the Kalevala
 

I am a LotR fan and part of what fascinates me most is how Tolkien created Middle-earth from studying famous epics and things like that.... yeah I don't really know what I'm talking about but has anyone read the Kalevala?

I have not read it, but i do know of it. I know that Tolkien's elvish language and ideas were found in the Kalevala, for instance, the idea of the ring. Which once belonged to The Shamen in the Kalevala, which also must be destroyed in order to restore peace.

I'm just beginning to read it myself, if anyone else would like the opportunity, here's a wonderful site where you'll find it and other texts.

[ July 12, 2003: Message edited by: Beren87 ]

i have read the Kalevala (our national epic) and the Shaman called Väinämöinen is a great wizard like Gandalf. i don't remember reading about a mighty ring in the Kalevala, but Väinämöinen had a kantele( Finnish musical instrument, originally with 5 strings over a horizontal sounding board, plucked by hand) witch possessed great powers.
Tolkien's elvish's pronaunciation is almost straight from Finnish (and Latin as far as i know).
He also "took" some parts to his writings of Norwegian and other Scandinavian myths.

dancing spawn of ungoliant ... you said "our national epic"... are you finnish?

yep, i'm finnish, you got me! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]
welcome to Downs, Ninya, enjoy being dead!!!

whoa thats cool. i am too... well sort of haha

I have read the Kalevala, as part of World lit. Studies at school, i thought it was very enjoyable, i can see why Tolkien was drawn to it, next up I will have to force myself to read Beowulf.

I have started the Kalevala and read the Icelandic Edda. Tolkien took very much from this book as well, for example the names of the dwarves. Some characters are very similar as well, e.g. Odin and Ilúvatar.