'high', purged of the gross: culture

[Guinevere]

I think that Tolkien gives us a model of nobility to strive after, whereas much modern literature fairly relishes the gross! (At least that is my impression, after having read the books my son had to read for highschool...)

"It is a fair tale, though it is sad, as are all the tales of Middle-earth, and yet it may lift up your hearts"

says Strider to the hobbits about the tale of Tinuviel. I think it is just this effect Tolkien's works have on the reader: it lifts up the heart .
I have always preferred this kind of literature, but never found anything that satisfied me so completely until I came across Tolkien.