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.
At a glance
- Grade: 1.7 (1.0 is the best grade)
- Compares Odin with Gandalf, Manwë, Aragorn, Thorin and Sauron
- Examines Draupnir and Andvaranaut alongside Sauron’s One Ring
- 10 sources in the bibliography
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
Purpose and Themes
This essay examines how the Edda and other Norse myths may have influenced the characters, races, places, and stories of Tolkien’s Middle-earth, focusing on The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion. Its central question is how these mythological traditions appear in Tolkien’s creative work.
- Parallels between Odin and Tolkien’s characters
- Norse influences on the appearance, traits, and names of dwarves
- Connections between Midgard and Middle-earth
- Rings of power and their mythological predecessors
- Fire giants, broken swords, and corresponding story episodes
Excerpt from the Book
Rings as Artifacts of Power
Odin was, as mentioned above an influence on Sauron, which is mainly seen in the rings they owned. Sauron forged the one ring as an artifact of power for himself. With this artifact he is able to control the other rings of power and has corrupted the nine kings of men, whom he gave rings. Draupnir is a ring, given to Odin by the dwarf Sindri. Each ninth night, eight identical rings will drop from this ring, so there are nine rings over all. The main ring of those nine rings is used to control the other ones, just like the one ring of Sauron and the lesser rings of power. Combined with Andvaranaut, another ring in Norse mythology, those ring can be seen as predecessors of the one ring of Sauron. Andvaranaut is stolen from the dwarves by the god Loki and is therefore cursed to bring destruction to each of its possessor. All of its owners get killed until Fafnir took the ring and morphed himself into a dragon to guard it. He is eventually killed by Sigurd who gives the ring to Brynhildr, thus cursing the whole family. This curse can be seen in the sorrow, destruction and transformation of those who bear the one ring of Sauron, especially in the twisted mind of Gollum. Day also concludes, that Draupnir could be seen as a symbol for Odin’s rule over the worlds, like the one ring is a symbol of Sauron’s reign over Middle-Earth. The one ring of Sauron is strongly connected to his home in Mordor where it was forged and where it is destroyed in the end. If we pick up the idea that Mordor stands for Niflheim, there is another connection. Sauron loses his ring in the fires of Mount Doom in Mordor. Odin on the other hand buries his son Baldr, who then dwells in the world of the dead, Niflheim, with his ring Draupnir.
“[…] it was like a great shadow, in the middle of which was a dark form, of man-shape maybe, yet greater; and a power and terror seemed to be in it and to go before it. […] The flames roared up to greet it; and black smoke swirled in the air. Its streaming mane kindled, and blazed behind it. In its right hand was a blade of fire […]”
This is the first description the reader gets from the Balrog, a demonic giant of fire, who tries to stop the fellowship from escaping Moria. In the Edda there is a similar situation. Surtr the fire giant awaits Ragnarök, the dawn of gods. He waits for the sound of the horn of Heimdall, the god who guards the realm of Asgard and then comes with a flaming sword to burn the world, fight the gods and finally to kill Freyr the god of the sun. In this fight Surtr also destroys the rainbow bridge to Asgard, Bifröst with his flames
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: The essay sets out to explore Norse mythological influences on Tolkien’s Middle-earth, while noting that other traditions and Tolkien’s linguistic work are outside its scope.
Odin as an Influence on Tolkien’s Characters: It compares Odin with Gandalf and Manwë, then identifies possible Odinic parallels in other characters, including Thorin, Aragorn, and Sauron.
Dwarves: The chapter discusses how Norse accounts inform Tolkien’s dwarves’ traits and appearance, and traces several names in The Hobbit to the Edda.
Influences on the Story: The essay considers parallels involving Midgard and Middle-earth, rings of power, fire giants, and broken swords.
Conclusion: The essay reflects on the role of Norse mythology among Tolkien’s influences and mentions other traditions and further reading.
Keywords
Tolkien, Edda, Norse mythology, Odin, Gandalf, Manwë, dwarves, Middle-earth, Midgard, Sauron, rings of power, Ragnarök, Balrog, Aragorn
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this essay about?
It explores how Norse mythology, especially the Edda and related sagas, may have influenced Tolkien’s characters and stories.
Which themes does the essay focus on?
It examines character parallels, dwarves, place names and mythic settings, rings of power, fire giants, and broken swords.
What is the essay’s main purpose?
Its purpose is to show how Tolkien’s characters and stories may reflect influences from the Edda and other Norse myths.
What method does the author use?
The essay uses comparative analysis, drawing parallels between Tolkien’s works and Norse mythological texts and sagas.
What does the main body discuss?
It moves from Odin’s parallels with Tolkien characters to dwarves, then to possible mythological influences on places and story elements.
What keywords characterize the essay?
Key terms include Tolkien, Norse mythology, the Edda, Odin, Gandalf, dwarves, Middle-earth, rings of power, and Ragnarök.
How does the essay compare Odin and Gandalf?
It highlights similarities in their appearance, wisdom, disguises, guiding roles, horses, and association with eagles.
What Norse mythological parallels does the essay draw for the One Ring?
It compares Sauron’s ring with Draupnir and Andvaranaut, discussing their powers, associations, and destructive consequences.
How does the essay relate the Balrog to Surtr?
It compares the Balrog’s confrontation with the fellowship in Moria to Surtr’s fiery role in the events of Ragnarök.
- Quote paper
- Robin Materne (Author), 2014, Midgard and Middle-Earth, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/287241
