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05-20-2003, 01:05 AM | #1 | |
Shade of Carn Dûm
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: The Pacific Northwest - Tir Nan Og
Posts: 306
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The story of Gyges and The Lord of the Rings
Quote:
Story of Gyges by Plato I found this rather interesting while sitting in my ancient near east and ancient greek history courses. I AM NOT saying that Tolkien may have direct influece from this story, but there support for that fact he would have had indirect influece of Greek Mythology in his work. One example to consider would be the Oedipus and Kalevala. What are your thoughts? Do believe through Tolkien's exstensive work with Kalevala, he was indirectly influenced by greek myth? Did he also recieve the same in other northern european works( Lady Gregory's traslation of Irish Myths- many references to Greece). It would be interesting to hear what the forum would have to say. Foot Note: Here is an excellent link to a Tolkien writer, whom in many theories I agreee with. He has his piece about Tolkien and Greek Mythology. Turin-Oedipus question [ May 20, 2003: Message edited by: Eol ]
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05-20-2003, 04:28 PM | #2 |
Haunting Spirit
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I don't have time at the moment to write an in depth response, however:
I agree with you on the idea that Tolkien's love of the Finnish language and his research with the Kalevala was very likely a great influence on his writing. The passage at the top of your post from Gyges is interesting and though it is likely a coincidence it's very enlightening to see that no idea, no matter how brillient, is truly original (with a few rare exceptions.) Every author, poet, artist, etc. is influenced by another. Ah the beauty of pondering... [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img] BTW, when I say no idea is truly original I'm not necessarily saying that Tolkien's LotR was influenced by Gyges-it's just an interesing and intelligent conncection made by Eol (as far as we know...)
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Don't Rate Me!(Reverse Psychology?) "And the song of Luthien released the bonds of winter, and the frozen waters spoke, and flowers sprang from the cold earth where her feet had passed..." |
05-20-2003, 05:39 PM | #3 | |
Shade of Carn Dûm
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: The Pacific Northwest - Tir Nan Og
Posts: 306
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Quote:
Found an internet verison and boy if you feel ambitious, there is a reading just for you. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] I just found this rather interesting, the research and information that was available after being told that Tolkien would have nothing to do with anything Greek. Heh. The connections are there and having an open mind does help.
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Mes sana in corpec sano- (lt.) A sound mind in a sound body |
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