FOLKLORE AND FANTASY ELEMENTS IN ENGLISH FANTASY FICTION: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF NEIL GAIMAN'S AMERICAN GODS AND J.R.R. TOLKIEN'S THE HOBBIT

This study investigates the role of folklore and fantasy elements in English fiction, focusing on Neil Gaiman’s American Gods and J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. By analyzing myths, legends, and cultural narratives, the paper explores how each author creates unique fantasy worlds while addressing themes of belief, identity, and cultural transformation. Tolkien reconstructs traditional myths into an immersive secondary world, while Gaiman reinterprets ancient deities in a modern setting. The research highlights folklore’s enduring adaptability and its essential contribution to the vitality of modern fantasy literature.