to understand tolkiens world - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

02-07-2002, 01:05 PM

if you want to really understand Tolkiens world,then read the book he based his books on...read Snorra-Edda it´s a very old and famous Icelandic book, that Tolkien knew by heart, about the nordic belief....Gandalf was a dwarf. Also the Elvish writings, you can see a very similar writing in Snorra-Edda.

Elven-Maiden · 02-07-2002, 03:42 PM

Gandalf's a dwarf? [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img] is that just in the Icelandic book?

Carannillion · 02-07-2002, 04:16 PM

Yes, I also noticed Tolkien's style resembling the Norse sagas - not just Snorre-Edda, but the heroic poems and king's sagas and all.

I don't know 'Edda' that extensively, though. Where is the part about the Gandalf-type being a dwarf?

littlemanpoet · 02-07-2002, 09:05 PM

Check out the Heimskringla sagas, too. They're out of the Swedish legends. It starts with a human/god Odin and his people, the Aesir, and their neighbors the Vanyar, and how they come from the Russian steppes and take over Denmark and the Scandinavian regions, and the lines of kings descended therefrom.

02-08-2002, 01:17 PM

Snorra is about the nordic myths so I do apologise for saying "a Icelandic book" it´s about our old myths.
It´s written by Snorri Sturluson, he´s Icelandic (he´s also behind Heimskringla)

02-08-2002, 01:18 PM

Snorra is about the nordic myths so I do apologise for saying "a Icelandic book" it´s about our old myths.
It´s written by Snorri Sturluson, he´s Icelandic (he´s also behind Heimskringla)

02-20-2002, 06:06 PM

Has anyone here read "The Tolkien Reader?"

It includes a sort of mini-play called "The Homecoming of Beortnoth Beorhthelm's Son."

Distinctly Scandinavian. I think Tolkien really had a thing for those Northern peoples.

(BTW, the "Reader" has a lot of other little goodies, check it out, if you haven't already.)

Gayahithwen · 02-23-2002, 02:50 PM

Of course he was influenced by the Edda!!! ^_^ trust me.. I mean, if finnish was the model language for his quenya, then the scandinavian myths should be the model for his own legends, right?!? Or maybe I'm just tired..

02-07-2002, 01:05 PM	#1
helga litla Guest Posts: n/a	to understand tolkiens world if you want to really understand Tolkiens world,then read the book he based his books on...read Snorra-Edda it´s a very old and famous Icelandic book, that Tolkien knew by heart, about the nordic belief....Gandalf was a dwarf. Also the Elvish writings, you can see a very similar writing in Snorra-Edda.

02-07-2002, 03:42 PM	#2
Elven-Maiden Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 297	Gandalf's a dwarf? [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img] is that just in the Icelandic book? __________________ Tout ce qui est or ne brille pas, Tous ceux qui errent ne sont pas perdus. Mobilis in Mobile

02-07-2002, 04:16 PM	#3
Carannillion Wight Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Mici Firya Posts: 135	Yes, I also noticed Tolkien's style resembling the Norse sagas - not just Snorre-Edda, but the heroic poems and king's sagas and all. I don't know 'Edda' that extensively, though. Where is the part about the Gandalf-type being a dwarf? __________________ A cry for the people, but there's noone there to hear...

02-23-2002, 02:50 PM	#8
Gayahithwen Wight Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The chat-room. Posts: 241	Of course he was influenced by the Edda!!! ^_^ trust me.. I mean, if finnish was the model language for his quenya, then the scandinavian myths should be the model for his own legends, right?!? Or maybe I'm just tired.. __________________ Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry, he'll be a mile away - and barefoot.

02-07-2002, 09:05 PM	#4
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	Check out the Heimskringla sagas, too. They're out of the Swedish legends. It starts with a human/god Odin and his people, the Aesir, and their neighbors the Vanyar, and how they come from the Russian steppes and take over Denmark and the Scandinavian regions, and the lines of kings descended therefrom.

02-08-2002, 01:17 PM	#5
helga litla Guest Posts: n/a	Snorra is about the nordic myths so I do apologise for saying "a Icelandic book" it´s about our old myths. It´s written by Snorri Sturluson, he´s Icelandic (he´s also behind Heimskringla)

02-08-2002, 01:18 PM	#6
helga litla Guest Posts: n/a	Snorra is about the nordic myths so I do apologise for saying "a Icelandic book" it´s about our old myths. It´s written by Snorri Sturluson, he´s Icelandic (he´s also behind Heimskringla)

02-20-2002, 06:06 PM	#7
solikat Guest Posts: n/a	Has anyone here read "The Tolkien Reader?" It includes a sort of mini-play called "The Homecoming of Beortnoth Beorhthelm's Son." Distinctly Scandinavian. I think Tolkien really had a thing for those Northern peoples. (BTW, the "Reader" has a lot of other little goodies, check it out, if you haven't already.)