[Evisse the Blue]

I agree with you - except that 'fatalist' holds negative conotations, and I think that Tolkien was most of all an optimist, as are most religious persons.

Another word very often used, besides 'doom' (which btw, it doesn't always mean something negative in Tolkien's books - I don't have an exact quote, but look in 'tale of Aragorn and Arwen for a positive connotation of 'doom')is hope. Of course this hope I think stems also from the inner confidence in fate, that all things are 'meant to be'.

I was re-reading 'The Return of the King' these days and marvelled yet again at the intricacy of the plot. How everything fits so nicely, as if, indeed, it was pre-ordained, down to Frodo's every step and stumble in parallel with Gandalf's speech to the Mouth of Sauron in front of the Black Gate before 'the hour of doom'.