Language, Loss, and Legend: Tolkien’s Journey to Middle-earth

Saying Tolkien "accepted a position" might imply a long-term job; it was a short-term paid role, more like an assistant lexicographer or contributor.

What's true:

• J.R.R. Tolkien did work on the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) in 1919 after serving in World War I.

• He was indeed part of the team working on the "W" section.

• He contributed to the definitions of words like "walrus," "wanton," and "warlock", among others.

• His work at the OED deepened his fascination with philology, etymology, and the nuances of language—interests that later heavily influenced his creation of Middle-earth.

• Terms like Mithrandir, Rohan, Quenya, and Sindarin were all deeply informed by his professional expertise as a philologist, not just creative invention.

• Saying Tolkien "accepted a position" might imply a long-term job; it was a short-term paid role, more like an assistant lexicographer or contributor.

• It was part of post-war employment and a way for him to get back into academic and scholarly life while recovering from war and illness.

1. Tolkien originally wrote The Lord of the Rings as a single volume

• Tolkien intended The Lord of the Rings to be one long book, a direct sequel to The Hobbit, with deep connections to his legendarium (like The Silmarillion).

• However, his publisher (Allen & Unwin) convinced him to split it into three volumes for economic and logistical reasons, mainly due to post-WWII paper shortages and the risk of publishing such a long, dense work all at once.

• That's why we have:

  • The Fellowship of the Ring (1954)

  • The Two Towers (1954)

  • The Return of the King (1955)

Tolkien reportedly disliked the title The Return of the King, feeling it gave away too much of the ending.

2. Tolkien’s war experiences deeply shaped The Lord of the Rings

• Tolkien served as a second lieutenant in World War I, fighting in the Battle of the Somme—one of the bloodiest battles in history.

• He lost many of his closest friends in that war, and the trauma, disillusionment, and sense of loss it brought infused much of his writing, even if indirectly.

• He denied LOTR was a strict allegory, but:

  • The dead marshes are widely believed to reflect the muddy corpse-ridden landscapes of the Western Front.

  • The camaraderie between Frodo and Sam echoes the bond between soldiers in the trenches.

  • His worldview—loss, endurance, the quiet heroism of the "little guy" (hobbits)—was clearly shaped by his wartime service.

  • He said of the war: “By 1918 all but one of my close friends were dead.”

J.R.R. Tolkien originally wrote The Lord of the Rings as a single, unified book, but his publisher split it into three volumes due to cost and post-war material shortages. While Tolkien denied it was an allegory, his experiences in World War I—especially the trauma, loss, and camaraderie he witnessed—deeply shaped the tone and themes of the story. 

The horrors of the battlefield, the quiet strength of ordinary people, and the corrupting influence of power all reflect his wartime perspective. His scholarly background in language and mythology, combined with his personal history, laid the foundation for the rich, immersive world of Middle-earth.

Compiled with aid of ChatGPT