J.R.R. Tolkien’s Cult of Gandalf as a Literary Memory, or Reflection, of Ancient Germanic Spiritual Symbolism and the Cult of Odin

Authors

Keywords:

Tolkien, Gandalf, Odin, Mythology, Archetypes, Jung,

Abstract

This article explores parallels between the J.R.R. Tolkien’s cult of Gandalf and the historic, Germanic, cult of Odin / Óðinn. The cult of Gandalf is considered as a possible adaptive, and reflective, creative memory of ancient Germanic spiritual and mythic symbolism through an analysis of the followertypes and elementary ideas that feature in Tolkien’s writing.

Author Biography

A. Asbjørn Jøn, University of Canterbury

A. Asbjørn Jøn is currently researching tensions between public memory and the authorized heritage discourse. He is conducting that research through the Department of Anthropology, University of Canterbury [New Zealand].

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Brain Dunnett on Mandolin – BushMusic Club Rehearsal at National Folk Festival.

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Published

2016-11-24

Issue

Vol. 31 (2016): Marking the passing of Brian Dunnett, and dealing with matters of Pitcairn Island

Section

International and Comparative Studies

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