Фермер Джайлс из Хэма

His portrayal of an ordinary farmer taking on a dragon is so playful and different from typical fantasy heroes. I wonder what message he wanted to send about heroism?

I loved the humor, but I was also expecting more of a serious fantasy adventure. Was this tone intentional or a playful side of Tolkien's writing style?

The story's humor and pacing feel very natural, which makes me curious whether Tolkien mapped out the entire tale or let it evolve organically during composition.