Is Tolkien's Middle-earth Our Own Earth in Mythical Times or a Separate World?

When J.R.R. Tolkien created his fantastical world of Middle-earth in his celebrated works The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, he enriched it with elements of our own reality. This combination of the familiar and the fantastical has sparked debate among scholars about whether Middle-earth is a version of our own Earth set in a mythical past, or a completely separate world entirely.

Tolkien's World Building and Mythical Framework

Tolkien's Middle-earth is often described as a version of our own Earth set in a mythical past. The author himself referred to it as a utopian story from Roman Catholic perspectives, suggesting that the story is indeed rooted in the realm of myth and legend.

The world of Middle-earth is designed to feel both familiar and otherworldly. For example, in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, the characters live in a world that is in a different historical age, far removed from our own. This is reflected in the way Tolkien incorporates real-world elements into his world-building, including languages, cultures, and landscapes.

The maps of Middle-earth, such as those depicting places like Gondor and Rohan, give a sense of familiarity that ties back to our own geography, helping readers to easily visualize the setting. Additionally, the fictional history of Middle-earth, which spans thousands of years, is filled with different ages—such as the First Age, Second Age, and Third Age—each with its own events and characters. This mythic framework serves to create a rich tapestry that feels both otherworldly and deeply rooted in human history and mythology.

The Physical and Metaphorical Middle-earth

It is often said that Middle-earth is a morphed version of ancient Earth, most similar to NW Europe in climate and topography. This timeline is set from the 5th century BC to the 14th century AD, starting before the Romans around 4500 BC and running up to and concurrent with the Greek classical period. Technology available during this time includes Greek dromon-type ships and high-quality forged steel swords.

The location of Numenor in Tolkien's world is often linked to the Atlantis mythos, further emphasizing the connection between Tolkien's world and our own. While the world of Middle-earth spans thousands of years, its depiction is often seen as a strange paradigm stuck "in the middle of this world." Hence the double-entendre name—Middle-earth—the land physically and metaphorically "in between."

Familiarity in the Stars

Tolkien's Middle-earth is not just a physical place but also one where the sky resembles our own. The constellations visible in the West of Middle-earth are the same as those in our Northern Hemisphere. Tolkien mentions several constellations in his writings, such as Valacirca (Ursa Major), Red Borgil (Mars), Menelmacar (Orion), and Remmirath (the Milky Way).

Even in the earliest drafts of Middle-earth, such as "The Book of Lost Tales," Tolkien referred to many places that are obviously our own. For example, in his early drafts, Beleriand is named Broceliand, a woody region in Brittany, France. Early characters like lfwine (an Anglo-Saxon sailor) are described as friends with Elves, a term that means "Elf-friend" in Tolkienian, just like the later name Elendil.

The "Red Book of Westmarch" and the "Original" Text

To further anchor Middle-earth in our own reality, Tolkien represented his works as translations of an ancient book written by Bilbo and Frodo, called the "Red Book of Westmarch." The idea of an "original" being "translated" might have been borrowed from C.S. Lewis, who read Tolkien's epic poem "The Lay of Leithian" and commented on it as a real Medieval text. This lends an air of authenticity to Tolkien's narrative, making Middle-earth seem like a true version of our own Earth at a mythical time.

So, while Middle-earth is deeply rooted in the familiar, it is also a world filled with magic, mystery, and a rich tapestry of legends. It is indeed our world, but one that has been shifted in time and space to a mythical past, where the realms of fantasy and reality converge.