Middle-earth Misconceptions

[Mithadan]

Dredging deep into my memory, I can come up with initial impressions of Middle Earth that turned out to be incorrect.

I read The Hobbit before I was even aware that LoTR existed. So, I viewed the book as a stand-alone story and not part of an extended history (which, of course, was what JRRT initially intended). I recall having the impression that Elves were otherworldly ethereal beings that were silly and either chaotic folk that engaged in mischief or were actually hostile to men. This is not unlike other mythical races, sprites, etc. This impression was probably a combination of the myths I had been exposed to via westernized fairy tales and how Tolkien presented the Elves ("Tra la la lally" and the ill-tempered and secretive Elves of Mirkwood).