“Eastwards and Southwards”: Philological and Historical Perspectives on Tolkien and Classicism

This chapter addresses the oblique nature of Tolkien's relationship to the 'classical world' as conventionally understood. It argues that Tolkien rejected alike views of the classical world as the source of 'Western civilization' and of northern Europe as home of the vigorous, expansionist Indo-Europeans. Rather we suggest that he is deeply influenced by a group of German scholars, notably Victor Hehn and Otto Schrader, who emphasized both the organic spread of Indo-European and the importance of wider cultural contacts across the Euroasiatic continent. With reference to the case-studies of plant and tree names, wine, dragons, and elephants, it is suggested that Tolkien was aware of the ways that each of these cut across traditional north-south and east-west divides. The later spread of Christianity continues these cross-cultural links even after the downfall of the 'classical world'.