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Full Description
This book explores J. R. R. Tolkien's unique and warm relationship to the Kalevala, a poem usually hailed as the Finnish and Karelian national epic, compiled, edited and partly revisioned from older folk poetry by Finnish scholar Elias Lönnrot in the 19th century. J. R. R. Tolkien, an Oxford academic and the greatest author of the 20th-century fantasy, creator of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, was fascinated from early on by the Kalevala. Tolkien himself described the Kalevala as "a germ" of his fantasy fiction.
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Introduction
2. From folk tradition to fantasy
On J. R. R. Tolkien
On role models, ancient heroes
The Kalevalas of Lönnrot
The Kalevala Tolkien knew
Tolkien's works
What did Tolkien think of the Kalevala?
The merging of Finnish language and the Kalevala in Tolkien
3. The story of the Kalevala and Tolkien's fantasy world
World creation and world order
Song battles and quests before marriage
The Sampo and the Silmarils
Interludes
The end of the tale
4 The Kalevalaic parts of Tolkien's world
The might of singing, music and words
Nature and the elements
On Väinämöinen
On Louhi
On Ilmarinen
On Kullervo
5. Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
