[Merry Brandybuck]

I'm not sure what draws me to LOTR. I also have a flair for Greek and Eygptian mythology. I'll read any type of high fantasy story.
I think it's something to do with people proving they can be more than average. Think of the hobbits. Frodo was unusual in some ways, but he lived a happy normal life in the Shire and he probably would have spent most of his life there, if circimstance had permitted. Sam was an ordinary, working class hobbit, and to him, anything beyond the borders of his homeland was something to be regarded with wonder and awe. Merry and Pippin were born into wealthy families, and were just enjoying themselves in the prime of their life. Four relatively normal (by Middle-Earth standards) hobbits, suddenly whisked away from everything that was homely and familiar and thrown into a mission that seemed way over their heads. But look what they achieved, look how they proved they could rise above what people expected of them.
I think we all like to believe we can do something extrordinary with our lives and accomplish something good and impossible and show the world we are more than just anothert person. At least, I believe that. We feel so close to these characters because they started out like us. Unremarkable, everyday people in normal, everyday lives.

There's probaly more then one answer. But it's definately something to do with that. For me it is. Nice topic, JenFramp, hope it gets lot's of responses.