The Influence of William Morris

[Bêthberry]

Great thread idea, lmp, and excellent thoughts on the artistic similarities between Tolkien and Morris, Estelyn.

Yet it is not only in the attitude towards arts and crafts that the two are similar, nor in their interest in the medieval world. Tolkien's interest in northern mythology reflects Morris's interest. Morris was an early translater of Icelandic myths, and, in fact, translated (with his friend Eiríkr Magnússon) a most interesting tale of an eloquent man whose fate was tied in with the love of a fair maid: The Story of Gunnlaug the Worm-tongue .

If you follow that link you can find an online version of the story. Grima Wormtongue shares only a few attributes of Gunnlaug the Worm-tongue, but the similarities do suggest more of that 'leaf mold' which Estelyn mentions.

Another topic which Tolkien and Morris shared was their interest in social organisation, although the two differed in the direction of their political thought.