The emphasis on the significance of myth and legend within fairy stories, as Tolkien presented it, led to a resurgence in the use of ancient and traditional elements in modern fantasy. Authors now often draw on old myths and adapt them into new stories. His view also influenced the way modern fantasy deals with themes like good vs. evil. His complex portrayals of these concepts in his works on fairy stories set a standard for modern writers to explore moral and ethical questions within their own fictional realms.
His use of archetypal characters in short stories influenced how modern fantasy writers create heroes and villains. For instance, the idea of the humble hero on a grand quest has been widely replicated.
Tolkien's view has had a huge impact. His emphasis on creating rich, detailed worlds in fairy stories has inspired modern fantasy writers to do the same. They strive to build immersive universes like Middle - earth.
One key idea is the concept of recovery. Tolkien argues that fairy stories can help us see the world anew, as if for the first time. They have the power to strip away the dullness of the familiar and make things fresh and exciting again.
Tolkien's work, though more high - fantasy, still has an influence on modern science fiction literature. His detailed world - building has inspired modern authors to create rich and complex universes. For example, the way he developed languages for different races in Middle - earth has influenced the idea of creating unique cultures in science fiction. Many science fiction authors now strive to create not just different planets but also distinct cultures with their own languages, beliefs and ways of life.
Pre - Tolkien fantasy novels provided a rich tapestry of ideas that Tolkien could draw from. For example, the Arthurian legends in 'Le Morte d'Arthur' had a concept of a heroic quest which Tolkien adapted into Frodo's journey to destroy the One Ring. The idea of a magical, otherworldly realm from works like 'The Faerie Queene' also influenced Tolkien's creation of Middle - earth.
Tolkien's experiences in World War I had a profound impact on his view of fantasy. He witnessed the horror and destruction of war, and fantasy became a way to create an alternative, more hopeful world. His Middle - earth was a place where good could still triumph over evil, unlike the chaos of the real - world war he had endured.
Tolkien's Essay on Fairy Stories is very important for understanding fantasy literature. His ideas about secondary worlds help us to see how fantasy authors build their fictional universes. The concept of eucatastrophe gives a distinct characteristic to fantasy stories. It makes us realize that in fantasy, there can be a turn towards the good that is not always present in other genres. Also, his exploration of the role of the author as a sub - creator shows how fantasy literature is a form of creative world - building. It's not just about writing a story but creating an entire world with its own rules, cultures, and histories, which is a fundamental aspect of much of modern fantasy literature.
Well, 'The Silmarillion' also has a significant word count, though it's hard to give an exact figure as it contains a lot of complex lore and stories within. But it's definitely in the tens of thousands. Tolkien's works are often quite elaborate and the word counts reflect the rich worlds he created.
80s fantasy novels had a huge influence on modern fantasy. They established many of the tropes we see today. For example, the complex world - building in novels like 'The Dark Tower' series gave a model for creating immersive fictional universes. The character archetypes, such as the reluctant hero in 'The Neverending Story', are still used widely. They also showed how to blend different genres, like Stephen King did with horror and fantasy in 'The Dark Tower'.
1970's fantasy novels had a profound influence. For example, 'The Lord of the Rings' set the standard for world - building. Modern fantasy often tries to create as immersive and detailed worlds as Tolkien did. The complex characters and moral themes in these novels also influenced modern works. Writers today still draw inspiration from the character arcs and the battles between good and evil seen in 1970's novels.