Mythologies do much more than explain phenomena, they serve as a gateway into a culture. What do people value? How are disputes handled? What are the duties of men, women, children? All of this is evident in a mythology.
Also important are aspects of language development in mythology. This was Tolkien's main focus. Culture, myth, and language are all inextricably tied. Tolkien knew this, as a philologist. It's why the forms of Elvish seem so vital...they have a history.
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But then there was a star danced, and under that was I born.
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