Posted: October 04, 1999 at 15:10:36: by Michael Martinez
: But probably of interest for some here, they concern Denmark in
: the Iron Age (Denmark and north Germany are by far the most
: extensively archeologically covered areas of Free Germania-
: possibly of northern Europe). I believe that studying the
: Germanic and Celtic tribes can shed further light on parts of
: Tolkien's work, apart from being interesting and awarding in
: itself for those with historical interest.I agree with you to a certain extent, but I think we need to keep in mind that today's knowledge of the past is greater than it was when Tolkien wrote his many essays (late 1940s through 1960s). Also, some of his conceptions, I think, are derived from the heroic poetry more than from actual traditions. How much was the ceremony and polite language of "Beowulf", which many have noticed in LOTR, really used in ancient days, and how much of it was idealized?
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