Christopher Clausen has argued that "The Ballad of the White Horse" was a significant influence on J. R. R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" fantasy novel. He argues that the basic structure and themes of the "Ballad" were borrowed and incorporated into the "Lord of the Rings". However, after Clausen's writing, it was revealed that Tolkien wrote disparagingly of parts of Chesterton's “Ballad” in his private letters. " 'The ending is absurd. The brilliant smash and glitter of the words and phrases (when they come off, and are not mere loud colours) cannot disguise the fact that G. K. C. knew nothing whatever about the "North", heathen or Christian.' "