Inspiration to the books - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Eärendil · 01-14-2002, 02:25 AM

*New member*

Is it true that Tolkien got inspired by the myths (and things like that)of Scandinavia? Am really curious... I mean, "Middle-Earth" is the place where the Nordic gods lived.. Anyone knows? Thanx for your help [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

*Sorry for my English*

Eärendil · 01-14-2002, 02:27 AM

Another place where the gods where is "Asagård" btw... Doesn´t it sound quite similar to things in the books? It would be cool if he was inspired of it, I mean, I´m from Sweden... [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

dernhelm · 01-14-2002, 02:01 PM

I think Tolkien was inspired by the myths of Scandinavia. I know he was in a club called the Inklings, where they would read and discuss the old Norse sagas in the original language. Also, he did a very detailed study of the story Beowulf. I'm sure both of these things influenced the characters and settings of Middle Earth. Plus, I remember reading that some of the Elvish in Lord of the Rings came from an old language spoken in Finland.

01-14-2002, 02:36 PM

Tolkien was plainly inspired by his Christian faith. To see this a good book is the one I am currently reading, "Finding God in the Lord of the Rings." It shows the striking parallel to Bible in many aspects.
I could tell you more if I had finished the book that I am reading.

Sindalómiel · 01-14-2002, 10:02 PM

That book sounds interesting. Who's it by? I might try and find it next time I'm in Moore Books.

Eärendil · 01-15-2002, 07:15 AM

Okay, thanx. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

dernhelm · 01-15-2002, 04:54 PM

In reply to Sindalomiel:
I have the book Finding God in the Lord of the Rings, too. It is by Kurt Bruner and Jim Ware. I haven't had time to read it yet, but it should be really interesting.

[ January 15, 2002: Message edited by: dernhelm ]

Sindalómiel · 01-16-2002, 05:13 AM

Thanks Dernhelm, I'll have to see if I can get my hands on a copy somewhere.

Perethil · 01-16-2002, 10:18 AM

Tolkien was majorly inspired by Norse mythology and it formed a major base to his legends. i think, he also had great knowledge of ancient Nordic languages.

Little_My* · 06-23-2003, 10:46 AM

midgård is middle earth in swedish..and it was there the people lived, then there was utgård och asgård..utgård was home of the giants and asgård the home of the gods. dont know how to translate it...anyone else from sweden here?

Finwe · 06-23-2003, 12:31 PM

Tolkien was an avid reader of Scandinavian legends. His work on Beowulf is still read today. In fact, he and his students (I don't remember exactly where) started a Viking club where they sat around, drank ale, and discussed Scandinavian epics and legends. He got the names of the 13 Dwarves in The Hobbit from characters of Scandinavian legend. He also got Gandalf's character from the Kalevala. He also loved Celtic mythology. In fact, that is where he got his Elves from. They are very similar to the Sidhe in Celtic folklore.

dancing spawn of ungoliant · 06-23-2003, 01:04 PM

YAy!Gandalf from Kalevala!?!actually gandalf can be compared to Väinämöinen(kind of wizard in Kalevala) but i hadn't ever realized that...(i'm from Finland [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] )
also the pronaunciation of elvish is (at least partly) based on Finnish so i don't have problems when reading elvish, lucky me... [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]

Rumil · 06-23-2003, 04:43 PM

I guess there are familiar elements from many legends. The Swedish, Finnish, Celtic and bible stories have been mentioned. Also Arthurian legend (Return of the King), Atlantis (Numenor), even Shakespeare gets a look in (Ents - Birnam Wood). The Second Age ends with elements of the epic of Gil-gamesh (Gil-galad), probably the oldest surviving known story. As for the end of the Third age, 'Childe Roland to the Dark Tower came'.

I don't think this sort of thing is anything to worry about, all writers adapt elements of previous stories, few so well as JRRT.

[ June 23, 2003: Message edited by: Rumil ]

Orofaniel · 06-24-2003, 05:39 PM

Tolkien was inspired by Celtic myths and Scandinavian legends and stuff. The long poem Kalevala from Finland is the basic inspiration for Quenya.

I've also read that World War 2 inspired him and that he wrote The Silmarilion during the war.

There was also something about him and his wife, that was an inspiration for the love story about Beren and Luthien.

I read some of this in his bio, and something I've just heard so I don't know if it's true. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Richard Schletty · 02-26-2011, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dernhelm

I think Tolkien was inspired by the myths of Scandinavia. I know he was in a club called the Inklings, where they would read and discuss the old Norse sagas in the original language. Also, he did a very detailed study of the story Beowulf. I'm sure both of these things influenced the characters and settings of Middle Earth. Plus, I remember reading that some of the Elvish in Lord of the Rings came from an old language spoken in Finland.

Check out my musical setting of "Gawain's Leave-Taking."

http://www.ricardolardo.com/music/I-Take-My-Leave.html

01-14-2002, 02:25 AM	#1
Eärendil Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Valinor (RtL: 1220 miles) Posts: 562	Inspiration to the books New member Is it true that Tolkien got inspired by the myths (and things like that)of Scandinavia? Am really curious... I mean, "Middle-Earth" is the place where the Nordic gods lived.. Anyone knows? Thanx for your help [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] Sorry for my English __________________ Jag ska aldrig göra dig illa. Inte igen. Åtminstone inte mycket, åtminstone inte hårt. Kommer du ihåg? Då vi fortfarande kunde skratta, le på ett äkta vis. Jag tänker på det ibland. Det smärtar. För aldrig har du väl varit. Längre bort. Från mig.

01-14-2002, 02:27 AM	#2
Eärendil Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Valinor (RtL: 1220 miles) Posts: 562	Another place where the gods where is "Asagård" btw... Doesn´t it sound quite similar to things in the books? It would be cool if he was inspired of it, I mean, I´m from Sweden... [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] __________________ Jag ska aldrig göra dig illa. Inte igen. Åtminstone inte mycket, åtminstone inte hårt. Kommer du ihåg? Då vi fortfarande kunde skratta, le på ett äkta vis. Jag tänker på det ibland. Det smärtar. För aldrig har du väl varit. Längre bort. Från mig.

01-14-2002, 02:01 PM	#3
dernhelm Animated Skeleton Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 30	I think Tolkien was inspired by the myths of Scandinavia. I know he was in a club called the Inklings, where they would read and discuss the old Norse sagas in the original language. Also, he did a very detailed study of the story Beowulf. I'm sure both of these things influenced the characters and settings of Middle Earth. Plus, I remember reading that some of the Elvish in Lord of the Rings came from an old language spoken in Finland. __________________ Now Lords and Ladies blithe and bold, To bless you here now am I bound: I thank you all a thousand-fold, And pray God save you whole and sound. ~ Sir Gawain's Leave-Taking ~

01-14-2002, 10:02 PM	#5
Sindalómiel Wight Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 109	That book sounds interesting. Who's it by? I might try and find it next time I'm in Moore Books. __________________ http://www.webspawner.com/users/rineee/Sidhwen.jpg An Eru mîriant i-Ardhon E-anniant În Iôn Er-edonnant, an er-pen aphadiant ú-gwanno, garir i-guil uireb

01-15-2002, 07:15 AM	#6
Eärendil Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Valinor (RtL: 1220 miles) Posts: 562	Okay, thanx. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] __________________ Jag ska aldrig göra dig illa. Inte igen. Åtminstone inte mycket, åtminstone inte hårt. Kommer du ihåg? Då vi fortfarande kunde skratta, le på ett äkta vis. Jag tänker på det ibland. Det smärtar. För aldrig har du väl varit. Längre bort. Från mig.

01-14-2002, 02:36 PM	#4
Adariana Guest Posts: n/a	Tolkien was plainly inspired by his Christian faith. To see this a good book is the one I am currently reading, "Finding God in the Lord of the Rings." It shows the striking parallel to Bible in many aspects. I could tell you more if I had finished the book that I am reading.

01-15-2002, 04:54 PM	#7
dernhelm Animated Skeleton Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 30	In reply to Sindalomiel: I have the book Finding God in the Lord of the Rings, too. It is by Kurt Bruner and Jim Ware. I haven't had time to read it yet, but it should be really interesting. [ January 15, 2002: Message edited by: dernhelm ] __________________ Now Lords and Ladies blithe and bold, To bless you here now am I bound: I thank you all a thousand-fold, And pray God save you whole and sound. ~ Sir Gawain's Leave-Taking ~

01-16-2002, 05:13 AM	#8
Sindalómiel Wight Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 109	Thanks Dernhelm, I'll have to see if I can get my hands on a copy somewhere. __________________ http://www.webspawner.com/users/rineee/Sidhwen.jpg An Eru mîriant i-Ardhon E-anniant În Iôn Er-edonnant, an er-pen aphadiant ú-gwanno, garir i-guil uireb

01-16-2002, 10:18 AM	#9
Perethil Pile O'Bones Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Istanbul, Turkey Posts: 21	Tolkien was majorly inspired by Norse mythology and it formed a major base to his legends. i think, he also had great knowledge of ancient Nordic languages.

06-23-2003, 10:46 AM	#10
Little_My* Pile O'Bones Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Stockholm, sweden Posts: 11	midgård is middle earth in swedish..and it was there the people lived, then there was utgård och asgård..utgård was home of the giants and asgård the home of the gods. dont know how to translate it...anyone else from sweden here? __________________ "Do extra-terrestrial beings exist? - the Nobel Prize winning Italian physicist, Enrico Fermi, was once asked by his disciples in California. Of course, Fermi answered - they are already here among us, they are called Hungarians..."

06-23-2003, 12:31 PM	#11
Finwe Deathless Sun Join Date: May 2003 Location: The Royal Suite in the Halls of Mandos Posts: 2,609	Tolkien was an avid reader of Scandinavian legends. His work on Beowulf is still read today. In fact, he and his students (I don't remember exactly where) started a Viking club where they sat around, drank ale, and discussed Scandinavian epics and legends. He got the names of the 13 Dwarves in The Hobbit from characters of Scandinavian legend. He also got Gandalf's character from the Kalevala. He also loved Celtic mythology. In fact, that is where he got his Elves from. They are very similar to the Sidhe in Celtic folklore. __________________ But Melkor also was there, and he came to the house of Fëanor, and there he slew Finwë King of the Noldor before his doors, and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm; for Finwë alone had not fled from the horror of the Dark.

06-23-2003, 01:04 PM	#12
dancing spawn of ungoliant Mischievous Candle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: So near to Russia, so far from Japan, quite a long way from Cairo, lots of miles from Vietnam. Posts: 1,267	YAy!Gandalf from Kalevala!?!actually gandalf can be compared to Väinämöinen(kind of wizard in Kalevala) but i hadn't ever realized that...(i'm from Finland [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] ) also the pronaunciation of elvish is (at least partly) based on Finnish so i don't have problems when reading elvish, lucky me... [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img] __________________ Fenris Wolf

06-23-2003, 04:43 PM	#13
Rumil Sage & Onions Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Britain Posts: 894	I guess there are familiar elements from many legends. The Swedish, Finnish, Celtic and bible stories have been mentioned. Also Arthurian legend (Return of the King), Atlantis (Numenor), even Shakespeare gets a look in (Ents - Birnam Wood). The Second Age ends with elements of the epic of Gil-gamesh (Gil-galad), probably the oldest surviving known story. As for the end of the Third age, 'Childe Roland to the Dark Tower came'. I don't think this sort of thing is anything to worry about, all writers adapt elements of previous stories, few so well as JRRT. [ June 23, 2003: Message edited by: Rumil ] __________________ Rumil of Coedhirion

06-24-2003, 05:39 PM	#14
Orofaniel Mighty Mouse of Mordor Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Lands of the North, where no man can reach.... Posts: 827	Tolkien was inspired by Celtic myths and Scandinavian legends and stuff. The long poem Kalevala from Finland is the basic inspiration for Quenya. I've also read that World War 2 inspired him and that he wrote The Silmarilion during the war. There was also something about him and his wife, that was an inspiration for the love story about Beren and Luthien. I read some of this in his bio, and something I've just heard so I don't know if it's true. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] __________________ I lost my old sig...somehow....screams and shouts ..............What is this?- Now isn't this fun? >_< .....and yes, the jumping mouse is my new avatar. ^_^