Does LotR have cross-cultural appeal?

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

But I agree that as a concept it [the Sea] is not Universal. But it is not the only concept in Tolkien's work which attracts, it is just one among many. I would argue that the stronger draw is the idea of the journey, the adventure. This is something Universal. Tales of journeys occur in every culture, together with the trials that are met along the way, so here is something which all cultures can appreciate in Tolkien's work, and the idea of the journey is the backbone of the story.

True indeed. Here, I think Cervantes' Don Quixote is one of the seminal works in European culture at least, although not the only, well, will I be allowed to call it, road show?

And I think this might be one reason why so many protagonists of the adventures are orphaned or alone. It focusses the point.