pitchwife's comments on Galdalf/Merlin are interesting.
I vaguely feel like there should be/are other parallels.
As to the classical, specifically Greek, influences on Tolkiien,
there are some intereting suggestions in HC's Biography:
Quote:
Already when beginning to learn Greek he had
entertained himself by making up Greek-style words
|
and
Quote:
He ('Dickie' Reynolds) was not particularly successful
(in teaching English literature) with Ronald Tolkien, who preferred
Latin and Greek poetry to Milton and Keats.
|
Someone who was so committed to the history (real or created)
behind languages might well have been more influenced by
Latin and Greek vis-a-vis Scandinavian/northern European then
is generally thought to be the case, especially since said influence
was strongest in his schoolboy years (obviously important
formulatively) then college/university years with Finnish and
such.
Just a thought.