The Hobbit: Differences and Similarities of Their World to Ours The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien is set in a fantasy world that has differences, as well as similarities, to our own world. The author has created the novel's world, Middle Earth, not only by using imagination, but by also adding details from the modern world. Realistic elements in the book enable readers to relate to the setting, yet have the ability to "imagine" exciting events and organisms not found on Earth. The majority of differences between Middle Earth and today's world are found in objects and the actions of characters that can not be carried out