To begin with, the topic you chose was “Anglo-Saxon and Medieval influences on the Lord of the Rings” and I suggested that even this was too broad for a short paper. Adding Celtic and Persian (which I strongly doubt exist) influences make the entire project impossible.
This is not an acceptable rough draft — it is simply a list of topics you mean to discuss. Your thesis statement is vague and inadequate and you do not develop any argument.
You also include almost no citations and your list of works cited is too short — you need to include ten items including six articles from peer-reviewed journals.
You need to narrow your topic to something you can cover in a six-page paper, find some good sources and put up another rough draft by the end of this weekend. (I have created a link at the top of the page for this.) Please send me ANGEL mail letting me know you have done this and I will read it and make comments. Lydia Fish November 20, 2008, at 05:11 PM
It seems like you have great ideas in a outline form and it is really not a paper yet. I think that once you write it though it will be great. Shippey is probably something your enjoying a lot while writing this, especially last chapter. Donald TurnerDonald Turner November 13, 2008, at 04:40 PM
You have the basic outline and start of your paper down really well so far. I’m sure you will expand everything for your final. I might suggest using textual references from Lord of the Rings and some Norse novels like Beowolf to illustrate some topics if you can. Though Norse stories are hard to find. Brittany Thrun? November 13, 2008, at 04:13 PM
Your paper seems very well organized and you should have no trouble creating a final copy. I just think you should rework the title as Influences includes merely everything and your paper is very well focused. I think if you just narrow your title, then your work on the northern influences of Tolkien seems a lot more relevant. Also i would just say make sure you include transitions so your topics don’t seem scattered. Eligh Hanning
You bring up a lot of great points, but it seems like you just listed the points that you want to talk about and haven’t really strated to write on them. I think you’re having the same problem that I had with my first topic. It seems like a very broad topic, although I know you need enough info to be able to write this paper. Just try to make sure that all of the points come together in the fianl paper and make sure that they all flow well (which is definitely something that I need to make sure that I do in my final). Otherwise, these are all good ideas. Sarah Chudyk? November 13, 2008, at 08:51 AM
You’ve got some great material and the way it’s organized tells me your poised to put it together well. Take care to create a gripping intro, though — it sets the tone for the entire paper, and chances are, if you catch a reader with the intro, and keep the theme throughout the paper, you’ll get a wonderful response. Joseph Bella? November 13, 2008, at 01:52 AM
I agree with some of the previous posts that although you have mentioned some really great points, this is more of an outline rather than a rough draft. I am interesting to see you blend everything together into the final piece, you have a lot of interesting information to work with. Since you are covering a lot of information, make sure your paper flows and is easy to understand when you write the final draft. Carly Lopez? November 12, 2008, at 10:52 PM
This is more of an outline than a draft. You have quite a bit of information, so it shouldn’t be hard for you to put it in essay form. However, you need to develop all of the things you’re mentioning. And honestly, this topic is HUGE. Your problem wont be a lack of material to write about, but how to filter all of the data that is available and incorporate it in an organized manner. Brian Nacov November 12, 2008, at 10:17 PM
You would need to have a good means of transitions since you would be talking about different ideas at once. Also you might want to proof read your again since there are some minor errors in it. Other than that I am waiting to hear about your paper.Trudy Antwi November 12, 2008, at 09:22 PM
It’s hard to comment on your paper since your ideas are more sectioned off at this moment, making it seem like more of an outline, but I agree with everyone who said that your ideas are solid. Again, it would help if they were more in a paper format so we could see how you group information together and shift the reader to different topics. Devon Cozad? November 12, 2008, at 07:15 PM
I think that once you get your ideas together your paper will be great. The ideas that you have in your rough draft are very interesting and I can not wait to see how you finish things up. I really like how you separated where Tolkien’s influences connect with different things in the book, for example your section on creatures. This shows how Tolkien was influenced from many different angles. Great Job! Just make sure to connect things with each other and your paper will be nice. Elizabeth Delano? November 12, 2008, at 05:26 PM
I think that it is very interesting to outline the influences of Tolkien’s world that created his books. Your rough draft is pretty rough, but your ideas are all very good ones. I cannot wait to see how you fill the gaps in this paper because you have a wonderful start to it. [[Keilah Bradley] November 12, 2008, at 03:05 PM
This is a very rough draft but you seem to be heading in the right direction. You have many good details but they just need to be filled out more. Perhaps you should narrow your ideas down and only talk about the subjects that are connected to each other, for example combine what influences came from the culture and people of the north and omit correlations that have to do with landmarks. I’m sure you’ll get every thing sorted out and write a great paper on this subject, good start! Sarah McNutt November 12, 2008, at 09:18 AM
This is more of an outline and it’s kind of confusing. I can understand how you want to use Northern Influences, but you need to structure your ideas alot more. You bounced back and forth from real culture and fictional/mythological culture. If you plan on discussing both of these aspects, make sure you keep them separate from each other and that you are clearly stating that. If you plan on discussing personal influences that Tolkien experienced around his home in England, you should keep that seperate from “Northern Influences” or at least state the differences. “Northern Influences” leads the reader to immediately assume Norse influences. Get your ideas more organized and distinct and I’m sure you can come up with a great paper. Lauren Brych? November 11, 2008, at 04:35 PM
I think you should stick with strictly “Northern influences,” if that is your topic. I was a little confused at the end when you go into other influences, such as where Tolkien grew up and World War I. I think this makes the paper much too broad and potentially disconnected. I was also confused as to how the gods/Elves fighting to protect men is “fate.” I think that you have many great ideas, but need to pull it all together in a way that is easier to read. Good job! Kelsey Till November 09, 2008, at 01:53 PM
I guess I’m a little confused about the general idea of this paper. It would have been more clear to me if there was an introduction and a thesis to read. Also, are you talking about just Northern influences, or more than that? You have some great facts listed, but for your final, you need to tie all of these sections together. Emily Marvin? November 09, 2008, at 01:03 PM
You have a lot of good ideas, but I think your paper is too broad. You need to focus your research on a more specific topic. You could take one of your major ideas, like creatures or customs, and use is as the focus for your paper Annika Laughlin?
Tolkien Influences
People are influenced throughout their lives and authors especially. My paper is going to investigate Tolkien’s influences and the sources of his inspiration.
Northern Influences
Tolkien became acquainted and interested with Northern literature from a fairly young age. He was introduced to Old English at the age of sixteen when his schoolmaster lent him an introductory Anglo-Saxon text. After this he moved on to the Old English poem Beowulf. He then became interested in and studied Middle English and Old Norse. Humphrey Carpenter, Tolkien’s biographer, was quoted saying that “Old Norse literature and mythology had a profound appeal to Tolkien’s imagination.”
Many of the creatures in The Lord of the Rings are inspired by the creatures in Northern literature and mythology. Some of these creatures include: the eye of Sauron, the balrog, and Shelob. Various races and specific characters are also inspired by and share similar characteristics to their Northern literature counterpart; these including hobbits, elves, and wizards.
Hobbits have many of the same characteristics as the Icelanders of famous family sagas. Both races are very hospitable; this is demonstrated when Bilbo is in a frenzy to find food for his guests. Both races are also proud of the heritage; Frodo and Bilbo are proud of the Baggins’ and where they have come from. Icelanders often divide themselves by kinship in a feud. Hobbits and Icelanders share a common like for fanciful clothing. Hobbits enjoy wearing colored clothing and Icelanders wear silk gowns, fur cloaks, and elaborate armor.
In Northern literature, Elves are the size of men and commonly marry humans. In both Northern Literature and The Lord of the Rings, elves are traditionally healers and skilled smiths. Dark Elves may have had a little inspiration for the creation of orcs. Tolkien got many of the names and characteristics for the dwarves in the Hobbit from the Eddas which are literary works in Old Icelandic dating from the late 13th century and consisting of 34 mythological and heroic ballads composed between 800 and 1200 and are the primary source for Scandinavian mythology. Characteristics for the dwarves include short stature, long beards, love for treasure, capable smiths, and an ill temper. Tolkien took inspiration for the creation of his wizards from the gods of Old Norse mythology. The inspiration for Gandalf came from the all father Odin and Saruman was inspired by the evil god Loki. Odin is the chief divinity of the Norse pantheon and is called all father because he is the father of the gods. He is a god of war but is also the god of poetry and wisdom. Loki is another major deity of the Norse pantheon and is connected with fire and magic. He can assume many different beings and is crafty, malicious, but also heroic.
Customs
The people of Rohon and Gondor share similar customs to that of the North. As with many male names in The Lord of the Rings, the Northern style for names is patronymic.
The burial traditions of Gondor and the North Sea are alike in that they both construct burrows for their dead kings.
Norse ethics dictate loyalty to friends and lordship and kinship. Although The Fellowship never submitted a formal oath, there was an unspoken pledge to the ring bearer and the mission at hand. An example of a formal oath and pledge in The Lord of the Rings can be seen when both Merry and Pippin pledge themselves to King Theoden and Denethor respectively.
Personalities
In The Lord of the Rings, Denethor has significant connections to characters in Northern literature. Some traditional Norse characters prefer suicide to the dishonor of not being able to avenge the death of their son or family member. Denethor is has specific connections to Njal from the Saga of Burnt Njal. Both men have their favorite son die and also die themselves on a flaming funeral pyre. Njal is an intelligent, courageous individual. Denethor might have evolved to this if he hadn’t been influenced by Sauron through the palantir (St. Clair 65).
Themes
Common themes between Northern Literature and The Lord of the Rings include: “the concept of fate, the need for courage, an origin of evil, the tragedy of mortality, the doom of the immortals, and the paradox of defeat.” Beowulf believes that fate controls all events. This is evident when he says “fate goes every as it must” (St. Clair 66).The subject of fate can be seen in The Lord of the Rings when Gandalph claims that Bilbo was meant to find the ring.
Fate also plays a role in Norse mythology. The old gods of Norse mythology became closely associated with men until the point at which they basically became large heroes of men. Many of these gods fought and died alongside these men. This parallels with the Elves in The Lord of the Rings. These elves are considered a noble race and have immortality. They too eventually fight and die alongside men.
Tolkien was the Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University when he came up with the opening line of The Hobbit, “In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit.” This line and vision was probably inspired by the recent excavations of Anglo-Saxon buildings in Berkshire with levels that were below ground.
Tolkien’s creation of the Shire represented an England that once was. This creation served as an escape to the nightmares of his experience with World War I. It was also these experiences that led him to develop the Shadowlands and the scene in which the travelers pass through.
Tolkien wrote that Somerset’s Cheddar caves provided the foundation for Helms Deep (Hinton 23).
Tolkien was very familiar with the Berkshire Downs and spent much time walking on the barrows as an undergraduate. These Downs were an inspiration into the creation of his Barrow-lands.
Tolkien disliked suggestions that his stories derived and were inspired by from other stories; though he is known to have read Wagner’s Ring Cycle in its original German.
Ring giving symbolizing lordship and power was a very powerful custom in Anglo-Saxon poetry.
The fires of Mount Doom may have been inspired from a Bershire landmark that had been translated and interpreted as “ring pit.”
It can be seen that many authors took inspiration from the Berkshire Downs and that Tolkien was continuing the tradition (Hinton 24).
Celtic Type of Legends
Tolkien’s interest in Celtic studies has whether it is intentionally or unintentionally contributed and inspired elements of Middle-Earth.
After Tolkien’s death, some of his personal books were given to two Oxford libraries. They are classified as “Tolkien’s Celtic Library” and consist of over three hundred books, which is only a small portion of his total collection. It is surprising to see that Tolkien had such a large Celtic library because he was believed to have a strong dislike for anything Celtic (Fimi 52).
Persian Influences
Persian religion and Mithraism, an ancient Hellenistic religion, based on worship of a god called Mithras who is a derivative of the Persian god Mithra, provide the theology that comprises Middle-Earth (Allen 189)
Persian elements are present in design themes, plot developments, and even characters. More specifically, Persian influences can be seen in the designs on the doors of Moria, lembas bread, the things the fellowship goes through and experiences, the eruption of Mount Doom, Sauron and the Ringwraiths, Gandalf and the Fellowship, and the choices for dates of important events.
Tolkien’s Persian system of thought was taken from that of Zoroaster, one of the great teachers of the East and the founder of Zoroastrianism. Zoroaster taught that the universe was a constant struggle between good and evil. The good being Ahura Mazda and the evil being Ahriman. In order for man to secure his salvation, he must fight with Ahura Mazda or the good.
Mithraism worshipped many natural forces and objects that include the moon and planets, the four elements, the four seasons, and “the sacred tree under which Mithras was born” (Allen 190). These Mirthraic themes can be seen in the design of the door to Moria: the crown which symbolizes the sun, the seven stars, and the moons supported by two trees.
Works Cited
Steven Wilser? November 05, 2008, at 11:17 PM
