Beowulf And Lord Of The Rings Comparison Essay

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Any avid fantasy reader knows about J.R.R. Tolkien’s world of magic and adventure in The Lord of the Rings. Middle-earth is full of Elves, Giants, and Hobbits, but from where did the inspiration for this mythical universe come? Many of the concepts in the novel derive from Old English literature, a subject in which the author was very well versed. Tolkien was a professor of Anglo-Saxon literature, focusing on Old and Middle English (Doughan). He received his degree in English from the University of Oxford, and later taught there, as well as at the University of Leeds (Doughan). Proving his passion for Old English, Tolkien wrote several lectures and essays about Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Beowulf, which he also translated into modern prose English (Doughan, Acocella).
Additionally, Beowulf and Arthurian literature served as muses for Tolkien because of the many similarities between The Lord of the Rings and these works. Elements in the classics such as supernatural phenomena, the use of holy numbers, and a brave hero-knight are just a few of many characteristics that the pieces share. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien displays …show more content…

Since Arthurian myths were composed by many different authors and in many different storylines, characters such as Merlin are portrayed in different manners. The consensus, however, is that Merlin is integral to the rise of King Arthur, the hero, in Camelot, acting as a mentor, protector, and adviser to Arthur (Joe). As a wizard, he has magical powers including transforming people’s appearances and potion making (Joe). Gandalf also acts as a guide and confidant to the protagonist Frodo in his epic journey to destroy the One Ring (Tolkien). He provides great wisdom and assistance to the group of travelers because he is the most experienced in battle, problem solving, and life

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