Classical Mythology in Tolkien

Noel, Ruth S. The Mythology of Middle-earth. Houghton Mifflin, 1977. A possibly useful but not overly compelling early “study of Tolkien’s mythology and its relationship to the myths of the ancient world.” After the Introduction, Part II is devoted to “Themes” (Fate, Subterranean Descent, Denial of Death, Language, and Chronology), Part III to “Places” (Middle-earth, Númenor, and The Blessed Realm), Part IV to “Beings” (Hobbits, Sméagol-Gollum, Men, and The Old Gods), and Part V to “Things” (Dragons, Rings of Power, Weapons, and Barrows).