Jessie Gordon
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Voluspa is a mythological poem because of the features of gods and sons of the gods for example, “Far-famed Thor, the son of Earth, the son of Odin, goes forth to fight the Snake. Midgard’s defender dies triumphant but the human race no longer has a home: nine steps beyond the Serpent’s body, Thor, wounded, walks in pride. (Bellows, 1936 p. 4)”
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Volsunga Saga is a legendary saga because it is a medieval prose narrative that recounts the exploits of a hero or a family. “‘Speak Fafnir, and say, if thou art so exceeding wise, who are the Norns who rule the lot of all mothers’ sons’” (Morris and Magnussun, 1888, p. 10).
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Beowulf is an epic genre usually has a hero that is well-known with mighty strength, and a narrator. “The wide kingdom reverted to Beowulf. The ruled it well for fifty winters, grew old and wise as warden of the land until one began to dominate the dark, a dragon on the prowl from the steep vaults of a stone-roofed barrow” (Heaney, 1999, p. 4)...
- The Hobbit is an epic high fantasy because there is use of magic and involves a sort of quest. This quote illustrates this, “for Bard at once had speedy messengers sent up the river to the Forest to ask for the aid of the King of the Elves of the Wood, and these messengers had found a host already on the move” (Tolkein, 1937, p. 240)...
2. Some features of secondary orality preserved in Voluspa is an emergence of individual identity when writing comes into the picture because information can be recorded and analytic thinking can be used that is not used in oral culture. For example, Voluspa preserves features of primary orality by using evidence of “wars of words, eg as riddle or song contests, name-calling, and bragging…. Writing subdues the constant verbal jousting of oral cultures” (Ong, 1982:43-45). Orality is also homeostatic according to Ong, “Constant adjustment to maintain equilibrium or homeostasis. Writing records things but creates a desire for novelty and constant change” (Ong, 1982:46-49).
3. A central incident that happens in Voluspa, Voluspa Saga, Beowulf, and The Hobbit is someone that becomes a hero due to fighting a large, evil creature such as a snake or dragon, and uses swords or arrows to kill the creature.In Voluspa, "Far-famed Thor, the son of the Earth, the son of Odin, goes forth to fight the Snake.... Midgrad's defender dies triumphant, but the human race no longer has a home: nine steps beyond the Serpent's body, Thor, wounded, walks in pride" (Ong 1948, p. 3).In Beowulf, " A dragon on the prowl from the steep vaults of store-roofed barrow where he guarded a hoard" (Heaney, 1999, p. 5). "After many trials he was destined to face the end of his days in the mortal world; as was the dragon (Heaney, 1999, p. 6).In Volsunga Saga an example is, "So whines the worm crept over the pits, Sigurd thrust his sword under his left shoulder, so that it sank it up to the hilts" (Morris and Magnussun, 1888, p. 9).In The Hobbit, "Then Bard drew his bow-string to his ear. The dragon was circling back... Fire leaped from the dragon's jaws. He circled for a while high in the air above them lighting all the lake... then he swooped straight through the arrow storm, reckless in rage" (Tolkein, 1937, p. 235)...4. Tolkien was influenced by Norse mythology and draws on the Old Norse and Old English texts in the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. For example, he was heavily inspired by Volsunga Saga and the myth of Sigurd and Gurun. The figure of Gandolf is influenced by the Norse deity Odin, and "promotes justice, knowledge, truth, and insight" (wikipedia.com).6. Thor has become widely known in the modern world from the movie that brought the old god to real life. Thor has appeared in countless comic books, Marvel movies, and video games. Thor still represents the son of Odin in the modern world, with being the god of thunder, tall and strong, with a magical hammer. Thor still represents Old Norse Mythology through the use of these.ReferencesHeaney, S. (1999). Beowulf: a new translation. United States: W. W. Norton & CompanyJ. R. R. Tolkien's influences. (2019, February 20). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._R._Tolkien's_influencesMorris, W. & Magnussun, E. (1888). The Story of the Volungs (Volsunga Saga). London:Walter Scott Press.Tolkein Gateway. (2019). Language of Dale. Retrieved from:http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Language_of_DaleToklein, J. R. R. (1937). The Hobbit, or There and Back Again. United Kingdom: Allen &Unwin.Tolkein, J. R. R. (1954). The Lord of the Rings. United Kingdom: Allen & Unwin.
