Context:

Used as a comparison to explain the relationship between Homer's Iliad and Hesiod's Theogony - the Iliad is compared to Lord of the Rings as a close-up epic adventure.

Context:

Mentioned in comparison to The Hobbit in the bonus content, discussing how it was written later when the Nazi threat was more immediate.

Context:

Dominic briefly quotes from The Lord of the Rings when describing Peter the Great's retribution against those who might join Mazepa, saying 'Peter's wrath will be terrible, his retribution swift, to quote the Lord of the Rings.'

Context:

Referenced as a comparison when describing the Danish royal seat at Yelling, with its ancient graves, gold-ringed warriors, and great halls being described as 'like something out of Lord of the Rings'

Context:

Mentioned in the context that Tolkien wanted to write Lord of the Rings 'to give the English back the mythology that he thought they had lost as a result of the conquest.'

Context:

Referenced when discussing the 717 siege of Constantinople by Umayyad forces, noting this siege was 'one of the models for Tolkien's portrayal of the siege of Minas Tirith'

Context:

Mentioned in passing when discussing the sense of brotherhood from the trenches, comparing it to 'Frodo and Sam' in Tolkien's work.

Context:

Referenced as a comparison when describing the mushroom cloud crowned by fire from Vesuvius, likening it to the explosion of Mount Doom

Context:

Mentioned in comparison to King Solomon's Mines - Tolkien was described as 'a massive fan of Haggard' and similarities in quest structure noted

Context:

Discussed extensively as the sequel to The Hobbit, commissioned by publisher Stanley Unwin in 1937, taking 17 years to write

Context:

Described as 'the single best-selling English language book of the 20th century' and main subject of discussion

Context:

Mentioned as Tolkien's later work that also embodies the same idealized rural England vision that Metroland was selling to suburban homebuyers.

Context:

Referenced via Gollum as another example of mid-century literature exploring inner evil

Context:

Referenced when discussing the siege of Constantinople, noting it was 'one of the kind of inspirations for Tolkien's portrayal of the siege of Minas Tirith.'

Context:

Extensively discussed as the main subject of the second half of the podcast, described as 'the best-selling novel of the 20th century' and analyzed for its themes about industrialization, Christianity, and the horrors of the 20th century.

Context:

Tom compares the excitement of the Persian Wars story to reading Tolkien: 'I found it thrilling in the way that I found Lord of the Rings thrilling.'

Context:

Referenced as an analogy for how their Olympic podcast series expanded from one planned episode to multiple parts, comparing it to how Tolkien's book grew from one short book into three.

Context:

Referenced when discussing how the hall of Herot in Beowulf provided the model for Tolkien's Hall of Theoden (Meduseld) in Lord of the Rings

Context:

Mentioned multiple times as a comparison to Game of Thrones, discussing how Tolkien 'basically invents high fantasy' and comparing the two works' approaches to religion, violence, and the medieval world

Context:

Mentioned as a more creative response to early medieval history than rigorous historical fiction

Context:

Referenced when discussing the significance of March 25th - Tom notes that Tolkien had Mordor collapse and the ring destroyed on March 25th because he knew it was considered the date of Christ's death

Context:

Used as a comparison to Hesiod's Theogony, described as providing deep backstory similar to how the Theogony provides context for Homer's works.

Context:

Referenced alongside Lord of the Rings when comparing the volcanic destruction to what happens to Numenor in Tolkien's mythology

Context:

Extensively discussed in the bonus content section as a fantasy classic, with analysis of its themes related to WWI and British mentality in the 1920s-30s.

Context:

Discussed extensively as the source of the dragon Smaug, noting Tolkien began writing it in the early 1920s and how it draws on Norse and Old English traditions

Context:

The hosts read the opening passage and discuss this 1937 book as a children's story about Bilbo Baggins going on a quest with dwarves

Context:

Mentioned as one of Tolkien's major works, the main subject of the podcast episode discussing its author

Context:

Referenced alongside The Wind in the Willows as another example of the idealized rural England being created and consumed by urban people during the same period as Metroland's development.

Context:

Referenced when comparing Harald Hardrada's death scene to Boromir's death at 'Parth Garland' and when quoting a passage about the Battle of Pelennor Fields adapted to describe the aftermath of Stamford Bridge.

Context:

Mentioned as 'the first story he writes' in 1917, 'which you can now buy, which is posthumously published'

Context:

Referenced when discussing Tolkien's own commentary on the significance of the date March 25th in Lord of the Rings: 'Tolkien himself basically says in his letters is the kind of intervention of divine grace.'