Tolkein’s first draft of Lord of the Rings featured owls far more prominently: instead of Eagles, there were owls and, in fact, no elves or humans. The journey to Mount Doom was a trip to the next forest, and the one ring and hobbit elements were absent, as the plot revolved solely around owls’ daily routines. Publishers disliked this and asked for more fantastical elements and less owls until the only remaining part of the original draft was a scene in Fellowship of the Ring in which Arwen eats a live mouse and then preens herself.

Tolkein’s first draft of Lord of the Rings featured owls far more prominently: instead of Eagles, there were owls and, in fact, no elves or humans. The journey to Mount Doom was a trip to the next forest, and the one ring and hobbit elements were absent, as the plot revolved solely around owls’ daily routines.

Publishers disliked this and asked for more fantastical elements and less owls until the only remaining part of the original draft was a scene in Fellowship of the Ring in which Arwen eats a live mouse and then preens herself.

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