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True, but being Catholic I can't help thinking that even though I don't think he cited it as an inspiration, the bible was a template on which his mythology is
by simonh 3y ago
True, but being Catholic I can't help thinking that even though I don't think he cited it as an inspiration, the bible was a template on which his mythology is built. It's a monotheistic world with hinted fall from grace back in Human origins, angelic beings, a Satan analog in Morgoth. So you're right though, I should qualify that my saying he was writing a mythology in the Biblical style but culturally North West European.
- watwut 3y agoI don't think Bible follow that pattern all that much either. It is years since I read the actual Bible, but from what I remember it is not an epic nor a myth nor something like that. The good vs evil simplification is solidly something rooted in Christianity and Catholic tradition I am agree with that. Just not that straigfordly from Bible.
- Amezarak 3y agoThe mythological background of Tolkien is that we’re looking at the Catholic world as we know it, interpreted through the lens of myth and Elves. Catholicism is literally true in LotR. Tolkien even has an essay where Finrod says that the only way for the world to be redeemed is for God to enter himself incarnate into it.