conventional notions (such as the presence of fairies) to earn his moniker as the father of the modern fantasy genre. Although Tolkien’s stories are inspired by Northern myths, the world he creates is to be understood as historically real, as it incorporates authentic linguistic and cultural underpinnings of a society informed by his experience as a philologist and professor of Anglo Saxon. The intensity and longevity of Tolkien’s influence on the literary world and other media derives not only from his storytelling prowess but from the power of the stories to address the ever-shifting social and cultural landscape of our own world through fantasy. This dissertation demonstrates that the evolution of Tolkien’s fantasy genre can be understood through an analysis of the different creatures who inhabit Middle-Earth. The creatures helped to define the new fantasy genre and represent how Tolkien grappled with considerations such as racism, education, feminism, and antisemitism, as well as literary canon. He was aware, for example, that Anglo Saxon culture associated with the Rohirrim connoted the strength and courage that he wanted to imbue in students of English, an image of aggression that became less desirable in the context of World Wars. Connotations of antisemitism because of the likeness of Dwarves to Jews undergoes transformation across his works, and his stance against canon is reflected in his challenge to settle on an origin story for the Orcs. By incorporating critical analyses of his works as well as commentary from his own letters (including his points of departure from fellow Inklings such as C.S. Lewis), this dissertation reveals Tolkien as man of paradox. He is at once firmly rooted in certain belief systems (especially those associated with his Christian faith), yet he remains open to changing his views to the point where he hesitated to call a given work finished. While embracing the ideals and values of the Medieval past, he recognized that his works needed modern relevance to address the anxieties associated with modernity. Most fundamentally, he juxtaposed the real and the unreal in a novel fashion, using fantasy to shine a light on reality in a manner that was intended to empower the reader. Just as hypnosis emphasizes the power of the mind to alter perceptions of reality, Tolkien would have agreed with the notion that the world is what you make of it.

Document Type

Dissertation

First Advisor

James Krasner

Second Advisor

Samantha Seal

Third Advisor

Robin Hackett

Department or Program

English

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

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