Tolkien and Beowulf by Dolwen

“One writes such a story out of the leaf-mould of the mind.” J.R.R. Tolkien.

Beowulf is an Old English poem believed to have been written between the middle of the seventh century and the end of the tenth century A.D. The poem is about a warrior named Beowulf, who, after hearing of trouble the Danes across the sea were having with a monster, takes fourteen men and goes to their aid. While there, he faces and defeats two monsters and is rewarded by the king of that land. He then returns home, later becomes king himself, and lives in peace until the dragon comes.

Tolkien developed a fascination with languages at a young age. The thought of studying Old English, the language of his ancestors, especially appealed to him. He was given an Old English primer and was soon translating passages with ease. When he discovered Beowulf he read it first in translation and then in the original language and “found it to be one of the most extraordinary poems of all time.” He later went on to teach Beowulf to his students and to write an essay on it.

Most scholars in Tolkien’s time believed Beowulf to have no significance as a work of art, but only as a historical document to be studied. They thought it a defect that the monsters in Beowulf were given priority in the poem while the important historical references were pushed to the side. Unlike most scholars, Tolkien understood the significance of the monsters in Beowulf and the use of references to the past, which in Tolkien’s view gave the poem an “illusion of depth.” Tolkien had this to say in response, “Beowulf is in fact so interesting as poetry in places so powerful, that this quite overshadows the historical content.” Tolkien’s strong disagreement with the scholars is what prompted him to write his essay “Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics” which would forever change how the poem was viewed.

It is clear that the monsters in Beowulf had an impact on Tolkien as he went on to use many of them in his own writings. But, it is also clear that the use of references to the past and kennings (a poetic phrase used in place of the usual name of a person or thing), were also taken up by Tolkien, because of the many references to the Eldar Days which are present in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

Tolkien had this to say about the influence of Beowulf on his work. “Beowulf is one of my most valued sources though it was not consciously present to the mind in the process of writing.” Beowulf may not have been consciously present to Tolkien’s mind, but the influences can be seen even as far back as the Silmarillion writings. This is said of Beowulf:

“He has in his hand grip the strength of thirty men, a man famous in battle. Holy God of His Grace has sent him to us West Danes as I hope, against the terror of Grendel.”

It is also told that Beowulf is a very great warrior who enjoys contests of strength. And this is said of Tulkas:

“Greatest in deeds of strength and prowess is Tulkas…He came last to Arda, to aid the Valar in the first battles with Melkor. He delights in wrestling and in contests of strength…his weapons are his hands.”

Beowulf also has an episode of a lone dragon fight that is similar to Turin battling Glaurung:

“For Sigemund there sprang up after his death-day, no little glory-after he, hardy in war, had killed the dragon, keeper of the treasure-hoard: under the hoary stone the princes son had ventured alone, a daring deed, nor was Fitela with him. Yet it turned out well for him so that his sword went through the gleaming worm.”

When Tolkien rewrote Turin’s tale into prose form he did so in the same style that was used for Beowulf.

Influences can also be found in The Hobbit. Beowulf is one of fifteen men that go on the quest to the King of the Danes, as Bilbo is one of fifteen on the Quest of Erebor. Beowulf also finds an ancient blade “that shines with a light from within” in the cave of Grendel’s mother, who is said to be a troll. However, the most significant similarity is the dragon. The episode of Bilbo “the thief” sneaking into the dragon’s lair and stealing a cup is very much like the dragon episode at the end of Beowulf:

“He (Beowulf) held it well fifty winters (the kingship); he was a wise king an old guardian of the land. Until in the dark nights a certain one, a dragon, which on the high heath kept watch over a hoard, a steep stone barrow. Beneath lay a path unknown to men. By this, there went inside a certain man, who made his way near to the heathen hoard; his hand took a cup, large and shining treasure. The dragon did not afterwards conceal it, though in his sleep he was tricked by the craft of the thief. That the people discovered the neighboring folk- that he was swollen with rage.”

I find the influences strongest in The Lord of the Rings, especially with the Rohirrim. Not only did Tolkien model the language of Rohan on Old English, their way of life, customs, and even some of their names, such as Eomer and Hama, can be found in Beowulf. Meduseld resembles Heorot ( the mead-hall of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes) and is even referred to in Beowulf as the golden-hall. Hrothgar, like Theoden is an aged king who is faced with evil near the end of his days. The laying aside of the weapons upon entrance to Meduseld in the Two Towers reminds me of Beowulf‘s coming to Heorot.

“I am the door ward of Theoden he said. Hama is my name. Here I bid you lay aside your weapons before you enter.”

And from Beowulf: “ Now you may come in your war-dress under your battle helmets, to see Hrothgar. Let your war shields, your wooden spears await here the outcome of the talk.”

There are also episodes in Beowulf of the royal women bearing cups to the honored guests, as Eowyn does. The similarities are not to Rohan alone. For example, the funerals in Beowulf are reminiscent of Boromir’s funeral. I also found it interesting that Beowulf has an episode of a melting blade:

“Then the blade began to waste away from the battle-sweat, the war sword into battle-icicles…that was a wondrous thing that it should all melt.”

Of course, these are just a few examples that barely scratch the surface. There are more similarities and deeper themes that both Beowulf and Tolkien’s works share. However, I find as a Tolkien fan that it is exciting to read something as old as Beowulf and find things that remind you in some way of the wonderful stories we have all come to love. I was delighted the first time I read Beowulf and found the words Middle-Earth in its lines. I hope that more Tolkien fans will read Beowulf for themselves and gain a deeper love for the world Tolkien created for us.