Adopting and adapting Christian elements in Wallace Stevens’ and J. R. R. Tolkien’s writings

Abstract EN

This article examines how Wallace Stevens' Americanism and secularism and J.

R.

R.

Tolkien's universalism and Christianity affect their use of Christian elements in their writings.

taking its methodological bearings from Harold bloom's anxiety of influence, this article shows that Stevens' ironic use of Christian figures of Satan and Jesus enables him to exploit a tension between the religious and the secular emphasizing that Christianity is no longer credible in modern America.

Tolkien uses the same Christian figures but for different purposes.

Tolkien attributes but without acknowledging many features of Satan and Jesus to his fictional characters, respectively Gollum and Gandalf, in his ambition to make his the lord of the rings an epic fantasy that has a universal appeal.