Tolkien and the Modern Myth: The Creation of Secondary Worlds

Mythopoeia: The Creation of Myth

J. R. R. Tolkien (1892–1973) is not just a fantasy author. He was a professor of medieval English literature at Oxford, a specialist in Old English and Finnish languages, and the creator of a project he himself called "mythopoeia"—the creation of myth.

In the essay "On Fairy Stories" (1947), Tolkien developed the theory of the "secondary world": great fantasy creates a "secondary world" in which the reader experiences "secondary belief"—not illusion, but willing immersion. This is sub-creation: a human, made in the image of the Creator, creates worlds himself. The writer is a sub-creator.

Middle-earth as a Synthesis of World Mythology

"The Lord of the Rings" and "The Silmarillion" are the result of decades of work. Tolkien deliberately created a mythology for England (which, unlike Ireland or Scandinavia, does not have a rich authentic mythology). He drew from Norse (the Edda), Finnish (the Kalevala), Celtic and Greek traditions.

The Dark Lord (Sauron, Morgoth) is not self-sufficient evil, but a fallen angel: Manichaean dualism in a monotheistic wrapper. Hobbits are the archetype of the humble hero: not a warrior, not a wizard, not a king—an ordinary little person who bears a burden he did not choose. This directly echoes the theme of the "suffering hero"—Job, Christ.

Campbell and Tolkien: Different Views on Myth

It is interesting that Tolkien was not a fan of Campbell: he believed that the "hero's journey" is an overly universal, depersonalizing scheme. For Tolkien, a specific myth with specific details and language is important—not an abstract structure. "The Tale of Beren and Lúthien" is a story of loss, death, and love that goes beyond death: for Tolkien, this is a personal mythology (a deceased wife).

This is an important methodological divergence: Campbell is a comparativist (searches for the universal), Tolkien is a myth-creator (creates the specific). Both are right in their own dimension.

Question for reflection: Tolkien created a language, history, and geography for his myths—"sub-creation." What organizations have created rich "internal mythologies" (stories, values, heroes)? How important is this for their culture?