The influence of the Edda, as an inspiration for stories, is wide spread across our modern culture. There are comic books and movies about the god of thunder Thor, books have been written that are set in the realm of Asgard or Midgard, and the influence of the old, Norse myths can clearly be seen in the texts of many bands, especially Metal bands, like Manowar or Amon Amarth. Another huge impact on story-telling is the work of J.R.R. Tolkien. Many writers of our time are influenced by his world-building and of course the release of the movies based on his books made way for the fantasy genre to become known and loved by a broad audience.
But even Tolkien has not invented his entire world out of thin air. It is reasonable to assume that he was, like many other artists, also influenced by Norse myths.
The goal of this paper is to show that Tolkien’s characters and the stories in ‘The Lord of the Rings’, ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Silmarillion’ are heavily influenced by the Edda and similar Norse myths. There will be a comparison of different characters, races and places in Middle-Earth and of the Edda. Other possible influences like Greek or Roman Mythology, classical fairy tales or the Arthurian Saga were surely important for the development of Middle-Earth and its inhabitants, but they have to be ignored in this essay. One of the most important aspects of Tolkien’s creative work is of course the linguistic approach he took. There are several other works, even by Tolkien himself, that take a look on this aspect, but regarding the length of this paper this shall not be discussed.
The essay starts with a comparison of Odin, the highest god in Norse mythology and characters of Tolkien, then goes to the race of dwarves, to finally look at other aspects of the story and how they might have their roots in the Edda.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Odin as an Influence on Tolkien’s Characters
2.1 Odin and Gandalf
2.2 Odin and Manwë
2.3. Odin and other Characters
3. Dwarves
3.1 Appearance and Character Traits
3.2 Names
4. Influences on the Story
4.1 Places in Midgard and Places in Middle-Earth
4.2 Rings as Artifacts of Power
4.3 Fire Giants
4.4 Broken Swords
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper examines the profound influence of the Old Norse Edda and related sagas on the mythology, characters, and world-building created by J.R.R. Tolkien in his major works, including 'The Lord of the Rings', 'The Hobbit', and 'The Silmarillion'.
- Analysis of parallels between Norse deities like Odin and Tolkien's key figures such as Gandalf and Manwë.
- Exploration of the cultural and linguistic origins of the dwarf race in Tolkien's universe.
- Comparison of geographical and symbolic elements, such as the significance of rings and the concept of Midgard versus Middle-Earth.
- Investigation of mythical motifs like fire giants and the significance of broken, reforged swords in both traditions.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Odin and Gandalf
One of the most striking resemblances in character traits and appearance can be seen in Odin and the wizard Gandalf. Tolkien himself wrote that he saw Gandalf as “the Odinic wanderer”1. This refers probably to the fact, that Odin and Gandalf are guiding people on their way, but mostly they do not interfere. Their physical description is also quite similar. In his first appearance in The Hobbit, Gandalf is describes as follows: “[…] an old man with a staff. He had a tall pointed blue hat, a long grey cloak, a silver scarf over which his long white beard hung down below his waist, and immense black boots.”2 In The Lord of the Rings he can be seen as “An old man […] (who) wore a tall pointed blue hat, a long grey cloak, and a silver scarf. He had a long white beard and bushy eyebrows that stuck out beyond the brim of his hat.”3 If we compare this to Odin in the Volsunga saga: “over him was a spotted cloak, […]and he had a sword in his hand as he went up to the Branstock, and a slouched hat upon his head: huge he was, and seeming-ancient, and one-eyed”4 “there came a man into the fight clad in a blue cloak, and with a slouched hat on his head”5 Both of them wear the color blue. Gandalf even wears a blue cloak at the end of their journey, when they are passing Bree.6 This appearance defined the stereotypical appearance and clothing of most wizards in the fantasy genre.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the goal of the paper to show the heavy influence of Norse mythology on Tolkien’s world-building and key characters.
2. Odin as an Influence on Tolkien’s Characters: Compares the traits and roles of Odin with those of Gandalf, Manwë, and other central figures in the Legendarium.
3. Dwarves: Discusses the origins of the dwarves in Middle-earth by analyzing their physical traits, naming conventions, and mythological background.
4. Influences on the Story: Examines specific parallels in narrative elements such as geography, the symbolism of power rings, fire giants, and the trope of the broken sword.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes that while other mythologies contributed to Tolkien's work, Norse mythology remains the primary inspiration for his creative process.
Keywords
Tolkien, Norse mythology, Edda, Odin, Gandalf, Middle-earth, Dwarves, Rings of Power, Ragnarök, Manwë, Midgard, Literature, Symbolism, Fantasy genre, Mythology
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on identifying and analyzing the influence of Old Norse mythology, specifically the Edda and the Volsunga saga, on the literary works of J.R.R. Tolkien.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key themes include the comparative analysis of character archetypes, the etymological origins of character names, and the symbolic significance of mythical artifacts like rings and swords.
What is the main research question?
The research seeks to demonstrate that Tolkien’s characters and the narrative structures in his major works are significantly modeled after themes and figures found in Norse mythology.
Which scientific methodology does the author use?
The author employs a comparative literary analysis, contrasting specific passages and descriptions from the Edda and sagas with corresponding elements within Tolkien's texts.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main sections cover the parallels between Odin and Tolkien's wizards and lords, the mythological roots of the dwarf race, and direct comparisons of settings and iconic objects like rings and blades.
Which keywords best describe this study?
Keywords include Tolkien, Norse mythology, Edda, Odin, Gandalf, Middle-earth, Dwarves, and Rings of Power.
How does the author relate Sauron to Norse mythology?
The author argues that Sauron shares features with Odin, particularly regarding the concept of a single, all-seeing eye, and relates the creation of the One Ring to the Norse ring Draupnir.
What connection is drawn between the Balrog and Norse mythology?
The author compares the Balrog to the fire giant Surtr from the Edda, specifically highlighting the destruction of bridges and the confrontation between entities of light and fire.
How does the author interpret the names of the dwarves?
The author notes that many of the dwarf names in The Hobbit were derived directly from a list of dwarfs in the Gylfaginning, often retaining meanings that hint at their character traits.
- Quote paper
- Robin Materne (Author), 2014, Midgard and Middle-Earth, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/287241
