---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tolkien was, I believe, writing about his…"
description: "\"Tolkien was, I believe, writing about his experience in the First and Second World Wars, where he would have spent a lot of time without any female con..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/richard-armitage-2741_about_tolkien-was-i-believe-writing-about-his_1353595.png"
---

#  Tolkien was, I believe, writing about his experience in…

![“Tolkien was, I believe, writing about his experience in the First and Second World Wars, where he would have spent a lot of time without any female contact. He was part of the fellowship of men who went to war, and I think, really, that's what he's writing about.” quote by Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/richard-armitage-2741_about_tolkien-was-i-believe-writing-about-his_1353595.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/richard-armitage-2741_about_tolkien-was-i-believe-writing-about-his_1353595.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/richard-armitage-2741_about_tolkien-was-i-believe-writing-about-his_1353595.png)

> “Tolkien was, I believe, writing about his experience in the First and Second World Wars, where he would have spent a lot of time without any female contact. He was part of the fellowship of men who went to war, and I think, really, that's what he's writing about.”

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote suggests Tolkien’s war experiences shaped his stories, reflecting isolation and camaraderie among men.

**In simple terms:** Tolkien’s wars inspired themes of fellowship and solitude.

Key Takeaway

Consider how personal hardship informs creative work.

Themes

war loneliness fellowship creativity

Mood

reflective analytical

Type

literary historical

When to use this quote

- writing workshops
- military memoirs
- psychotherapy sessions
- academic lectures

Key Concepts

psychology historical context literary analysis

Questions to Reflect On

- How do personal experiences shape artistic narratives?
- What other factors influence Tolkien’s world‑building?

A Different Perspective

The claim may oversimplify Tolkien’s influences, ignoring mythic and linguistic interests.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Fellowship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellowship/) [Female](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Second world war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-world-war/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War of the worlds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-of-the-worlds/) [Wars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wars/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [“VICEROY OF PORTUGAL. ...My late ambition hath distain'd my faith; My breach of faith occasion'd bloody wars; Those bloody wars have spent my treasure;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-kyd/viceroy-of-portugal-my-late-ambition-hath-distain-d-my-faith-my/)

[Thomas Kyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-kyd/)

> [We helped generate that international law coming out of a very difficult and hard-won experiences in the First and Second World War. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/we-helped-generate-that-international-law-coming-out-of-a-very/)

[Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/)

> [You can have your beliefs, but if you're not devout, you can't quite believe that something which grows out of a story, a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/you-can-have-your-beliefs-but-if-you-re-not-devout-you-can-t-quite/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [I'd have described myself as a Tolkien reader before this, but now I'd describe myself as a Tolkien geek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/i-d-have-described-myself-as-a-tolkien-reader-before-this-but-now-i-d/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [I read everything that Tolkien wrote, and also read biographies of him. I was fascinated by his experiences in World War I, which includes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/i-read-everything-that-tolkien-wrote-and-also-read-biographies-of-him/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [I think that when Tolkien created Gollum and the ring, he even expressed in his biography that he never really knew what he created…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/i-think-that-when-tolkien-created-gollum-and-the-ring-he-even/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [There's a very strong force in Tolkien's characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/there-s-a-very-strong-force-in-tolkien-s-characters/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [I feel like my imagination was crafted by Tolkien. He seemed to tap into that childhood intrigue of secret doors and hidden worlds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/i-feel-like-my-imagination-was-crafted-by-tolkien-he-seemed-to-tap/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [When I told my mom I was going to audition for 'The Hobbit,' she said, 'Well, you've always loved Tolkien.' And she was right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/when-i-told-my-mom-i-was-going-to-audition-for-the-hobbit-she-said/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [Tolkien made dwarf sign language because, you know, it's too loud to talk in the mines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/tolkien-made-dwarf-sign-language-because-you-know-it-s-too-loud-to/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [We fought a war where the American people went to war to end the scourge of Nazism across this country and I'm very thankful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawthorn/we-fought-a-war-where-the-american-people-went-to-war-to-end-the/)

[Madison Cawthorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawthorn/)

> [I am going to explain to you why we went to war. Why mankind always does to war. It is not social or political.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/i-am-going-to-explain-to-you-why-we-went-to-war-why-mankind-always/)

[John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/)

> [When L.A.’s schizophrenia between Dreamland and Utopia was becoming socially manifest, the United States, which was always a place, went to war with America,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-erickson/when-l-a-s-schizophrenia-between-dreamland-and-utopia-was-becoming/)

[Steve Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-erickson/)

> [Want to play some Battleship?” I wasn’t leaving him alone with that thing in there. Chad armed himself with a notebook, and we went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/want-to-play-some-battleship-i-wasn-t-leaving-him-alone-with-that/)

[Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/)

> [My grandfather died in the war, my family went through the war, and it affected my parents in really profound ways. I've always wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/my-grandfather-died-in-the-war-my-family-went-through-the-war-and-it/)

[Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/)

## More by Richard Armitage

> [Some of the mail I've had has been weird. When I played Guy of Gisborne, a woman crocheted a mini-version of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/some-of-the-mail-i-ve-had-has-been-weird-when-i-played-guy-of/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [We've had Saudis and Jordanians and Pakistanis who have - and Syrians - who have been involved in armed attacks against coalition forces in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/we-ve-had-saudis-and-jordanians-and-pakistanis-who-have-and-syrians/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [I'd say that, to be a good deal maker, you have to have three basic characteristics - timing, timing, and timing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/i-d-say-that-to-be-a-good-deal-maker-you-have-to-have-three-basic/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [Monet was like a conductor. He painted with quite a straight arm and used bold strokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/monet-was-like-a-conductor-he-painted-with-quite-a-straight-arm-and/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [Ive never been that cute kid that was forgiven for being naughty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/ive-never-been-that-cute-kid-that-was-forgiven-for-being-naughty/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [Sometimes I hate the job that I do as an actor. I feel like I'm just of no importance in the world, but sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/sometimes-i-hate-the-job-that-i-do-as-an-actor-i-feel-like-i-m-just/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [Let's be clear: Neither Secretary Powell or I opposed the notion of removing Saddam Hussein by force, but we wanted to avoid the war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/let-s-be-clear-neither-secretary-powell-or-i-opposed-the-notion-of/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [It is possible to work out of New York on film and television and still not lose your connection to theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/it-is-possible-to-work-out-of-new-york-on-film-and-television-and/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [I've done an awful lot of skiing all over Europe: I've done Italy, Austria, France. I skied loads in New Zealand - I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/i-ve-done-an-awful-lot-of-skiing-all-over-europe-i-ve-done-italy/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [The problem with me is I read everything, but it's only the bad stuff that stays with me. It's weird, you only need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/the-problem-with-me-is-i-read-everything-but-it-s-only-the-bad-stuff/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [I was an estate agent for three years. That was pretty grim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/i-was-an-estate-agent-for-three-years-that-was-pretty-grim/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [U.S. assistance provides the Jordanian government needed flexibility to pursue policies that are of critical importance to U.S. national security and to foreign policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/u-s-assistance-provides-the-jordanian-government-needed-flexibility/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [I didn't become an actor because I thought I'd make lots of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/i-didn-t-become-an-actor-because-i-thought-i-d-make-lots-of-money/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [I know what Twitter is; I don't use it. I don't use Facebook, so luckily, it does zero to my ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/i-know-what-twitter-is-i-don-t-use-it-i-don-t-use-facebook-so-luckily/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

> [I'm not much of a show-off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/i-m-not-much-of-a-show-off/)

[Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

[Explore all 152 Richard Armitage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

Browse all 26,122 About quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Tolkien was, I believe, writing about his experience in the First and Second World Wars, where he would have spent a lot of time without any female contact. He was part of the fellowship of men who went to war, and I think, really, that's what he's writing about.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Richard Armitage"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/tolkien-was-i-believe-writing-about-his-experience-in-the-first-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/tolkien-was-i-believe-writing-about-his-experience-in-the-first-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/richard-armitage-2741_about_tolkien-was-i-believe-writing-about-his_1353595.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/richard-armitage-2741_about_tolkien-was-i-believe-writing-about-his_1353595.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/richard-armitage-2741_about_tolkien-was-i-believe-writing-about-his_1353595.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Tolkien was, I believe, writing about his experience in the First and Second World Wars, where he would have…” — Richard Armitage",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Richard Armitage",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Tolkien was, I believe, writing about...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/tolkien-was-i-believe-writing-about-his-experience-in-the-first-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/tolkien-was-i-believe-writing-about-his-experience-in-the-first-and/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
