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But then again, as I said before, why should we care?
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Those still in lit classes probably care because when one loves a work, one likes to talk about it, and one would think that it would be safe to do so in a literature class. All too frequently it is not. Lush, I sympathize.
But I am not surprised, although my reason for not being surprised may surprise you (then again, maybe not.)
As is mentioned in Tolkien's letters, Tolkien's works are entwined with his Catholic world-view. This comes through to the average reader, although they may not put it into words. Tolkien makes a number of moral judgements, theological implications, and sets up several gleaming heroes whose faults are far less noticable than our own are.
Academics don't always appreciate that.
The fact that the books, in addition to being silently preachy, also are popular, and that many people claim that the books have had a profound influence on their lives, makes it (to the academic community) cloyingly close to moralizing. When a centuries-old work moralizes, professors wink at it and expect their students to be condescendingly patient, because as has been mentioned above, it was written by superstitious folk who let their culture dictate to them. Church, God, fairies, talking trees; it's all dismissable in the average academic environment.
Thankfully this is not true of all academic environments, but it is true of many of them.
Tolkien moralizes, and asks us to suspend our disbelief, and preaches (silently) about God, and gives us larger-than-life heroes whos faults are not adultery or embezzling or treason. And he's twentieth century! Where's the scandal? Where's the intrigue? Where's the disgrace? How can this be serious stuff? It's all far, far too virtuous to be taken seriously.
Self-sacrifice, fidelity, perseverance, and loyalty? Oh, come on.
So, as the Saucepan Man argues, why should we care? I care far more how many people will look back on their lives and say, "Tolkien changed me for the better." That, in my opinion, is the true measure of any book, or song or work of art. It is, I believe, the measure that will be used in eternity. Tolkien will measure up. His work will be a huge success.
I don't expect the academic community to ever look at it like that. I don't expect them to ever see its true worth. If they can't experience any eucatastrophe at all, they can discuss its faults til they are purple, and still miss the point of the writings. I feel sorry for them.
I think the average Downer is way ahead of them.