I guess there are familiar elements from many legends. The Swedish, Finnish, Celtic and bible stories have been mentioned. Also Arthurian legend (Return of the King), Atlantis (Numenor), even Shakespeare gets a look in (Ents - Birnam Wood). The Second Age ends with elements of the epic of Gil-gamesh (Gil-galad), probably the oldest surviving known story. As for the end of the Third age, 'Childe Roland to the Dark Tower came'.
I don't think this sort of thing is anything to worry about, all writers adapt elements of previous stories, few so well as JRRT.
[ June 23, 2003: Message edited by: Rumil ]
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Rumil of Coedhirion
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