J. R. R. Tolkien's lifelong fascination with philology, the study of language evolution and development, significantly underpins his storytelling. Research a comparative study of languages, focusing particularly on a language family that holds cultural significance for you.

Tolkien's Lord of the Rings has inspired numerous illustrators over the years. Tolkien himself was a talented amateur artist, and several of his illustrations for his stories have been published. Examine Tolkien's artwork and discuss the concepts, art movements, and individual artists that you believe may have influenced his style.

Tolkien served in the trenches during World War I, specifically in the Somme offensive. Explore both his biography and accounts of the Battle of the Somme to identify any reflections of his wartime experiences in Lord of the Rings.

In 1965-66, Tolkien and his publishers were embroiled in a dispute with Ace Books over their unauthorized paperback edition of Lord of the Rings. Investigate the history of copyright laws and discuss the ongoing challenges British authors face with American copyright legislation.

Some critics have noted the resemblance between the society Tolkien depicted in the Shire and the social ideas of William Morris. Study Morris's views on work, art, and society, and discuss how closely Tolkien's portrayal of the Shire aligns with or diverges from those ideas.