J.R.R. Tolkien's foray into humorous storytelling is exemplified in works like Farmer Giles of Ham and Smith of Wootton Major. Unlike the epic narrative of The Hobbit, these tales are not entrenched in the lore of Middle Earth, yet they share common threads. Both Farmer Giles and The Hobbit draw inspiration from the English countryside, crafting worlds where unassuming protagonists are unwittingly thrust into greatness. These characters, who initially appear ordinary, discover untapped potential within themselves to tackle daunting, heroic challenges. This theme resonates through their encounters with mythical creatures such as dragons and giants.

Farmer Giles of Ham is infused with Tolkien's scholarly pursuits, reflecting his work on the medieval poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, rooted in Arthurian legend. The story may have provided Tolkien with a lighter creative outlet amidst the rigorous demands of his academic endeavors. This whimsical tale embraces a mock-heroic style, harkening back to earlier Victorian fairy stories by luminaries like Charles Dickens and William Makepeace Thackeray. This parody form had also flourished in the fantastical works of Lewis Carroll, another Oxford don, who penned the Alice books under the pseudonym Charles Dodgson.

In adopting and renewing this tradition, Tolkien set the stage for a resurgence of parody within children's literature. In contemporary times, parody fairy tales often carry feminist or politically subversive messages. Notable examples include C. McNaughton’s King None the Wiser and I. Williams’ The Practical Princess and Other Liberating Fairy Tales. These works, like those of Tolkien, blend humor with a deeper commentary on societal norms, showcasing how the legacy of parody and fantasy continues to evolve, inspiring new generations of storytellers to explore and redefine the boundaries of the genre.