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History
Tolkien and the Norse
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Tolkien derived the characters, stories, places, and languages of Middle-earth from many sources. Among these are Norse mythology, seen in his Dwarves, Wargs, Trolls, Beorn and the barrow-wight, places such as Mirkwood, characters including the Wizards Gandalf and Saruman and the Dark Lords Morgoth and Sauron derived from the Norse god Odin, magical artefacts like the One Ring and Aragorn's sword Andúril, and the quality that Tolkien called "Northern courage". The powerful Valar, too, somewhat resemble the pantheon of Norse gods, the Æsir.
The god Thor talks to the dwarf Alviss to prevent him from marrying his daughter Þrúðr; at dawn Alviss turns to stone, just as Tolkien's stone Trolls
The god Thor talks to the dwarf Alviss to prevent him from marrying his daughter Þrúðr; at dawn Alviss turns to stone, just as Tolkien's stone Trolls do in The Hobbit. Drawing by W. G. Collingwood, 1908
The jötunn Hyrrokin riding a wolf, on an image stone from the Hunnestad Monument, constructed in 985–1035 AD
The jötunn Hyrrokin riding a wolf, on an image stone from the Hunnestad Monument, constructed in 985–1035 AD
The Norse god Odin sits atop his steed Sleipnir, with his ravens Huginn and Muninn, and wolves Geri and Freki. 1895 illustration by Lorenz Frølich
The Norse god Odin sits atop his steed Sleipnir, with his ravens Huginn and Muninn, and wolves Geri and Freki. 1895 illustration by Lorenz Frølich
Sigurd holding the sword Gram on the Ramsund carving, c. 1030
Sigurd holding the sword Gram on the Ramsund carving, c. 1030
One Ring
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The One Ring, also called the Ruling Ring and Isildur's Bane, is a central plot element in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings (1954–55). It first appeared in the earlier story The Hobbit (1937) as a magic ring that grants the wearer invisibility. Tolkien changed it into a malevolent Ring of Power and re-wrote parts of The Hobbit to fit in with the expanded narrative. The Lord of the Rings describes the hobbit Frodo Baggins's quest to destroy the Ring and save Middle-earth.
Critics have noted parallels with Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, as seen here in Josef Hoffman's 1876 set design for Das Rheingold, though
Critics have noted parallels with Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, as seen here in Josef Hoffman's 1876 set design for Das Rheingold, though they disagree on its influence on Tolkien.
Tolkien visited the temple of Nodens at a place called "Dwarf's Hill" and translated an inscription with a curse upon the thief of a ring. It may have
Tolkien visited the temple of Nodens at a place called "Dwarf's Hill" and translated an inscription with a curse upon the thief of a ring. It may have inspired his dwarves, mines, rings, and Celebrimbor "Silver-Hand", the Elven-smith who forged Rings of Power.
The shepherd Gyges finds the magic ring, setting up a moral dilemma. Ferrara, 16th century
The shepherd Gyges finds the magic ring, setting up a moral dilemma. Ferrara, 16th century
The One Ring in Peter Jackson's films.
The One Ring in Peter Jackson's films.