On the Truth of Myth

Abstract

Because Tolkien’s early childhood and school days were so turbulent, with so many changes of address and environment, that he was able to develop his imagination and curiosity from an early age. With qualities such as an ear for language, a good memory for detail, a flair for drawing, a hunger to read, a love of natural history, and an interest in the language and events of early history, all well developed at an early age, it is easily understandable that the talents required for writing his own fantasy fiction were exceptionally great. Moreover, his great amiability with colleagues at school and university provided further stimulus to his creative process.