They say that nothing is original. That the greatest films, songs, shows, writings, performances and fashions of our time all began as the germ of an idea from elsewhere - perhaps another masterpiece in the same field of endeavor , or perhaps a lesser known diamond. -in the rough by a failed artist. Even the "father" of modern fantasy literature, JRR Tolkien, has been subjected to critical scrutiny regarding the influences behind his acclaimed novel The Hobbit. Certainly, his stories had their share of influence, eventually spawning a number of films, video games, and even stage adaptations. It is reasonable to believe that a work as imaginative, complex and expansive as The Hobbit must also have drawn its own inspiration from outside sources – perhaps not just literary works, but also real-world experiences. But what kind of stories or grandiose events could have guided the creativity of the author of such a timeless epic? Several Tolkien scholars posit that Beowulf and World War I each had a significant influence on his writings, so in this essay we will examine the similarities between these two and Tolkien's The Hobbit in turn. In 1936, Tolkien gave a lecture titled Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics, in which he chastised the literary field for its perception of the epic poem as merely a source for linguistic study of Old English and Anglo-Saxon history . He argued fervently that the story should be valued for its interesting and remarkable fantastical elements, and that instead of simply neglecting the "monsters", the heroes, and the battles between the two, the attention of students and scholars should be mainly focused on precisely these. fictional and fantastic elements. It is clear that ...... middle of paper ...... Ancalagon City-(V). “Tolkien and Beowulf.” Valarguild.org. Internet. February 16, 2012. Breeden, David, trans. Beowulf. Lone star. Internet. February 17, 2012. Chance, Jane. The Lord of the Rings: The Mythology of Power. Lexington: UP of Kentucky, 2001. Print. Crabbe, Katharyn FJRR Tolkien. New York: Frederick Ungar, 1981. Print. Croft, Janet B. War and the works of JRR Tolkien. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2004. Print. Garth, John. "War and the Works of JRR Tolkien (Review)" Muse.jhu.edu. Web. February 20, 2012. Glenn, Jonathan A. "Translating a Hero: The Hobbit as Beowulf Retold." Faculty.uca.edu. Web February 20, 2012.Stimpson, Catharine RJRR Tolkien London: Columbia UP, 1969. Print.Tolkien, Christopher The Letters of JRR Tolkien. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1981. Print.Tolkien, JRR The Hobbit, or there and. Back in Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1966. Print..