Final answer:
Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon stories had a significant influence on J.R.R. Tolkien, shaping the themes and mythological elements in his literature, as well as informing his academic perspectives on the importance of ancient literature.
Step-by-step explanation:
J.R.R. Tolkien's connection to Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon stories is profound and multifaceted. Tolkien was an accomplished scholar of Anglo-Saxon literature and his work on Beowulf played a significant role in shaping his own fiction.
The heroic narratives, mythic elements, and cultural ethos found in Beowulf deeply influenced Tolkien's writing, most notably in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. These Anglo-Saxon tales conveyed themes of heroism, the struggle between good and evil, and the transient nature of life which resonated with Tolkien and shaped his approach to literature.
Tolkien's own academic work on Beowulf, including a prominent lecture titled “Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics,” brought new perspectives to the study of the poem.
His appreciation for the story's structure, thematic depth, and imaginative scope exceeded the earlier critical tendency to dismiss it merely as a historical artifact. Instead, Tolkien highlighted the poem's literary artistry and its understanding of human nature.
Therefore, the influence of Beowulf and Anglo-Saxon literature on Tolkien can be seen as twofold: it inspired the thematic and mythological backdrop of his fictional universe and also reflected his views on literary scholarship, in which he advocated for the importance and relevance of these ancient works to modern readership.