Volume 3 Number 1 Article 1 1973 Genesis of The Lord of the Rings: A Study of Saga Development James Allen Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore Part of the Children's and Young Adult Literature Commons Recommended Citation Allen, James (1973) "Genesis of The Lord of the Rings: A Study of Saga Development," Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature: Vol. 3 : No. 1 , Article 1. Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol3/iss1/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Mythopoeic Society at SWOSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature by an authorized editor of SWOSU Digital Commons. An ADA compliant document is available upon request. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To join the Mythopoeic Society go to: http://www.mythsoc.org/join.htm Mythcon 51: A VIRTUAL “HALFLING” MYTHCON July 31 - August 1, 2021 (Saturday and Sunday) http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-51.htm Mythcon 52: The Mythic, the Fantastic, and the Alien Albuquerque, New Mexico; July 29 - August 1, 2022 http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-52.htm Additional Keywords Bonnie GoodKnight This article is available in Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol3/iss1/1 G enesis of The Lord of the Rings A Study of Saga Development by Dzhimaelaen 289PL56-d78 Probably no single work of pre-cataclysmic literature To determine what incidents belong to the original ver­ has aroused such attention and controversy as The Lord of sion of the story would be extremely difficult, if it were not the Rings. Ever since its discovery in the Ooldea pefra-tape for the fact that the story as we now have it is obviously a over a century ago, it has been the occupation of a generation slightly rationalized account of the harrowing of Hell. There­ of scholars to elucidate this unprecedented piece of Death Age fore, a comparison with other treatments of his same theme prose. Was it, as Tolkien the writer claims, an adaptation can aid us in determining what features are traditional. of an extent work to present it in a convenient and attractive In surviving literature of the pre-catalysmic epochs the form for the audiences of his day? Or is it, as Blint claimed, closest resemblances can be found in the Accadian epic. The "made up and composed from his own head, with the claim of Story of Gilgamesh. 9 In this story, Gilgamesh, the King of a source in the Red Book a fraud and deception executed for Uruk, seeks the immortality of the gods. Accepting the purpose or purposes we can but guess at. ? 1 ancient tradition that Ut-napishlim and his wife, the surviv­ In the century since Blint, scholars have unearthed ev­ ors of a world deluge, had been given im m ortality and still idence unanimously supporting the view that Tolkien indeed dwelt alive and in health in a paradisal region at the end of was drawing on traditional sources, though ones but little- the world, Gilgamesh decided to seek them out. His first known to the general public. Khlaftor first brought forth in­ adventure occurs when, in the middle of the night, he sud­ dependent evidence of the existence of the Red Book, and denly comes upon some young lions. He slays them with proved conclusively that the tale was of Celtic origin.2 his bare hands. Then he comes to the great subterranean Then Varfilinyon, followed by Baqkhat and Nyerk, produced tunnel through which the sun himself passes each morning. documentation of a Frodo cult involving pilgrimages to the It is guarded by a monstrous scorpion-m an and his w ife, but places of the saga. 3 Finally, excavations at Alma-Ata pro­ impressed by Gilgamesh's lofty lineage--his mother and duced a pefra-tape containing a discussion of a variant ver­ paternal grandfather were both deities--they allow him to sion of the legend associated with the name Wagner. 4 Now, pass. Proceding through the complete and perfect darkness of those prominent in Tolkien study, only Cdurehbleq still of the tunnel, Gilgamesh finally emerges in a magic garden holds to Blint's position, basing his arguments on internal of mystical jewel-bearing trees presided over by a goddess evidence and the inability of scholars to agree on the locale known as Siduri the ale-wife. She advises him that Ut-nap- in which the story is supposed to be taking place.5 ishtim dwells on the other side of a nearby water whose Cdurehbleq's second argument loses most of its strength touch brings on death. She tells him that the only way across when one considers that the difficulty is not in finding a lo­ is by the boat by which Urshanabi, Ut-napishtim's servant cation for Middle-earth, but rather in deciding which of the dayly crosses the water. And so, Gilgamesh lies in wait numerous suggested regions is the correct one. 6 it is also for Urshanabi, and forces him to ferry him across to his our misfortune that the text breaks off in the middle of Ap­ desired goal. pendix F, just when Tolkien is beginning to discuss the re­ The parallels between the Gilgamesh story and the lationship of his work to the original sources. Therefore Frodo story are indeed striking. The night attack by wolves10 the text lacks not only the rest of Tolkien's discussion on corresponds to the sudden appearance of the lions in the his translation, but the one or more additional map(s) and Gilgamesh quest, and is a story of northern locale and the Index promised in the Foreword, as well as possible fur­ development. The trek through the mines of Moria is the ther appendices. Without doubt the complete text would have Frodo quest version of the journey through the tunnel of definitely shown us the correct locale of the story', and have the Sun. Then obviously the scorpion-man and his wife provided more information on its origins; but the damaged have their counterparts in the tentacled creature, or condition of the outer windings of the tape place this text creatures, in the water outside the east gate. Frodo, unlike forever beyond our reach. 7 Gilgamesh, can claim no divine parentage, and barely es­ Cdurehbleq's arguments from internal evidence I have capes with his life instead of being freely allowed in. Equal­ already dealt with in my recent book, A Critical Flaw in ly obvious is the correspondence of jewelled forest to Loth- Saga Research with Special Reference to The Iliad and "Vul­ lorien, and of Siduri to Galadriel, though the latter does not gate" Tarzan,8 and to its pages I direct those wishing further merely advise Frodo about how to proceed, but actually pro­ discussion on this point. For the purpose of this paper, I vides the boats herself. will accept Tolkien's work as a sufficiently accurate repre­ "But is there not one major difference between the two sentation of a pre-existing cycle of legends, and on that basis accounts?” the reader may ask. "Gilgamesh comes upon a analyze the different strands which have been combined to paradise where dwell immortal figures of legend. Frodo on form the work as we have it. It will be found that such a the contrary enters the bleak desolate hills and morasses method produces surprisingly effective explanations for cer­ tain inconsistencies, puzzies, and awkward explanations which dot the work. These are inexplicable if we accept the arguments of Poelashtar and Cdurehbleq that the work is the labor of one man alone. The basic, "core" plot of The Lord of the Rings is the journey of Frodo and Sam to Mordor, their disposal of the ring, and their return to the Shire and final departure over the Sea. This was probably originally a timeless folk tale of simple structure, but its popularity combined with geo­ graphical speculation, similarities to other tales, and ration­ alizing tendencies resulted in numerous additions, changes, and probably deletions. Since the plot was of the quest var­ iety, and episodic in development, such modifications could be made with no great difficulty. 3 Guldur version up to Frodo's arrival at the Great River. bordering Mordor, that is, Hell." The answer is that the land Then, after an interpolated journey down the river, the geo­ where Ut-napichtim dwells is also aversion of the land of the graphical scheme of the Mordor version is used. This re­ dead, the land of the gods, and the other regions inhabited by im ­ sults in some duplication. Besides the two versions of Frodo mortal or spiritual beings are really not distinguishable looking out over the lands, the passage of Cirith Ungol by from one another. They are all aspects of the other world, Shelob. 17 In both he is wrongly believed to be dead.18 In and which aspect the other world appears under depends up­ both the chief danger is from a horde of Ores. And, as will on the purpose of the story. It is also possible, as McCarthy be discussed later, I suspect that originally in the Moria suggests11 , that Ithilien corresponds to the Elysian aspect trek it was Gollum, not Pippin's carelessness that aroused of the land of the dead.