TOLKIEN'S INFLUENCES - PART 2 - BEOWULF

Beowulf is an Old English,heroic,epic poem of anonymous authorship, dated between the 8th and 11th century A.C.,and relates events described as having occurred in what is now Denmark and Sweden. Commonly cited as one of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature, Beowulf has been the subject of much scholarly study, theory, speculation, discourse, and, at 3183 lines, it has been noted for its length!

Tolkien has been strongly influenced by this Saxonic poem. He himself used to say through his letters: "Beowulf is among my most valued sources..." It seems that Tolkien has been influenced in two levels by this poem.

Firstly, in the level of hero-lines and basic characteristics. Beowulf was for him an endless source of elements as to how to build his heroes. Thus, many of the heroic achievments and acts of chivalry in Beowulf are quite similar with those of the heroes of Tolkien especially in the Silmarillion and the Lord of the Rings.

The second level of influence is this of language. Many names Tolkien invented, are based to the origins of the names of Beowulf. Some examples are the following:
Beorn-Warrior, hero-Beorn
Beor-Bright,shining-Beor the Old
Eotenas-giant-Ent
Fródan -The wise one/old-Frodo

Grimmon-Mask-Grima
‘him wæs géomeor sefa murnende mód’-‘sad was their heart and mourning in their soul’-‘has pity in her heart and mourning in her soul’.

These are some examples of names that are similar to those of Tolkien's names. First comes the name in Beowulf, secondly the meaning and third comes the similar name in Tolkien. There is also a verse that is used both in Beowulf and Tolkien as well. It is a stereotypic verse and quite often used by Tolkien.

Beowulf has definitely contributed to the shape of Tolkien's work. It has been a guide for him, a valuable linguistic tool and source of many useful elements. Tolkien had the perfect base upon which he could start his work and eventually, Beowulf helped him in maturing the ideas he had in mind while adding precious elements from the saxonic poem!