Gandalf and Odin? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

The Might · 09-27-2007, 03:53 PM

It may very well be that such a thread has already been created somewhere here, but since I can't remember seeing any I'll ask my question anyway.

Don't you think there's a resemblance between Gandalf and Odin?
I just saw a drawing on the english Wikipedia page for Odin called Odin the Wanderer that immediately made me think of Gandalf. I mean, it wouldn't be the first time Tolkien is inspired by Norse mythology...

davem · 09-27-2007, 04:00 PM

You might want to join in with this thread

http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=12391

Quite a bit on the Gandalf/Odin thing in there.

The Might · 09-27-2007, 06:47 PM

Thanks for the link, quite interesting indeed...especially the Sauron/Odin resemblance...I wasn't really aware of that, then again I only know little about Norse mythology, and most comes from computer games.

Lalwendë · 09-29-2007, 09:49 AM

Tolkien himself called Gandalf his 'Odinic wanderer' so there is most definitely a link there, especially to the 'good' aspects of Odin! Though the stuff about Sauron showing the 'bad' aspects to Odin is built up from analysis/comparison, of course!

William Cloud Hicklin · 09-29-2007, 11:47 AM

Some of Odin's more unpleasant aspects are also reflected in the Lost Tales-era Vala Makar, Lord of the Slain, whose gory halls in Valinor are pretty much a dead ringer for Valhalla in its more sanguinary representations- those killed in battle skip Mandos, and instead spend the afterlife alternately feasting and slaughtering.

Lalwendë · 09-29-2007, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hickli

Some of Odin's more unpleasant aspects are also reflected in the Lost Tales-era Vala Makar, Lord of the Slain, whose gory halls in Valinor are pretty much a dead ringer for Valhalla in its more sanguinary representations- those killed in battle skip Mandos, and instead spend the afterlife alternately feasting and slaughtering.

I went and had a look at this earlier. Fascinating that Makar had a war goddess sister too. The whole section seemed to hint at aspects of 'real world' spirituality and religion including not only Valhalla but also Hell and Purgatory, all of which were eventually excised from his vision of the cosmology - although you can detect a hint of Valhalla in Theoden's beliefs about the kind of afterlife he will pass on to.

I noted a further link to the Norse mythology in that fascinating depiction of the world as a Viking ship.

09-27-2007, 03:53 PM	#1
The Might Guard of the Citadel Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Oxon Posts: 2,205	Gandalf and Odin? It may very well be that such a thread has already been created somewhere here, but since I can't remember seeing any I'll ask my question anyway. Don't you think there's a resemblance between Gandalf and Odin? I just saw a drawing on the english Wikipedia page for Odin called Odin the Wanderer that immediately made me think of Gandalf. I mean, it wouldn't be the first time Tolkien is inspired by Norse mythology... __________________ “The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike.” Delos B. McKown

09-27-2007, 04:00 PM	#2
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	You might want to join in with this thread http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=12391 Quite a bit on the Gandalf/Odin thing in there. __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."

09-27-2007, 06:47 PM	#3
The Might Guard of the Citadel Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Oxon Posts: 2,205	Thanks for the link, quite interesting indeed...especially the Sauron/Odin resemblance...I wasn't really aware of that, then again I only know little about Norse mythology, and most comes from computer games. __________________ “The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike.” Delos B. McKown

09-29-2007, 09:49 AM	#4
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Tolkien himself called Gandalf his 'Odinic wanderer' so there is most definitely a link there, especially to the 'good' aspects of Odin! Though the stuff about Sauron showing the 'bad' aspects to Odin is built up from analysis/comparison, of course! __________________ Gordon's alive!

09-29-2007, 11:47 AM	#5
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,321	Some of Odin's more unpleasant aspects are also reflected in the Lost Tales-era Vala Makar, Lord of the Slain, whose gory halls in Valinor are pretty much a dead ringer for Valhalla in its more sanguinary representations- those killed in battle skip Mandos, and instead spend the afterlife alternately feasting and slaughtering. __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.