1. What genres do the following texts belong to?
Voluspa, Volsunga Saga, Beowulf, The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.
Give some examples from these texts that support your identification (for example: "Voluspa is an example of the _____ genre, as the following references to gods from the poem illustrate: "Hear my words / you holy gods' (l.1) "By Odin's Will I'll speak the ancient lore" (l.3), etc).
2. What are some possible features of residual (or "secondary") orality preserved in Voluspa, according to the criteria Ong (1982) advances?
3. Identify a central incident that happens in at least four of the above texts, and discuss how it is both similar and different in each example (remember to site from the original texts).
4. How did Tolkien draw on the Old Norse and Old English texts in his Hobbit and Lord of the Rings fantasy novels? Provide some concrete examples.
5. Discuss how Tolkien's use of "tradition" (e.g. older literary sources) differs from the techniques and agendas of modernism (see Week 7 in your Reader).
6. What place do the old myths have in the modern world?
7. How does the film Beowulf and Grendel "problematise" the hero-myth of Beowulf ?
8. Discuss what you think any of these texts desire (in the sense of their intention, how they wish to be received, what pleasures they offer).
Time for a comment!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete4. How did Tolkien draw on the Old Nordic and Old English texts in his Hobbit and Lord of The Rings fantasy novels? Provide some concrete examples.
ReplyDeleteTolkien’s novels are heavily influenced by Old English texts, he uses many techniques and ideas from Old English text to try and create a novel that has a mythological feeling to it. As if it could have been 'true'.
An example of this is the character Gandalf. He has a lot in common with Odin (a major god in Norse Mythology). They both are seen as mentor figure, they share the same values, they both favour justice and as well as gaining knowledge, truth and wisdom. Another thing that is rather obvious when looking at them is, Gandalf’s appearance is almost identical to Odin’s. Such as the long beard, the grey robes and magic staff (a dead giveaway).
In the old Nordic language Gandalf’s name means wand elf or magic elf. this then bring me to the reference of Elves in both LOTR and Hobbit. This idea of Elves in these novels mirrors the Elf creatures mentioned in Norse Mythology. The Light and Dark Elves in Tolkien’s novels show the same characteristic traits the Norse Elves who are known as Valar or Valir.
References.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._R._Tolkien's_influences#Nordic_Influences
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteAnother example of Tolkien's novel have been influenced by Norse Mythology is through the similarities between his work and Beowulf.
DeleteGlenn (1991) states that some Old Norse and Old English factors are contained in Tolkien’s work, and are drawn from a number of early works, especially the epic poem Beowulf.
Glenn(1991) states that many people believe Tolkien is only retelling the story of Beowulf. THey believe this was because the journey told of Bilbo is very similar to the journey of the main character in Beowulf.
Glenn, J. A. (1991). To translate a hero: The hobbit as Beowulf retold. Retrieved from http://faculty.uca.edu/jona/second/hobbeow.htm
Hey Gemma,
DeleteGreat use of references. Do you think Bilbo's journey is better than Beowulf's journey? I also think this world Tolkien created “middle-earth” has many methodological influences. Apparently middle-earth is located in the middle of the big ash tree mentioned in norse mythodology called the ‘Yggdrasil’, the tree which connects 9 planets.
‘Midgard, Middle Earth, is the name for the world inhabited by and known to humans in early Germanic cosmology and specifically one of the Nine Worlds in Norse mythology. Pictured as placed somewhere in the middle of the Yggdrasil tree, Midgard is surrounded by a world of ocean, that is impassable..’ (Silver, 2013).
The fact that many mythical creatures such as elves and giants are prominent in the stories also shows the norse methodological influences in Tolkien’s work.
Thanks!
References.
http://nordicwiccan.blogspot.co.nz/2013_02_01_archive.html
Excellent work by both of you. Gemma, don't forget style. LOTR is written like a prose saga of old, with something of an oracular tone, certainly far from the self questioning tone of Modernism.
DeleteHow does the film Beowulf and Grendel “problematize” the hero-myth of Beowulf?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion the whole “hero-myth” idea of Beowulf is problematized to quite an extent. Firstly I think it is important to know a little about the character ‘Grendel’. Right from the beginning I sympathised with the Troll ‘Grendel’ and his relationship with the people of the Danes. Grendel was portrayed as alone, angry and murderous but only because of the Danes and what they had done to his Father. I believe scene 1 is a perfect summary of the whole film. A young ‘troll’ is spared from a Kings sword only to grow up violent and full of hatred. I can only imagine for any child, witnessing their Father’s death can be traumatizing and have quite an affect in the long run. Revenge.
The introduction of Beowulf, a handsome warrior with a reputation. He is portrayed as boastful, proud and confident. There are a few things that problematize this hero’s myth:
• Beowulf’s first encounter with the Troll: Beowulf and his men are armed and ready to fight the Troll. Instead the Troll urinates on the front door of the beer hall (where the men are) and they suffer from a really bad stench of troll urine. Quite a funny scene and it makes Beowulf look like a fool.
• Beowulf is portrayed as a womanizer and sleeps with the witch. Although she had the Troll’s baby after getting raped by Grendel.
• Beowulf’s final altercation with the Troll: The Troll wrestles with Beowulf. In a last attempt to escape the Troll’s arm is trapped and he’s hanging by a rope. He refuses to give in to the people and cuts his own arm off, while Beowulf is watching in utter shock.
• In the end it seems Beowulf regrets the way he dealt with Grendel. In an altercation with Grendel’s Mother in the cave, Beowulf faces the witch’s son and spares his life. Beowulf even dedicates a little shrine to Grendel!
To me the hero-myth of Beowulf wouldn't have spared the boy’s life out of pity. He is not portrayed as a fool in the old poems but rather smart and witty. He certainly wouldn't have slept with a witch, but would've probably killed her for her association with the Troll. In the hero’s myth Beowulf tears the monsters arm from its socket not Grendel himself. Lastly no shrine would've been dedicated to a monster by a hero.
Beowulf was not portrayed as a hero, a conqueror of some big quest. If anything this ‘big quest’ seemed like a little mission. A mission to save this small village from this angry Troll, who only took revenge on old men?
Last impression of Beowulf on film. A sympathetic man who has learnt a few life lessons. Sounds very soppy. Far from the actual hero-myth of Beowulf!
References:
DeleteFilm: Beowulf and Grendel (2005). Directed by Sturla Gunnarsson.
1. What genres do the following texts belong to?
ReplyDeleteVoluspa is a mythological poem. This can be supported by its references to gods, “Hear my words, you holy Gods” (Terry, 1990, p. 1), and imaginary creatures, “I remember giants of ages past” (Terry, 1990, p. 1). Voluspa is also a creation account describing how Odin and his brothers created the world and the humans, “Then Bur’s sons lifted up the land, and made Midgard, men’s fair dwelling”. (Terry, 1990, p. 1)
Volsunga is a part of the saga genre. It consists of epic poetry and typical saga content such as an historic tale about a hero fighting and killing a dragon, “Now crept the worm down to his place of watering, and the earth shook all about him, and he snorted forth venom on all the way before him as he went; but Sigurd Neither trembled nor was adrad at the roaring of him.” (Morris & Magnussun, 1888, p. 58)
Beowulf is an epic poem because it deals with men instead of gods. It can also be argued that it’s a saga because it’s a longer tale and contains stories of a hero fighting evil monsters and beasts. Examples of this can be found in the Beowulf extract; “When the dragon awoke, trouble flared again.” (Heaney, 1999, p. 71) “I risked my life often when I was young. Now I am old, but as king of the people I shall pursue this fight for the glory of winning.” (Heaney, 1999, p. 74)
The Hobbit is a part of the fantasy genre. It contains many of the typical characteristics of fantasy such as the use of magic, being set in an imaginary world and supernatural beings like dwarfs, orcs, dragons, elves and hobbits. This is exemplified in the text, “In this story dwarvs and dwarvish is used”, “Orc is the hobbit’s form of the name given at that time to these creatures” (Tolkien, 1997, p. ix) and “Fire leaped from the dragon’s jaws” (Tolkien, 1997, p. 235).
Lord Of The Rings is also a fantasy for many of the same reasons has The Hobbit. It is set in an imaginary world, uses magic, supernatural beings and supernatural events. An example of a supernatural even is when Gandalf uses magic to free King Theoden from a spell, “I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a serving-man till the lightning falls.' He raised his staff. There was a roll of thunder. The sunlight was blotted out from the eastern windows; the whole hall became suddenly dark as night. The fire faded to sullen embers. Only Gandalf could be seen, standing white and tall before the blackened hearth.” (Tolkien, 1993, p. 503).
References:
Terry, P. (trans). (1990, 1966). Poems of the Elder Edda. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
Heaney, S. (1999) (trans). Beowulf: a new translation. London: Penguin.
Morris, W. and Magnussun, E. (Trans.) (1888). The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga). London: Walter Scott Press.
Tolkien, J.R.R. (1997; 1937). The Hobbit, London: HarperCollins.
Tolkien, J.R.R. (1993; 1954). The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. London, HarperCollins.
Hey Gaute,
DeleteGreat use of examples from the text, I now have a better understanding on what epic poem and a saga is. I think all these stories can fall under the sub-genre of myth, because at one point people actually believed these stories, which we now define as fiction. Your thoughts on this?
Thanks.
Some great stuff here. I would just like to say that Volsunga saga is a Legendary saga as it follows the conventions of a legendary saga. A legendary saga is also known as "fornaldarsaga literally, story/history of the ancient era" as stated on Wikipedia (2014). Legendary saga also "contain very old Germanic matter" Wikipedia (2014) Which Volsunga saga does.
DeleteI would also like to add that Beowulf is indeed an epic poem. Epic poems are similar to sagas, as they contain the legendary feats of a mythical hero. However, one main difference between the two is that epics focus more on the characteristics of the hero highlighting such as their nobility and honour.
Wikipedia (2014) Legendary saga. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legendary_saga
4. How did Tolkien draw on the Old Norse and Old English texts in his Hobbit and Lord of the Rings fantasy novels? Provide some concrete examples.
ReplyDeleteTolkien uses significant amounts of Norse mythology in his texts. The reason for this could be his wish to create an English mythology, and since it doesn’t exist he used the closest he could find, namely Norse mythology. This would also explain why one can find similarities to the old Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf in his texts.
I will present many examples of Tolkien’s use of Norse mythology in his texts. Firstly there are places in Tolkien’s texts that have similar names and functions to places from Norse mythology. The imaginary world Middle Earth in The Hobbit and LOTR can be connected to Midgard in Norse mythology, which is a world where men, dwarves, elves and giants live. A place called Asgard in Norse mythology is inhabited by the gods and is a place of bliss and joy. This sounds a lot like Valinor in Tolkien’s texts. Eldamar, where the elves live in Tolkien’s texts, are similar to Elfheim where the elves live in Norse mythology.
Secondly, the races in Tolkien’s stories can also be found in Norse mythology. The light elves that live in Elfheim in Norse mythology was adapted by Tolkien and used in his texts. The Norse dwarves live in caves and mines in the mountains where they dig for gold and gems, which sounds exactly like the dwarves in Tolkien’s texts. The names of Tolkien’s dwarves can be found in the old Norse poem Voluspa. Dragons appear in both Tolkien’ texts and Norse mythology, but it’s unclear if Tolkien took the idea of dragons from there since they also exists in old Celtic myths. Giants are common in Norse mythology and can also be found in Tolkien’s texts, although not as much.
Thirdly, there are characters in The Hobbit and LOTR that have origins in Norse mythology. Beorn in The Hobbit can change into a bear. Beorn is an old Germanic word for bear, and in Norse myths warriors could be described as bears and become beserks if they fought fierce. Gandalf’s name is from Voluspa and his character is inspired by Odin. They are both old, wise characters with great powers. Gandalf’s horse Shadowfax is also based on Odin’s horse Sleipnir in Norse mythology. They were the fastest horse in their respective worlds.
At last, magic rings forged by dwarves can be found in Norse mythology, but none of them have the same powers as the one in LOTR. It is also usual to name your swords in Norse mythology, which Tolkien also applied to his swords.
Tolkien's plot in the Hobbit is also similar to that of the Old English poem Beowulf. (Glenn, 1991). The main characters Bilbo and Beowulf are put through a serious of tests and obstacles before they encounter a final test in form of a dragon. Therefore, it’s likely that Tolkien also was inspired by Beowulf when writing the Hobbit.
References:
Glenn, Jonathan A. (1991). "To Translate a Hero: The Hobbit as Beowulf Retold." PAPA 17: 13-34.
Wettstein, Martin. (2002). “Norse Elements in the work of J.R.R. Tolkien”. Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu/228734/Norse_Elements_in_the_work_of_J.R.R._Tolkien
Great examples! I was doing some research and you are right about Tolkein wanting to create the myths he felt England lacked (not that I doubted you! just one should never believe everything they read, especially online!). Also how you mention that a lack of mythology for his own culture lead him to borrow aspects of others is right on the mark!
DeleteA quote from Professor Jane Chance (N.D.) links LoTR and Beowulf;
"Because the Fellowship is burdened with the responsibility of bearing the Ring and because its presence attracts evil, the greatest threat to the Fellowship and its mission comes not from without but within. The hero must realize that he can become a monster. The two books of the Fellowship trace the process of this realization: the first book centers on the presentation of evil as external and physical, requiring physical heroism to combat it; and the second book centers on the presentation of evil as internal and spiritual, requiring a spiritual heroism to combat it. The hero matures by coming to understand the character of good and evil—specifically, by descending into an underworld and then ascending into an overworld, a natural one in the first book and a supernatural one in the second. These two levels correspond to the two levels—Germanic and Christian—of Beowulf and The Hobbit. For Frodo, as for Beowulf and Bilbo, the ultimate enemy is himself."
I feel you have covered a good amount, as characters and setting (which you have covered) are most of what makes up a story and as mentioned, Tolkein borrowed both of these from other mythologies. His work also bears a striking resemblance to Beowulf.
Great job, again!
References:
Chance, J. (N.D.). The myths that inspired The Lord of the Rings.
Retrieved from:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngbeyond/rings/myth.html
Also, a side note;
DeleteI think if you read the Lord of the Rings trilogy, you will find the style/language to be similar to those of mythological writers than those of modern stories, and very rarely will you come across a trilogy or book as long as this trilogy - nowadays anyway.
6. What place do the old myths have in the modern world?
ReplyDeleteWe live in a world that is constantly advancing.
Though how far have we really come from the days where myths weren't just bedtime stories, but factual stories. Have we advanced too much for there to be any real place in our world?
If we take a close look at the world around us, we will see that the 'old myths' actually play a big role in our 'modern world'.
We see the influence of old myths in big time companies, movies, etc.
Companies such as Amazon, an international shipping company have borrowed their name from the all female warrior nation that Greek myths call the Amazons.
Amazon isn't the only modern company to borrow their names from myth however, we see companies such as Apollo, once known as the God of light, masculinity and beauty is now also known as Apollo Health and Beauty care, Nike was known as the goddess of triumph or victory is now a famous sports brand and the list goes on (Greek Names, N.D.).
If you were to take a look at the entertainment of modern society, such as movies, you will see that they are heavily influenced by mythology. Recent movies to come out are ones such as Thor, Troy, The clash of the Titans, 300, Hercules and many more (All women stalk, N.D.).
Mythology also holds a place in authors minds. We see the works of authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien, a serious fan of mythology - as made obvious in his works such as the Lord of the Rings trilogy, where he borrowed creatures straight out of mythology, such as elves, dragons, giants, dwarves and trolls (National geographic, 2001).
While mythology might not have a place as a serious belief like Christianity and other religions, as it did many years ago - there is still a place for it in our modern world, even if it is mainly a source of entertainment.
References:
All women stalk. (N.D.). 7 Movies about ancient Greece and Greek mythology.
Retrieved from:
movies.allwomenstalk.com
Greek names. (N.D.). Companies with Greek names. Retrieved from:
http://www.greek-names.info/companies-with-greek-names/
National geographic. (2001). The myths that inspired the Lord of the Rings.
Retrieved from:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngbeyond/rings/myth.html
Hope I'm answering correctly!!!
3. Identify a central incident that happens in at least four of the above texts, and discuss how it is both similar and different in each example (remember to site from the original texts).
ReplyDeleteFour texts: The Hobbit, Beowulf, Voluspa and Volsunga saga.
The four chosen texts share many 'central incidents' throughout each story line.
All stories share an adventure where a 'beast' (dragons and servants) is an obstacle and must be defeated. Bilbo fights against Smaug, Beowulf fights against a dragon, Volsunga faces a dragon and Volsupa faces a serpent.
The dragon/serpent in each of these stories force the protagonists to face tough scenes and bring 'conflict to the stories. Each 'beast' protects stolen treasure and it is the treasure that each protagonist goes after.
All encompass mythology and 'fictional' characters such as trolls, dragons, elves, etc.
What place do these old myths have in the modern world?
ReplyDeleteOld myths such as Beowulf, Lord of the Rings and so on have a bigger influence in the modern world then we think. For example, New Zealand’s rugby team the Mighty All Blacks, only the best of the best nationwide are selected to be apart of this team. New Zealanders of all ages admire the All Blacks and follow them religiously. Every player on the team is highly respected; it is safe to say that many see them as heroes. Just like old myths with heroes and villains, there are also heroes and villains in the modern world. We have a mythological thinking that these athletes are our heroes and their opponents are the villains. These athletes have a courageous and strong aura about them it influences people to commend them. Males especially have a desire to be like the players in the All Blacks because of their physic and status. In 2011 New Zealand hosted the Rugby World Cup, countries were praising the All Blacks. The whole of New Zealand showed their support for the All Blacks, by painting the country black. Even the popular family restaurant Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) went from the company color’s red and white to the color black, all to support their beloved All Blacks. Again these myths have created a mythological thinking or fantasy in the modern world.
Modern television shows have been influenced from mythological references. Popular movies such as Lord of the Rings and Thor have evidently been influenced from these old myths. It might be ideal to point out that Loki the “wily trickster God of Norse mythology” (Loki, n.d) and the case of Ragnarok “the end of the cosmos in Norse mythology” (Lindemans, 1997) have developed into a cultural event of their own. It appears that endless amount of times Loki has been referenced and Ragnarok echo’s humans constant anxiety: of climate change / global warming (for people that believe in science), Armageddon, and it could be a fear of death, which is the essence of the human reality. A sci-fi / fantasy television show called Supernatural is believed to have featured a character who is a confinement of Loki. The Almighty Johnsons is a New Zealand drama / comedy illustrates a family who are all reincarnations of Norse Gods. When the main protagonists celebrated his 21st birthday he discovers that he is Odin, even though his family are dysfunctional and have no restrictions over their powers he is given a responsibility to hold them all together and keep his family in order. This show has aired in numerous countries and has gained a lot of fans. One of the most well known sci-fi series Stargate SG-1 generally show an association of aliens also know as “the Asgard” who were literally the root of Norse mythology.
Reference:
Lindemans, F, M. (1997). Ragnarok. Retrieved from http://www.pantheon.org/articles/r/ragnarok.html
Loki. (n.d). Retrieved from http://norse-mythology.org/gods-and-creatures/the-aesir-gods-and-goddesses/loki/