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
- Introduction
- Odin as an Influence on Tolkien's Characters
- Odin and Gandalf
- Odin and Manwë
- Odin and other Characters
- Dwarves
- Appearance and Character Traits
- Names
- Influences on the Story
- Places in Midgard and Places in Middle-Earth
- Rings as Artifacts of Power
- Fire Giants
- Broken Swords
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to demonstrate the significant influence of Norse myths, particularly the Edda, on Tolkien's characters and stories in "The Lord of the Rings," "The Hobbit," and "The Silmarillion." The paper compares different characters, races, and places in Middle-Earth with their counterparts in the Edda. Other possible influences, such as Greek or Roman Mythology, classical fairy tales, or the Arthurian Saga, are acknowledged but not explored in this essay.
- Comparison of Tolkien's characters with figures from Norse mythology
- Exploration of the influence of the Edda on Tolkien's world-building
- Examination of the similarities between locations and objects in Midgard and Middle-Earth
- Analysis of the role of Norse mythology in Tolkien's creative process
Chapter Summaries
The first chapter introduces the paper's objective and outlines the key themes that will be explored. It discusses the wide-reaching influence of the Edda on modern culture, highlighting Tolkien's significant contribution to the fantasy genre.
The second chapter focuses on the character of Odin and his influence on Tolkien's creations. It draws parallels between Odin and Gandalf, examining their physical appearances, powers, and roles within their respective worlds. The chapter also discusses the similarities between Odin and Manwë, highlighting their positions as the highest beings in their respective pantheons.
The third chapter delves into the dwarves, comparing their characteristics, names, and roles in Tolkien's works with their counterparts in the Edda.
The fourth chapter examines further influences from the Edda on the story, including the similarities between locations, artifacts, and beings in both Midgard and Middle-Earth.
Keywords
The primary focus of this paper is on the influence of Norse mythology, specifically the Edda, on Tolkien's works. Key terms include: Tolkien, the Edda, Norse mythology, Odin, Gandalf, Manwë, dwarves, Midgard, Middle-Earth, world-building, character comparison, and literary influence.
- Quote paper
- Robin Materne (Author), 2014, Midgard and Middle-Earth, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/287241
