Tolkien and the Vikings. On J. R. R. Tolkien and Victorian Literature About The North

There is no doubt that Norman stories and myths were an important inspiration for John R. R. Tolkien who repeatedly stressed their significance for shaping his works and literary imagination. In the article Tolkien and the Vikings. On J. R. R. Tolkien and Victorian Literature About The North, Leśniewski analyses the influence of Norse mythology, Victorian literature and history on Tolkienian writings. Tolkien’s belief that we can access and reconstruct history through languages had its source in the nineteenth century when scientists were convinced that it is possible to recreate extinct languages and mythologies. Thus they often created new epic poems on the basis of folk tales and ballads. Tolkien often expressed his regret that England has lost its mythological traditions. He seemed to have dreamt of giving England its own mythology. Tolkien drew inspiration from Victorian writers and scientists, but he also went far beyond Victorian tradition. His works are eclectic and syncretic, bringing together many different traditions—and, thus, appealing to a much wider audience