I'm wondering if there's a difference, too, between allegory and
allegory.;) Perhaps Tolkien was talking about more strict allegory, along the lines of CS Lewis' Narnia series. It's one thing to have an entire story be an allegory, while on the other hand one can have allusions within a story that are more subtle and less all-encompassing. I do believe that much symbolism is represented in his work, perhaps some of it not even intentional.
At any rate, we are all shaped by the events that surround us, whether we consciosly express that or not. Often things will "bleed through" the writing that the author isn't even necessarily aware of...
-penny
True enough... The story alludes to images and values we understand and relate to... and what WE see in the story, from our own experience is what gives it the deep texture. I have dealt with estates, and see allegory in the Sackville-Bagginses, but I am fairly sure Tolkien did not know my particular aunt.