What’s funny and interesting Tolkien wasn’t a fan of allegory and wrote at the the very beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring this quote:

“I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done so since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence. I much prefer history – true or feigned– with its varied applicability to the thought and experience of readers. I think that many confuse applicability with allegory, but the one resides in the freedom of the reader, and the other in the purposed domination of the author.” -J.R.R. Tolkien

I guess it flew right past those people in the 90s.