Few authors have created such a believable complex fictional history and lines of descent
Another theme I suppose was his ‘down to nature’ outlook. Not a tree-hugger in the modern sense but respectful of it. The elves particularly represented that aspect of him. By the way, they also reflect his long study of Norse mythology. In early German lore, they were regarded as enlightened beings, but later as evil, mischievous ones. This reflects how they were viewed by humans in Middle Earth. In LOTR, Boromir and generally all Gondorians viewed them with mistrust, but that was set in a later age than the Silmarilian, when they weren’t. There’s a lot more behind his stuff than is immediately apparent. Like a lot of things I suppose.
Yes. He preferred “feigned history” to allegory.
I think ‘Dune’ comes close.