Identify one similarity between the mythology of the Norsemen and what you know of Tolkien's writings.

-- Anonymous, September 10, 2004

Answers

Similarities in burial services. In The Two Towers, Boromir's body is set in a boat with his enemies weapons laid among him and then shipped off down the river. The Norsemen had similar methods of funeral rites. For example, when the God Baldur died, they set him in a boat and shipped it off as well, though he was set on fire in addition to going out to sea.

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2004

One similarity between Norse myth and the Lord of the Rings is that people had the courage to stand up to evil, even when the odds were completely against them. In norse myth, the gods knew that they would die during Ragnarok. In the Lord of the Rings, the character fought Sauron even though odds were not in their favor at all.

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2004

In both Norse Mythology and the Quenta Silmarillion there are beings greater than the gods. In Norse mythology this person is mysterious and will only appear when the Gods are dead. In Tolkien's mythology this person is Iluvatar and he created the Valar.

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2004

In both, women are not alowed into battle. In The Lord of the Rings, the women are not brought up to find even in Helm's Deep and Eowyn isnot permitted to battle. It is the same in the Norse Mythology. "The fierceness of men rules the fate of women."

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2004

The concept of the afterlife to the Rohirrim is the same (but that's because Rohan is the most obscenely Anglo-Saxon place in all of ME...) as that of the Norsemen. Heaven is a great hall where they will be greater and honored among their ancestors and forefathers for their deeds and valor in life, like Valhalla.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2004

One different simlarity I found was the name of the realm in which humans dwell: Midgard. It literally translates to "Middle Earth". I also found that the dwarves and elves were common to both Norse Mythology and Tolkein's realm.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2004

One similarity between Norse mythology, Tolkein's writings, and many other mythological stories is that there is always a clearly definied group of "bad guys" (Mordor, Giants). There is no room for compromise, they will always be evil.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2004

Another similarity between Norse Mythology and Tolkien's works is a looming sense of doom. In Norse Mythology the Aesir are in constant battle with the Giants. The people of middle earth are in constant battle agianst the evil people of Mordor. There is always the threat that evil will prevail and good will be lost.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2004

Despite the heroic aspect of the ancient Norse writings that appears to overpower everything else, there is also a more sensitive, philosophical side that is embodied in the "wisdom-literature" of the Norsemen. This is seemingly contradictory to the straight- forward battle between good and evil of the hero. One of the writings says, "None so good that he has no faults/ None so wicked that he is worth naught." Tolkien's Lord of the Rings also faces this problem. While it is basically a battle between good and evil, there are many more complex characters, such as the hopelessly torn Gollum. Even the orcs do not seem completely evil, especially during their scenes of the dialogue, when they are revealed to have human- like emotions.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2004

Specifically, the stories of Signy and Turgon from the Silmarillion contain similar plot elements. Turgon, like Sigmund, has his father killed, and later returns to avenge his death. Also, after being separated from his sister for years, Turgon finds her with amnesia, and not recognizing her, marries her. While Signy killed herself after knowingly committing incest, Turgon's sister does so after she regains her memory.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2004

In Tolkein's writings there is a lot of emphasis on plants in relation to the people and places. The White Tree was the symbol of Gondor and kingsfoil was used by Aragorn to heal. Also, the Shire, the very essence of goodness, is green and beautiful, while the only plant in Mordor has foot-long spikes. In Norse mythology, the first man was created from an ash tree and the first woman from and elm. One of their major myths is the death of the god Balder, who was killed by mistletoe after Frigga had extracted oaths from every other living thing not to harm Balder.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2004

Well, I consider a similarity between the Giants and Melkor (who is Morgoth) with his Balrogs. I'm sure that they all weren't on fire or anything, but it stands as a rival to the Norse Gods. Bravery is also valued in Tolkien's world. I think of Eowyn... in Norse Mythology, the brave almost wanted to die. Eowyn also shows that trait.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2004

Hey, I'm Not in your class, and I'm a freshie, so sorry if you dont want me in here.

There are many characteristics that are common both in Tolkein and Norse Mythology. An easy one to see is the Valhalla (spelled the same in both pieces of literature, big tip-off) the halls where warriors are supposed to reside in the afterlife, where they feast with the gods for eternity. The second thing I noticed were the types of elves. In Norse Mythology, there are two types, Elves of Light, and Elves of Darkness. Elves of Darkness live underground and in shadows, and are known for their less than pleasant attitude towards humans. These can be considered the elves raped by Melkor (or Morgoth, whichever you prefer). Another similarity is that Loki and Melkor are almost the same being. Both were punished for doing wrong, and when they escaped their punishments, the riled up an army to create war with whomever punished them(Loki with the Giants vs. the gods, Melkor with his army vs. the Vala). The last thing I noticed was with Sigmund and the sword Odin threw into the tree. Sigmund, when weilding the sword is invincible and eventually Odin breaks the sword and Sigmund is killed. But-- the shards of the blades are passed to down the line to Sigurd, and the sword is reforged, which is the Aragorn-Narsil story.

Sorry again, but lord knows, if freshies got a choice, I’d be in the Tolkein Class with you guys.

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2004

[I] lalala [I/]

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2004