Essay from the year 2012 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,0, University of Bielsko-Biała, language: English, abstract: Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University, a brilliant philologist, and a self-described "hobbit," J. R. R. Tolkien created two of the best-loved stories of the 20th century. "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" were recently made into multiple award-winning movies by director Peter Jackson for New Line Cinema. Is Tolkien a genius, a visionary ? This paper will figure it out by tracing Tolkien's biography and determining his influence on the generations of readers and viewers that followed him.