The Amazing Friendship of Tolkien and Lewis

Recently I was finally able to watch the entire Lord of the Rings Trilogy in its entirety—all 9 hours and 18 minutes! What made this attempt different? Learning the backstory of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis made me appreciate the influences of their parallel lives and friendship that are reflected in the stories.

If you have seen the films, do you remember the segment where Frodo and his companions are walking through the bog and they see grim, dead faces submerged just under the surface of the water? This scene is taken directly from Tolkien’s personal experience in the trenches of the first World War.

I knew little more than they had met at Oxford in 1929 and remained friends the rest of their lives. But, after reading a delightful graphic novel, The Mythmakers* by John Hendrix, I believe that without Tolkien we may not have journeyed to Narnia and without Lewis we may not have explored Middle Earth with a Hobbit.

Although the format of this book is a graphic novel, the material is quite substantial. All the information and quotes I use in this post I found in Mr. Hendrix’s book.

After their meeting Jack Lewis would write of Ronald Tolkien, (or as Jack would call him, “Tollers,”) “Nothing I suspect is more astonishing in any man’s life than the discovery that there do exist people very, very like himself.”

Both scholars at Oxford Universities, Jack at Magdalen and Tollers at Pembroke, their lives up to this meeting paralleled:

• Both loved Norse mythology as children, and each began writing stories at seven. Each had brothers who would join in creating imaginary worlds.
• They share the experience of losing their mothers.
• Each found themselves in the trenches of the first World War in France. Although they didn’t serve together, they experienced the brutal horror that scarred their entire generation. Ronald left the war because of trench fever and Jack from surviving a shell attack that vaporized his sergeant. Jack carried shrapnel embedded near his heart for the rest of his life.

What is interesting, despite all their commonalities, they diverge in religious beliefs. Later, we would learn that Tolkien, using the connection of their shared love of mythology, would finally convince Lewis of the reality of Christ and His resurrection. In fact, Lewis would go from atheist to writing extensively about Christianity and become the voice of faith for BBC radio during World War II.

They supported each other in their works. They formed a group called the Inklings, that met regularly for sixteen years. Although they would drift apart when Tolkien took exception to Lewis’ relationship with Joy Davidman, their feelings for each other were deep.

Tolkien wrote in 1929, “Friendship with Lewis compensates for much.” In 1949, although their relationship was strained, Tolkien gives Lewis a copy of his Lord Of the Rings manuscript. Upon reading it, Lewis writes him an encouraging letter calling the story, …”unequaled in the whole range of narrative art know to me. I congratulate you. All the long years you have spent on it are justified. Morris and Eddison, in so far as they are comparable, as now mere ‘precursors.’ I miss you very much, yours, Jack Lewis.”

These are just a few of the highlights of their amazing story. I highly recommend you read the book to enjoy the rich and inspiring detail of their lives and relationship.

After reading it, try watching the movies again. You will enjoy seeing how Tolkien’s personal experiences formed the narrative and images.

And it all began with, “In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit.”

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.

Proverbs 17:17

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