The Hobbit as seen through Christian Virtue Ethics and Norse Mythology

Abstract: The works of J.R.R. Tolkien have been analysed through a Christian perspective claiming Christian influences  numerous times.  Additionally,  Tolkien  was  inspired by Norse  Mythology in his works. However, his first novel, The Hobbit, has often been overlooked.  This essay has therefore analysed the main characters of  The  Hobbit  in order to determine whether  his influences were mainly from Christian Theology or Norse Mythology. This has  been done through the use of Archetypal Criticism. Specifically,  the  vices of  greed and pride has been set as the  foundational  archetypes  of the research. The results show that Norse Mythology is the major influence of the characters.