The Shire, for instance, is Tolkien's home of England. Tolkien admits in his published collection of letters that Middle-earth is intended to directly mirror Earth's approximate geography, with most major locations in the story representing a country or continent in the real world, both in terms of placement on the map and recognizable qualities. Here are some of the biggest real-world influences behind the creation of Middle-earth. A professor of English language and literature, Tolkien incorporated much historical and cultural inspiration in his fiction, all of which helps to make The Lord of the Rings feel more realistic and compelling in the minds of readers. Related: Lord Of The Rings: What Happens To The OTHER Rings Of Powerĭue to the presence of elves, dark magic and small, greedy halflings who eat their entire body weight in food before lunch, many over the years have dismissed Tolkien's world as fanciful make-believe, but that assessment doesn't do justice to the level of real-world influence woven throughout Middle-earth. Martin and Terry Brooks, and a major part of this enduring popularity is the vivid way in which Tolkien paints the setting of The Lord of the Rings. With extended sections of description, meticulous appendices and numerous tables, maps and charts, Middle-earth is fleshed out into a land that many fans have become more familiar with than their own country.

Moreover, Tolkien has had a virtually immeasurable influence on other best-selling fantasy writers such as Terry Pratchett, George R.

Tolkien offers such a rich and detailed picture of Middle-earth through his prose that his world lives on almost a century after its inception, arguably more popular than ever before.

Beginning with the release of The Hobbit in 1937, the history and composition of Middle-earth was then developed exponentially in The Lord of the Rings, the posthumous The Silmarillion and various other writings by Tolkien that have been made public since the author's death. The world of The Lord of the Rings may feel as detached from reality as fiction can possibly get, but so much of Tolkien's Middle-earth is inspired by or based on real-world cultures, locations and experiences.

Lord of the rings gondor soldier