Tolkien's Inspiration - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Naldoriathil · 02-07-2003, 10:36 AM

Sorry if this has been asked many times, but i was just wondering if any of you knew what the inspiration was for the greatest books on earth?! It's been really bugging me and i've been trying to get into his head, but no success.... Do his letters say anything about the inspiration? thanks anyway. [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img]

HCIsland · 02-07-2003, 10:47 AM

I guess there are a lot of answers to this but here comes what I've gathered. Tolkien loved heroic fantasy literature and myth but was dismayed that England didn't have a mythology to call it's own and so wanted to create one. Also, as a linguist, he must have found the desire to create his own languages overwhelming and language and history are intricately intertwined. You can't study a language with considering the history of the people that spoke that language.

Is that close?

H.C.

02-07-2003, 01:08 PM

I heard C.S Lewis got him into writing. Not really inspiration, but maybe got him to write fantasy. Can anyone cofirm that?

02-07-2003, 01:22 PM

Tolkien had a life-long love of languages (especially Anglo-Saxon) and often played with the original meanings of words, such as Gandalf, which means "Wand Elf", which brought to mind a Wizard with a staff.

He wrote some of his earliest tales (which later became The Silmarillion) in the trenches of World War I, long before he ever met CS Lewis.

[ February 07, 2003: Message edited by: Barahir ]

Inderjit Sanghera · 02-07-2003, 01:23 PM

I think he wanted to create a English mythology? Or was that BoLT?

Aeryn Evenstar · 02-07-2003, 08:25 PM

I've heard that he was inspired by Norse mythology, especially Boewulf. I haven't read it, yet. 'Course he started creating his world of Middle-Earth when he was a child. I'm sure there were a lot of things that inspired him.

Beren87 · 02-07-2003, 08:28 PM

Inderjit, you're quite correct. He found the Arthurian Legends to not be a real mythology, like those of the Norse and Greek.

Iarwain · 02-07-2003, 08:49 PM

Oh, the wonderful answers that this question can recieve! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

1) He wanted to create a british mythology, because it bothered him that the only "true" peice of British mythology (King Arthur) was actually French in origin.

2) He wanted to express his faith while writing the most epic mythology in human history.

3) His wonderful works reflected the tortures of war and the impotance and benifits of self-sacrifice, along as accent the importance of good moral values in one's life.

4) He was specifially asked to write the Lord of the Rings.

Happy Once More,

the Eldest,
Iarwain

MLD-Grounds-Keeper-Willie · 02-08-2003, 01:16 AM

I think possibly Shakespeare. And also, himself of course. And probably children, as that was what The Hobbit was intended for, and as a result, Middle-earth was created and the other books spawned from it.

Lalaith · 02-08-2003, 04:22 AM

The Hobbit was written after much of the middle-earth mythology had been created.

As others have mentioned, Tolkien actually created the languages first, before he wrote the stories. Middle Earth, its peoples, legends and tales were created to give the languages history and meaning.
I believe this is unique in fantasy literature. And I also believe that is what makes Tolkien an author apart. I have tried to read other fantasy authors and found them all fairly tedious, while Tolkien I could read forever.

eleanor_niphredil · 02-08-2003, 06:42 AM

This does not follow anything that others have been saying, but...

When I was younger, I went with school to a place in the Lake District, an outdoor activity centre called Low bank ground. (For anyone who has been there, I was the one who started the ghost stories [img]smilies/evil.gif[/img] )
Anyway, when we where out one day, one of the leaders took us to what he called a secret place. It was a ledge high above everything, only accesable through a small coridor in the rock invisible to anyone who did not know it was there. As soon as I saw the view, I thought "This is the Shire". It was everything that the shire was meant to be. It was then that he told us that this is where Tolkien got his insperation. I was the only one who knew who Tolkien was, and the only one who believed him.

ever since this, I have heard several things to suggest that this could be true. I dont know about anyone else, but though the countryside surrounding Oxford is said to be the shire, to me, it always will exist in the Lakes, the view from that ledge.

Naldoriathil · 02-08-2003, 07:50 AM

I have been there as well, but no one told me it was Tolkien's Shire. I'm not saying your lying by the way! Now thinking about it, it really did look like the Shire and i do remember reading somewere that Tolkien liked to go up there....fascinating, you should all go! [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]

eleanor_niphredil · 02-08-2003, 05:07 PM

The man who told us went to work at another place similar to that when we left. He wasnt the most reliable source, but he did love Tolkien, so it doesnt mean he wasnt telling the truth. No one else believed him, though!

02-07-2003, 10:36 AM	#1
Naldoriathil Haunting Spirit Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: London Posts: 71	Tolkien's Inspiration Sorry if this has been asked many times, but i was just wondering if any of you knew what the inspiration was for the greatest books on earth?! It's been really bugging me and i've been trying to get into his head, but no success.... Do his letters say anything about the inspiration? thanks anyway. [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img] __________________ "He is Aragorn, Son of Arathorn, Heir to the Throne of Gondor!"

02-07-2003, 10:47 AM	#2
HCIsland Zombie Cannibal Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,000	I guess there are a lot of answers to this but here comes what I've gathered. Tolkien loved heroic fantasy literature and myth but was dismayed that England didn't have a mythology to call it's own and so wanted to create one. Also, as a linguist, he must have found the desire to create his own languages overwhelming and language and history are intricately intertwined. You can't study a language with considering the history of the people that spoke that language. Is that close? H.C. __________________ "Stir not the bitterness in the cup that I mixed myself. Have I not tasted it now many nights upon my tongue, foreboding that worse yet lay in the dregs." -Denethor

02-07-2003, 01:23 PM	#5
Inderjit Sanghera Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Wolverhampton, England Posts: 716	I think he wanted to create a English mythology? Or was that BoLT? __________________ “If I’m more of an influence on your son as a rapper then you are as a father then you've got to look at yourself as a parent” ~>Ice Cube. "Life is so beautiful"->Don Vito Corleone

02-07-2003, 08:49 PM	#8
Iarwain Pugnaciously Primordial Paradox Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Birnham Wood Posts: 800	Oh, the wonderful answers that this question can recieve! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] 1) He wanted to create a british mythology, because it bothered him that the only "true" peice of British mythology (King Arthur) was actually French in origin. 2) He wanted to express his faith while writing the most epic mythology in human history. 3) His wonderful works reflected the tortures of war and the impotance and benifits of self-sacrifice, along as accent the importance of good moral values in one's life. 4) He was specifially asked to write the Lord of the Rings. Happy Once More, the Eldest, Iarwain __________________ "And what are oaths but words we say to God?"

02-08-2003, 01:16 AM	#9
MLD-Grounds-Keeper-Willie Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 573	I think possibly Shakespeare. And also, himself of course. And probably children, as that was what The Hobbit was intended for, and as a result, Middle-earth was created and the other books spawned from it. __________________ Do Not Touch -Willie

02-07-2003, 01:08 PM	#3
Imsirion Guest Posts: n/a	I heard C.S Lewis got him into writing. Not really inspiration, but maybe got him to write fantasy. Can anyone cofirm that?

02-07-2003, 01:22 PM	#4
Barahir Guest Posts: n/a	Tolkien had a life-long love of languages (especially Anglo-Saxon) and often played with the original meanings of words, such as Gandalf, which means "Wand Elf", which brought to mind a Wizard with a staff. He wrote some of his earliest tales (which later became The Silmarillion) in the trenches of World War I, long before he ever met CS Lewis. [ February 07, 2003: Message edited by: Barahir ]

02-07-2003, 08:25 PM	#6
Aeryn Evenstar Pile O'Bones Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 14	I've heard that he was inspired by Norse mythology, especially Boewulf. I haven't read it, yet. 'Course he started creating his world of Middle-Earth when he was a child. I'm sure there were a lot of things that inspired him.

02-07-2003, 08:28 PM	#7
Beren87 Master of the Secret Fire Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Between fire and ice, death and life Posts: 2,241	Inderjit, you're quite correct. He found the Arthurian Legends to not be a real mythology, like those of the Norse and Greek.

02-08-2003, 04:22 AM	#10
Lalaith Blithe Spirit Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,779	The Hobbit was written after much of the middle-earth mythology had been created. As others have mentioned, Tolkien actually created the languages first, before he wrote the stories. Middle Earth, its peoples, legends and tales were created to give the languages history and meaning. I believe this is unique in fantasy literature. And I also believe that is what makes Tolkien an author apart. I have tried to read other fantasy authors and found them all fairly tedious, while Tolkien I could read forever. __________________ Out went the candle, and we were left darkling

02-08-2003, 06:42 AM	#11
eleanor_niphredil Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: england Posts: 805	This does not follow anything that others have been saying, but... When I was younger, I went with school to a place in the Lake District, an outdoor activity centre called Low bank ground. (For anyone who has been there, I was the one who started the ghost stories [img]smilies/evil.gif[/img] ) Anyway, when we where out one day, one of the leaders took us to what he called a secret place. It was a ledge high above everything, only accesable through a small coridor in the rock invisible to anyone who did not know it was there. As soon as I saw the view, I thought "This is the Shire". It was everything that the shire was meant to be. It was then that he told us that this is where Tolkien got his insperation. I was the only one who knew who Tolkien was, and the only one who believed him. ever since this, I have heard several things to suggest that this could be true. I dont know about anyone else, but though the countryside surrounding Oxford is said to be the shire, to me, it always will exist in the Lakes, the view from that ledge. __________________ Here I am, brain the size of a planet, and they ask me to spend my time on this forum. And by the way, for any of you turning into a penguin, stop it. ~* I am Pippin took in the Female Fellowship*~

02-08-2003, 07:50 AM	#12
Naldoriathil Haunting Spirit Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: London Posts: 71	I have been there as well, but no one told me it was Tolkien's Shire. I'm not saying your lying by the way! Now thinking about it, it really did look like the Shire and i do remember reading somewere that Tolkien liked to go up there....fascinating, you should all go! [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img] __________________ "He is Aragorn, Son of Arathorn, Heir to the Throne of Gondor!"

02-08-2003, 05:07 PM	#13
eleanor_niphredil Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: england Posts: 805	The man who told us went to work at another place similar to that when we left. He wasnt the most reliable source, but he did love Tolkien, so it doesnt mean he wasnt telling the truth. No one else believed him, though! __________________ Here I am, brain the size of a planet, and they ask me to spend my time on this forum. And by the way, for any of you turning into a penguin, stop it. ~* I am Pippin took in the Female Fellowship*~

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