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There’s something timeless about the world J.R.R. Tolkien created—his vision of heroism, perseverance, and the ever-looming shadow of evil continues to resonate today. Modern life may feel worlds apart from the dusty roads of Middle-earth, yet echoes of our own struggles resound in Tolkien’s fictional conflicts. Perhaps this is because Tolkien himself lived through firsthand horrors: he was a soldier in World War I and witnessed the rise of dangerous ideologies. His experiences shaped not only the battles in The Lord of the Rings but also the vulnerability of men, who easily forget past sacrifices and are drawn to promises of power. Below are five lesser-known insights that cast new light on Tolkien’s legendary works.
- The Unfinished Sequel, “The New Shadow”
Tolkien did, in fact, begin writing a sequel to The Lord of the Rings, titled The New Shadow. This story reveals how quickly Gondor’s elites turned their backs on the War of the Ring’s lessons. With evil presumed banished, its remnants were overlooked—especially since no elves remained to recall the past. Morgoth, Sauron’s dark mentor, had once spread the seeds of corruption, and in this half-started tale, those seeds resurface as men fall prey to their own lust for power. Gondor’s complacency reflects Tolkien’s broader commentary on humanity’s tendency to forget hard-won truths and underestimate lurking dangers. - War and the Forge of Mordor
J.R.R. Tolkien served as a Lieutenant in World War I, enduring the brutal Battle of the Somme. Trenches overrun with lice and disease shaped his worldview, later seeping into his descriptions of Mordor. He was invalided back to England in November 1916 due to trench fever—a stroke of fortune that saved him when many of his friends perished. It’s little wonder the desolate landscapes and haunting atmosphere of Mordor bear the marks of the Somme’s grim reality. - Hobbit Names, Translated
In Tolkien’s fictional framework, The Lord of the Rings is a translation from Westron into modern English. This means our beloved characters actually have different “original” names:- Frodo Baggins = Maura Labingi
- Samwise “Sam” Gamgee = Banazîr “Ban” Galpsi
- Meriadoc “Merry” Brandybuck = Kalimac “Kali” Brandagamba
- Peregrin “Pippin” Took = Razanur “Razar” Tûk
Tolkien delighted in the linguistic tapestry of Middle-earth. By highlighting these hidden names, he invites readers to appreciate just how alive his world truly is.
- Standing Up to Nazism
In 1938, when the Nazis insisted Tolkien prove his “Aryan” heritage before they would publish The Hobbit in Germany, he refused to comply. Instead, Tolkien wrote that he disavowed any “race doctrine,” expressing regret only that he had no Jewish ancestors from such a “gifted people.” His curt response also predicted a grim future if literature were to be policed by such inquiries. This moral stance underscores Tolkien’s deep-rooted aversion to authoritarianism, a sentiment woven into the very fabric of his stories. - Christopher Lee’s Unique Perspective
Among the film cast of The Lord of the Rings, Christopher Lee (Saruman) alone had met Tolkien in person—and he reread the trilogy every year of his life. His vast knowledge of Middle-earth made him an on-set consultant. A World War II veteran, Lee also famously corrected Peter Jackson on how a backstabbing victim should sound: not an anguished scream, but a gasp of air violently expelled from the lungs. It’s a chilling detail that shows the series was guided by individuals who knew first-hand the dark realities of war.
If you found these five snapshots of Tolkien’s epic world intriguing, you might enjoy diving deeper. Head over to our website for another article—“Tolkien Tales: 7 Lesser-Known Stories about the Mastermind of Middle-earth”—to uncover even more hidden gems from the grand lore of Middle-earth. After all, there’s always more magic waiting just beyond the next page.
