Page "The Hobbit" Paragraph 21

The Lord of the Rings contains several more supporting scenes, and has a more sophisticated plot structure, following the paths of multiple characters.

Tolkien wrote the later story in much less humorous tones and infused it with more complex moral and philosophical themes.

The differences between the two stories can cause difficulties when readers, expecting them to be similar, find that they are not.

Many of the thematic and stylistic differences arose because Tolkien wrote The Hobbit as a story for children, and The Lord of the Rings for the same audience, who had subsequently grown up since its publication.

Further, Tolkien's concept of Middle-earth was to continually change and slowly evolve throughout his life and writings.