J.R.R. Tolkien: Father of Modern Fantasy Literature

Christopher Mitchell. J.R.R. Tolkien: Father of Modern Fantasy Literature
Let There Be Light. 21 July 2003. UC Santa Barbara

Mitchell discusses the influence of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings on 20th century heroic fantasy. He also discusses the divide between the reading public's acceptance of Tolkien and the literary critic's dismissal of his work and of fantasy in general as works for children rather than serious literature. He identifies qualities in the work that led to its literary and commercial success. Mitchell's background is religion and the history of ideas rather than literature.

Mitchell discusses Tolkien's voluminous background materials for the Lord of the Rings, which grew out of Tolkien's interests in theology, mythology, and language.

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