J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit adventure that preceded it are full-fledged mythologies and histories unto themselves, making it a little strange to discuss the impact of real-world mythology and history on Tolkien’s saga. But the list of historical references in The Lord of the Rings is long and the impact of influences on his writings, including Norse mythology and Tolkien’s own WWI experiences, is undeniable.
Tolkien lived through one of the most tumultuous periods in modern history and had a life story of his own worthy of a book or two. Some of what he learned and experienced was bound to influence his writing. On the record, Tolkien was generally shy about admitting direct influences and allegories, but the historical parallels are too obvious to ignore.