I'm of a similar mind when it comes to interpretation like that. I think that there's something to the idea of a collective unconsciousness - why mythology across the world shares certain patterns and motifs - but I think Tolkien might've also just been trying to downplay the popular idea that LotR was influenced by the world wars for personal reasons. If I was an author, I wouldn't want my work to be used as evidence in hot button arguments like that.
no subject