Well, one explaination for LotR's continued success is the principle of archtypes. Joseph Campbell wrote a wonderful series of books called "The Masks of God" which deal with social archtypes and how the are reflected in Litrature and Mythology. The small person who makes a difference is one of these archtypes as is the layabout who finally takes responsability. Both are represented in LotR as well as a few others. Its been a few years since I have read them, but they cast LotR as well as so many other books, into a completely different light for me.
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