Beowulf And Lord Of The Rings Comparison Essay

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

British fantasy literature’s roots in Anglo-Saxon and medieval works through characters and the situations they face, while also showcasing the progression of the genre through the world in which they live.
Gandalf is a brilliant, wise wizard who bares many similarities to the wizard Merlin of Arthurian legend because he is molded after Merlin.

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

(Clarke).
Merlin and Gandalf take on father figure roles for the heroes of their respective stories. Gandalf fits archetypal “Wise Old Man” because he uses his life experiences to help guide his youthful apprentice, however, Merlin can be considered the original “Wise Old Man” in fantasy literature (Clarke). Until Merlin, there were no comparable characters in the genre, and his significance in Arthurian legends is so predominant, it influences Tolkien’s work centuries later. The fundamental “Wise Old Man” stereotype also influences more recent fantasy authors such as J. K. Rowling, through the character Dumbledore. Merlin and Gandalf’s core character stereotype is the same, but their roles in their novels are very different.
The difference between the two great wizards is that Merlin has a significantly smaller role in most Arthurian myths compared to Gandalf’s role in The Lord of the Rings. Again, because of the different tales of King Arthur’s court, Merlin has varying roles depending on the author. Some authors such as French writer Robert de Boron or Englishman Sir Thomas Mallory give Merlin a more important in Arthur’s life, particularly his education, while other authors like Geoffrey of Monmouth for example only include Merlin in the conception of Arthur (Joe). Gandalf, however, physically goes on the expedition with Frodo, is almost always present often in the novel, providing knowledge and physical support (Tolkein).
Even when Merlin has his biggest role in a story, it is nothing compared to Gandalf’s role. While Merlin stays important to the character development of Arthur and sometimes the progression of the story, he only appears periodically in the storylines. Gandalf constantly helps to move the plot along throughout the novel, making him a main character, while Merlin remains a supporting character. This shows the advancement of the “Wise Old Man” stereotype in the fantasy genre.
Beowulf serves as a loose template for the storyline of The Lord of the Rings. The Anglo-Saxon epic poem, Beowulf, written in the twelfth century by an unknown author tells about a legendary warrior who comes to aid the King of the Danes by getting rid of the monsters that plague his lands (Kundu). Beowulf travels to Herot to defeat Grendel, and then goes to the Grendel’s mother’s lair to kill her before finally returning home in Geatland (Textbook). On his journeys, Beowulf battles many mythical creatures and performs great feats of honor (Kundu).
The epic novel The Lord of the Rings centers on a hobbit named Frodo Baggins who inherits a ring from his Uncle Bilbo and discovers how dangerous it is because the evil Dark Lord Sauron desires it in order to rule all of Middle-Earth (Tolkien). Frodo, along with a group of travelers including dwarfs, men, wizards, and elves, sets out on a hazardous journey to destroy the One Ring in the fires from which it was made (Tolkien). They have to combat various imaginary creatures such as Orcs and dragons to protect the Ring on their voyage until they reach Mount Doom.
Lord of the Rings imitates Beowulf through several aspects. Beowulf leaves his homeland to fight Grendel, an already present menace. Likewise, Frodo leaves his home The Shire to