Comments on: Tolkien and The Norse http://andrew1769.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/tolkien-and-the-norse/ Just another WordPress.com weblog Sat, 12 Dec 2009 04:21:22 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: randy gurtzman http://andrew1769.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/tolkien-and-the-norse/#comment-73 randy gurtzman Sun, 31 May 2009 11:15:22 +0000 http://andrew1769.wordpress.com/?p=435#comment-73 This reminds me of my cousin and her wedding. It turned out to be quite an amazing setting and situation after they got everything together. Honestly, it surprised us all, but we were very happy for the both of them. This reminds me of my cousin and her wedding. It turned out to be quite an amazing setting and situation after they got everything together. Honestly, it surprised us all, but we were very happy for the both of them.

]]> By: Jason Fisher http://andrew1769.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/tolkien-and-the-norse/#comment-72 Jason Fisher Fri, 29 May 2009 14:11:05 +0000 http://andrew1769.wordpress.com/?p=435#comment-72 <i>Tolkien’s newly-released “The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun” is the most authentic translation of the Old Norse yet, [...]. The Niflungs still drink the “blacktongued” blood of the dead, Signy sleeps with her brother, and werewolves abound.</i> Just a couple of quick corrections: (1) Tolkien's two poems are not translations at all. They are original creative works in English, though they are based in large part on the various extant texts which preserve the legends in question. (2) I wouldn't really say "werewolves abound", since the wolf-scenes from the source texts are among those Tolkien reduced the most. Tolkien’s newly-released “The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun” is the most authentic translation of the Old Norse yet, [...]. The Niflungs still drink the “blacktongued” blood of the dead, Signy sleeps with her brother, and werewolves abound.

Just a couple of quick corrections: (1) Tolkien’s two poems are not translations at all. They are original creative works in English, though they are based in large part on the various extant texts which preserve the legends in question. (2) I wouldn’t really say “werewolves abound”, since the wolf-scenes from the source texts are among those Tolkien reduced the most.

]]> By: Kurt Henry http://andrew1769.wordpress.com/2009/05/29/tolkien-and-the-norse/#comment-71 Kurt Henry Fri, 29 May 2009 12:23:12 +0000 http://andrew1769.wordpress.com/?p=435#comment-71 I was curious what you meant by Victorian "restraint" in Morriss's Sigurd. When I first read the passage in which Sigurd first encounters Brynhild some thirty-five years ago I remember how refreshing the eroticism of the scene was. Morriss's other works also demonstrate a kind of longing for the sensual. I am very pleased that the new Tolkien poem (which almost begs that the reader seek some other version first; in fact the original audience for the Eddaic version no doubt knew the story already) is generating some discussion of Sigurd the Volsung. For a long poem it is an easy read, a great read--a treasure without a curse upon it. I was curious what you meant by Victorian “restraint” in Morriss’s Sigurd. When I first read the passage in which Sigurd first encounters Brynhild some thirty-five years ago I remember how refreshing the eroticism of the scene was. Morriss’s other works also demonstrate a kind of longing for the sensual.
I am very pleased that the new Tolkien poem (which almost begs that the reader seek some other version first; in fact the original audience for the Eddaic version no doubt knew the story already) is generating some discussion of Sigurd the Volsung. For a long poem it is an easy read, a great read–a treasure without a curse upon it.

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