The Völsungasaga in Tolkien’s Children of Húrin

Project Outline

 

I. Introduction

a.       Tolkien’s inspirations and his world

                                                               i.      Well-documented Norse, Finnish, Celtic, etc.

                                                             ii.      Tolkien’s love of Northernness

                                                            iii.      Much work on LOTR but not Major 1^st Age Tales

b.      Thesis: The Völsungasaga was Tolkien’s chief source in the crafting of Túrin’s life

                                                               i.      Outline of my project

II. Plot Similarities

a.       Framework

                                                               i.      Historical/Mythological Background (one story within many)

                                                             ii.      Genealogical Beginnings (Húrin & Sigmund, and before)

b.      Túrin’s Childhood & Youth

                                                               i.      Born into a warring culture

                                                             ii.      Foster-upbringing

1.       Maternal influences

2.       Paternal influences

                                                            iii.      Early exploits

c.       Images & Motifs

                                                               i.      Wolf Motif

                                                             ii.      Helm & Re-forged Sword

                                                            iii.      Dwarves & Treasure

d.      Romance or Epic?

                                                               i.      Heroic Deeds

                                                             ii.      Emotional/Family Journey

1.       Thwarted Love

2.       Incest & Decay

e.      Middle-Earth and Scandinavia

                                                               i.      Why the Warrior/Tribal Element? (a time of war vs. a culture of war)

                                                             ii.      Old Norse Vulgarity vs. Elves (mythology & sagas)

1.       Gentleness – Beleg

2.       Goodness, Refinement, & Beauty

                                                            iii.      No Valkyries in Beleriand (role of women)

1.       Stronger Presence of Women

2.       There is no Eowyn here

                                                           iv.      Old Norse Culture

1.       Wergild

2.       Flyting

3.       Dwarves

III. Character Comparisons

a.       Methods of Comparison

                                                               i.      Similar/Different & Why

1.       Tolkien creates much more developed characters

2.       Tolkien’s Völsung Poems

                                                             ii.      Doubles of Light & Dark

                                                            iii.      Tolkien’s Positive Twist

b.      Minor Characters

                                                               i.      Regin & Labadal

                                                             ii.      Sinfjotli & Unborn Child (incest)

                                                            iii.      Gunnar & Beleg

c.       Parental Characters

                                                               i.      Sigmund & Húrin

                                                             ii.      Mothers: Signy & Morwen

                                                            iii.      Evil Stepmothers: Grimhilde & Melian

d.      Significant Characters

                                                               i.      Brynhilde & Finduilas

                                                             ii.      Gudrun & Nïenor

e.      Turin

                                                               i.      Sigurd & Túrin

1.       Boy Hero to Outlaw Warrior

2.       Romantic Side (emotions or lack thereof)

3.       Fated Man (Túrin’s fuller development)

4.       Inherent Goodness

                                                             ii.      Other Influences

1.       Thor

2.       The Elf-Men (Aragorn, Beren, Tuor)

IV. Mood & Doom

a.       Tolkien’s Positive Characters Against a Heavier Tapestry

                                                               i.      Paradox/Contrast (light & dark)

                                                             ii.      The Trenches

1.       Battle written by a man who fought in battle

b.      Evil Embodied

                                                               i.      Old Norse Gods & the Valar

                                                             ii.      Morgoth vs. Empty Doom

c.       The Absence of Eucatastrophe

                                                               i.      Tolkien’s Philosophy of Eucatastrophe

1.       Does Túrin’s life line up?

                                                             ii.      Influence of Christianity

1.       Nobility

2.       Morality

                                                            iii.      Staying True to Old Norse Sources

1.       Inevitable Doom

V.                  The Dragon: Redemption

a.       Tolkien’s Thing for Dragons

                                                               i.      Childhood Obsession

                                                             ii.      Beowulfian Dragon Philosophy

                                                            iii.      The Dragon as Morgoth Himself

b.      The Position of the Dragon

                                                               i.      The End vs. The Beginning

1.       Túrin at least ends in his great victory

                                                             ii.      A Plot Tool

1.       The level of sophistication in the tales

2.       Destruction by a non-human hand (outside forces)

3.       Consistency of style

c.       Victory & Redemption

                                                               i.      Túrin’s Victory Over Morgoth

1.       A Form of Eucatastrophe

2.       Redemptive Act – Symbolism?

V. Conclusion

a.       Tolkien’s Re-statement of Norse Philosophy