The Tolkien Effect

I’ve recently noticed a phenomenon which I will venture to name the “Tolkien Effect.” This phrase might be discussed in relation to many different aspects of Tolkien’s influence on his readers, but I am referencing a particular event in my own life and in the lives of others I have met. I started to enjoy Tolkien’s voluminous use of names like Eru Iluvatar for God, Elwe Singollo becomes Elu Thingol. Moorwen, named Eledhwen, as well as the many names for Beren. This feature of Tolkien’s writing is often disparaged by the modern reader, but is this not our lack of appreciation for the importance of names? The detailed use of nomenclature both elucidates and paints the canvass of the character. Tolkien did not clutter his writing; rather his detailed use of language creates a richer world than most great authors could ever hope to rival. If you grow tired of his explication of details, the lack is in your own soul, not Tolkien’s art.

So what is the “Tolkien Effect”? It is the slow impression of the beauty of words and their meanings. I have lost count of how many Tolkien fans I have met who have become avid amateur philologists through this his writing. When I delved deeper and deeper into Tolkien’s mythology, I became more interested in his creation of languages. This led me to discover his fascinating work with real languages. This is an example of the best kind of fiction. When one dives deep into the layered world of Tolkien, you do not lose a love for the real world. You return invigorated and eager to fight for the good! Your imaginative flights in his world do not deaden or make gray this world. It mirrors our deepest experiences. While we might all have wanted to be a Numenorean king for a while, we realize that Tolkien’s picture of the good life is very much a reality. We are the heirs of Arda.