One of Tolkiens closest friends was a man named Clives Staples Lewis.
Known throughout the world as C. S. Lewis author of the Chronicles Of
Narnia. They formed a group called the Inklings. This was a group of
like minded men who shared their love of myth and christianity. Oftentimes
the members would share their own attempts at writing myth by reading
their writings to each other. During these twice a week meetings is
where J.R.R Tolkien first revealed his "hobby", the first
drafts of what would become The Lord Of The Rings. C.S. Lewis was an
enthusiastic supporter of Tolkien and his writings. It is said that
if it were not for C.S. Lewis LOTR may have never been finished. You
can also see Tolkien's influence on Lewis in reading the Chronicles
Of Narnia. The friendship
between Lewis and Tolkien was primarily responsible for Lewis's understanding
of myth and more importantly his conversion to christianity. When Tolkien
and Lewis first met at Oxford Lewis was a self proclaimed agnostic.
He also had a different view of myth from Tolkien. Lewis believed that
although there were some elements of truth in myth, myth was basically
a lie, nothing more. In a conversation one night between Tolkien, Lewis
and another fellow Inkling on a walk home the subject of myth was discussed.
In response to Lewis's assertion that myth was nothing more than a lie
Tolkien responded that on the contrary myth reveals more truth than
is possible in any other form. At that moment a great wind blew out
of clear still night. The three subsequently spent a long night discussing
myth at the end of which Lewis came to believe Tolkien's view of myth
to be the correct understanding of it. Lewis later said that this night
so profoundly affected him that it was the start of his conversion to
christianity. He finally saw and understood the Gospel writings in a
new way. I write here only a very brief overview. For a much more in
depth understanding of Tolkien's life I suggest a wonderful book, Tolkien,
man and myth, by Joseph Pierce.
Within The Lord Of The Rings J.R.R. Tolkien has placed treasures. On the surface we enjoy a great epic full of battles and exotic locations. A little deeper we have characters we come to care about and want to learn more about. Heroic virtues and great sacrifices. Deeper still we find the Truths of the christian faith. Truths that are written on every human heart. Although this is a work of fiction it contains so many elements of truth in it many find themselves forgetting that this is just a story and start believing for a moment that this may have been actual historical events. This fact may well explain the success of LOTR and of Tolkien's vision that his work bring readers closer the ultimate truth.