Excellent Question. I would have loved to have discovered that Norse mythology had primed me for Tolkien, just has it had originally inspired Tolkien himself.
Note: "inspired" = in - spirit = indwelling spirit
But no, yet just as comically what primed me for Tolkien was old Godzilla movies.
The image of the dragon, you see.
I did not explore Norse mythology until much later, and actually, have rejected my former religion in favor of Wotanism. My place in Vahalla is assured. I am a Warrior of the Rainbow Bridge, Acoltye of Hiemdoll, and Bezerker of Wotan, Wielder of the Divine Bolts.
