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Sources of Lord of the Rings
2 sections14 books
J.R.R. Tolkiens' Middle Earth did not come out of thin air. Tolkien, an academic linguist, drew on the following source materials to inspire his world-building exercise. The texts presented at this site are complete and in some cases in the original languages.
- The Kalevala. [Finnish]
- The Younger (Prose) Edda.
- The Volsung Saga
- The Nibelungenlied
- Heimskringla or The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway
- Beowulf [Modern English]
- Beowulf [Anglo Saxon] Beowulf [Anglo Saxon]The original monster story, in the original Old English . Tolkien was a distinguished scholar of Middle and Old English. The Beowulf saga is one of the treasures of this branch of literature, and Grendel, the monster of this tale, is a prototype for many of the darker creatures that populate Middle Earth.
The MabinogionThe Original Red Book. Among the sources for Tokien's languages was Welsh, and the Welsh stories of the 'Red Book of Hergest' appear to have also had an influence on the narratives of Tolkien's fictional 'Red Book of Westmarch'.
Modern Fantasy
3 books- The Works of Lord DunsanyLord Dunsany paved the way for Tolkien with his delightful internally consistent fantasy worlds.
The Wood Beyond the WorldThe Wood Beyond the World is one of Morris' masterpieces which he originally published using hand-set type. One of the recognized forerunners of Tolkien was William Morris, skilled artist, pioneering Socialist, translator of Icelandic sagas, and fantasy writer.
The Worm Ouroboros"The greatest and most convincing writer of 'invented worlds' that I have read" -- [J.R.R. Tolkien *]
Sources of Lord of the Rings
2 sections14 books
J.R.R. Tolkiens' Middle Earth did not come out of thin air. Tolkien, an academic linguist, drew on the following source materials to inspire his world-building exercise. The texts presented at this site are complete and in some cases in the original languages.
-
- The Kalevala. [Finnish]
-
- The Younger (Prose) Edda.
- The Volsung Saga
- The Nibelungenlied
- Heimskringla or The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway
- Beowulf [Modern English]
- Beowulf [Anglo Saxon] Beowulf [Anglo Saxon]The original monster story, in the original Old English . Tolkien was a distinguished scholar of Middle and Old English. The Beowulf saga is one of the treasures of this branch of literature, and Grendel, the monster of this tale, is a prototype for many of the darker creatures that populate Middle Earth.
- The MabinogionThe Original Red Book. Among the sources for Tokien's languages was Welsh, and the Welsh stories of the 'Red Book of Hergest' appear to have also had an influence on the narratives of Tolkien's fictional 'Red Book of Westmarch'.
Modern Fantasy
3 books- The Works of Lord DunsanyLord Dunsany paved the way for Tolkien with his delightful internally consistent fantasy worlds.
- The Wood Beyond the WorldThe Wood Beyond the World is one of Morris' masterpieces which he originally published using hand-set type. One of the recognized forerunners of Tolkien was William Morris, skilled artist, pioneering Socialist, translator of Icelandic sagas, and fantasy writer.
- The Worm Ouroboros"The greatest and most convincing writer of 'invented worlds' that I have read" -- [J.R.R. Tolkien *]
Sources of Lord of the Rings
2 sections14 books
J.R.R. Tolkiens' Middle Earth did not come out of thin air. Tolkien, an academic linguist, drew on the following source materials to inspire his world-building exercise. The texts presented at this site are complete and in some cases in the original languages.
-
- The Kalevala. [Finnish]
-
- The Younger (Prose) Edda.
- The Volsung Saga
- The Nibelungenlied
- Heimskringla or The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway
- Beowulf [Modern English]
- Beowulf [Anglo Saxon] Beowulf [Anglo Saxon]The original monster story, in the original Old English . Tolkien was a distinguished scholar of Middle and Old English. The Beowulf saga is one of the treasures of this branch of literature, and Grendel, the monster of this tale, is a prototype for many of the darker creatures that populate Middle Earth.
- The MabinogionThe Original Red Book. Among the sources for Tokien's languages was Welsh, and the Welsh stories of the 'Red Book of Hergest' appear to have also had an influence on the narratives of Tolkien's fictional 'Red Book of Westmarch'.
Modern Fantasy
3 books- The Works of Lord DunsanyLord Dunsany paved the way for Tolkien with his delightful internally consistent fantasy worlds.
- The Wood Beyond the WorldThe Wood Beyond the World is one of Morris' masterpieces which he originally published using hand-set type. One of the recognized forerunners of Tolkien was William Morris, skilled artist, pioneering Socialist, translator of Icelandic sagas, and fantasy writer.
- The Worm Ouroboros"The greatest and most convincing writer of 'invented worlds' that I have read" -- [J.R.R. Tolkien *]