Magnus
Pica Serdica
Gandalf is so Odin (minus some features Tolkien would probably deem as unacceptable).
Let's try and get 1,000,000 replies to this post
- Thread starter The Ancient Mariner
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Black Wizard
Pleb Hunter
I didn't realize there was any Christian theme in Lord of the Rings at all. I also had no idea he was a Catholic (had to check wikipedia) either. On my flight to San Francisco last December I did watch the Tolkien biopic and I don't think there were any mentions of his religious beliefs.
JudasMyGuide
The resident reactionary recalcitrant
Yeah, the biopic pissed off most Christians (me included) because of that. He was rather devout and it played a big role in his life (like his relationship with his wife and the way they got together, for example), it's quite apparent from his letters.
Like I said, I chose him as my patron saint, although he's not canonized officially. And I did not do that just because I'd like elves and hobbits. (well, I actually like hobbits a lot, but you get my drift)
Dr. Eddies Wingman
Brighter than thousand_suns
Giving up one eye for wisdom? Having ravens as pets? Hosting parties for fallen warriors?
Magnus
Pica Serdica
Old bearded wanderer, always on the move, always on the watch. Secretive and mischievous to his friends, achieved greater wisdom after violent death. Known for pranks.
Dr. Eddies Wingman
Brighter than thousand_suns
I wondered which features Tolkien would deem unacceptable.
Magnus
Pica Serdica
Oh sorry, I misunderstood you.
Treachery, I guess, the chthonic and shamanic aspects, basically all the more sinister and "negative" ones.
Some of them went to Sauron apparently (Necromancer of Dol Guldur in an earlier incarnation, and if Odin's not a necromancer I don't know who is; and I'm not even mentioning the Eye symbolism).
Black Wizard
Pleb Hunter
This is preferable to anthropomorphized trains for children. Keep it up guys. 
JudasMyGuide
The resident reactionary recalcitrant
I thought it was because he reminded you of Anthony Hopkins?
Black Abyss Babe
CriedWhenJanickCutHisHair
I heard that the inspiration for Mordor was Birmingham 
Everything else was pretty much Wales.
JudasMyGuide
The resident reactionary recalcitrant
Black Abyss Babe
CriedWhenJanickCutHisHair
How do you feel about traction engines?This is preferable to anthropomorphized trains for children. Keep it up guys.
Black Wizard
Pleb Hunter
Probably. Parts of it were highly industrialized at the time and a huge contrast from the Shropshire countryside.I heard that the inspiration for Mordor was Birmingham
There are various buildings in Birmingham which are alleged to have inspired the tower at Isengard and the Minas Tirith/Morgul towers. For example,
This is the clock tower at the University of Birmingham. Tolkien went to school right beside the university and would have been very familiar with the university campus.
This is Perrot's Folly in Edgbaston, north of the university. I'm not sure what the original point in the building was, but I think it might have been used as an astronomical observatory for a while and was definitely used for taking meteorological observations until 1960.
Would look great with a huge blazing eye on top of it
Saapanael
Ancient Mariner
New chorus!
JudasMyGuide
The resident reactionary recalcitrant
Needs just a bit of badly played piano and stretch it out to 20 minutes and you're good, bro.
Black Wizard
Pleb Hunter
Was the eye what Tolkien intended or Peter Jackson's interpretation?
Peter Jackson I suspect. Was there some Tolkien artwork that featured a big eye, though?
Black Wizard
Pleb Hunter
I don't know enough about Tolkien's works to comment on that. I always felt that the "all seeing eye" of Sauron was metaphorical rather than Sauron assuming the physical form of an eye.