This is a quick opinion piece…or analysis…whatever.
This is a quick whatever on what I think are the origins of ‘Generic’ Fantasy. Because…if you become familiar with Tolkien, you start to think that ‘Tolkienian’ is a misnomer.

I imagine most people will point to Tolkien as the origin of generic fantasy…because everyone else copied him.

Though I don’t actually think this is the case. Hear me out.

Sure, he brought us elves, dwarves, orcs, halflings and a bunch of other stuff I don’t want to bother mentioning – however! when you go thru the lore on all of these…you find that they don’t really resemble generic fantasy races that much. At least that’s the impression I get.

For example, the trait I’d most associate with dwarves isn’t ‘mines’ but ‘exile’: it’s kinda a whole thing that the dwarves don’t really have a home. The Hobbit is partially about them reclaiming their home.
This trait hasn’t really shown up anywhere else.

Also, they aren’t that technologically advanced as compared to the rest of Middle-Earth. They’re good jewelers but Elves are better smiths. Like: significantly better smiths.

Elves come off as way more angelic in Tolkien‘s world than anything else. Though that doesn’t apply all the time, it applies generally.
I don’t even get the impression they’re that arrogant, honestly. I completely understand why Elrond is frustrated, for example.

Basically, I could go on (and I likely will in the future), but I don’t think Tolkien is who everyone initially copied.

There are two other fantasy franchises that I believe are the actual source of generic Fantasy, because they reflect it a lot more than Tolkien – or, at least, that’s my impression as an outsider and if it turns out I’m wrong I’m going to be very embarrassed.

I think those two franchises are Dungeons & Dragons (what a surprise) and Warhammer Fantasy (possibly surprising). Their lore actually establishes a lot:

• D&D made it explicit that humans are the ultimate jack of all trades and even established the concept of humans being dominant among the races.
• D&D established a lot of the generic traits of races (including weaknesses and specialties).
• Warhammer Fantasy kinda took those and turned it up to 11, going all-in on arrogance for the elves for example.

I might bother to elaborate further if I can think of something – and I don’t forget about this article completely.