John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. Selected letters (№ 443352)

Perhaps the image of the spider is connected with the fact that in childhood I was bitten by a tarantula; in any case, if anyone wants to think so, I don't mind at all. I can only say that I myself don’t remember anything about it (if they didn’t tell me, I would completely forget), but I don’t feel antipathy for spiders as such, I don’t crush them and don’t trample them under my feet. On the contrary, I let out into the street those whom I find from time to time.