Similarities to Tolkien

Introduction

This page is intended to contain a comprehensive list of all commonalities between The Wheel of Time and JRR Tolkien's Legendarium, most notably The Lord of the Rings.

SPOILER WARNING: This page contains spoilers for The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion and the rest of the works of Tolkien's Legendarium as well as the adaptations thereof, most notably Peter Jackson's trilogy adaptation of LOTR.

As it happens, Jordan was compared to Tolkien almost from the beginning. When the first volume of The Wheel of Time, The Eye of the World, was published in 1990, multiple reviews recognized a connection between them. As the series grew in popularity, so, too, did the comparisons. Publishers Weekly said, “This intricate allegorical fantasy recalls the works of Tolkien because of its intensity and warmth.” The New York Times suggested that “Robert Jordan has come to dominate the world Tolkien began to reveal.”

There is much in this observation that still rings true, even now that the series is completed. The Wheel of Time is assuredly Tolkien-like in many of its features, most obviously in its beginning in The Eye of the World. There are the broad strokes of good and evil, of course, but the parallels can also be found in the details. Jordan’s Two Rivers is very much a stand-in for Tolkien’s Shire. His Emond’s Field is, minus the hobbit-holes, a mirror of the earlier Hobbiton: it’s a happy small town where the tavern inn is the center of society and the lack of big problems makes small matters seem a grave concern. The initial chase of Rand al’Thor by Trollocs and Myrddraal is not at all dissimilar to Frodo’s flight from Orcs and Nazgûl. Black riders hint at Tolkien’s Black Riders. Jordan’s mysterious swordsman of the north, Lan, has more than a few characteristics in common with Tolkien’s Aragorn.

The list contains a mixture of similarities that are either (a) deliberate homages or emulations of Tolkien, (b) similarities due to a common origin, or (c) mere coincidences or standard fantasy tropes. It is generally not possible to distinguish between these as Jordan both took inspiration from the same mythological sources as Tolkien and from Tolkien's works directly:

QUESTION: I have noticed some similarities to The Lord of the Rings. Was Tolkien an inspiration for for you?
ROBERT JORDAN: I suppose to the degree that he inspires any fantasy writer in the English language, certainly.

QUESTION: Are any of your characters or cultures designed to pay specific homage to any particular work or author?
ROBERT JORDAN: No. In the first chapters of The Eye of the World, I tried for a Tolkienesque feel without trying to copy Tolkien’s style, but that was by way of saying to the reader, okay, this is familiar, this is something you recognize, now let’s go where you haven’t been before. I like taking a familiar theme, something people think they know and know where it must be heading, then standing it on its ear or giving it a twist that subverts what you thought you knew. I must admit that I occasionally drop in a reference—for example, there’s an inn called The Nine Rings, and Loial is seen reading a book entitled To Sail Beyond the Sunset—but it isn’t a regular thing by any means.

QUESTION: How much did Tolkien, or even Eddings' Belgariad chronicles influence the WOT series?
ROBERT JORDAN: Eddings certainly not at all, and as for Tolkien, only to the degree that (1) he showed that it was possible to write a very large series of books, a very large story, and (2) the fact that I purposely did the first, oh, perhaps 80 pages of The Eye of the World as an homage to Tolkien in a way, that it was set in the same sort of pastoral country that Tolkien wrote about.

Story

• Moiraine Damodred/Gandalf arrives in Emond's Field/The Shire and convinces Rand al'Thor/Frodo to give up the life and home they love to flee for a magical place of safety from the Dark Lord and his agents.
• The main character is relentlessly pursued by Padan Fain/Gollum.
• Black riders chase the heroes from almost the start of their adventure until they cross a river forming the border of the heroes' homeland shortly before the heroes reach the most noteworthy local settlement.
• Four longtime aquaintances (including the main character) depart their homeland together and enter the wider world.
• Black riders infiltrate Baerlon/Bree in an attempt to find the main characters and reach the inn where they're staying
• Black riders continue chasing the main characters from the settlement until they reach the ruins of an ancient fallen kingdom.
• After a brief conflict with the main characters in the ruins, black riders again chase the main characters until they are stymied by a second river.
• After a brief rest in Caemlyn/Rivendell wherein matters of great import are discussed a decision is reached to travel to the Great Blight/Mordor, and the fellowship sets out in its "final form" of nine riders:
  • Moiraine, Lan, Rand, Mat, Perrin, Egwene, Nynaeve, Thom, Loial
  • Gandalf, Aragorn, Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Boromir, Legolas, Gimli
• The heroes traverse the Ways/Moria and reach the safety of Fal Dara/Lothlórien.
• After a clash with the pursuing forces of evil, Rand/Frodo, Mat/Sam, and Thom Merrilin are separated from the rest of the fellowship.
• A cavalry force briefly "captures" Perrin/Egwene and Aragorn/Legolas/Gimli while they are going cross-country towards The White Tower/w:c:lotr:Orthanc in an attempt to rejoin members of their fellowship.
• Rand/Frodo and Mat/Sam make an extensive trip (with almost excruciating detail in the books) without companion (unless one counts Fain/Gollum) towards their destination.
• Heroes reach Fal Dara/Minas Tirith and enjoy a brief respite before heading to the Dark Lord's territory.
• In the course of the narrative, Lan Mandragoran/Aragorn travel with the heroes to the land of his regal birthright.
• Rand al'Thor/Frodo Baggins must travel to the Pit of Doom/Mount Doom to "finally" and "ultimately" defeat the Dark Lord.
• Somewhat unusual in fantasy, both main characters' father figures (Tam al'Thor and Bilbo Baggins) survive the entire series.

Characters and creatures

• Blue Ajah: Only two Sitters are not named during the main sequence. Both are Blue Ajah. Among the five Istari, only the two Blue Wizards remain unnamed in the original LOTR trilogy.
• The Dark One is very similar to Melkor and fills a similar narrative purpose to Sauron.
• Lan Mandragoran is very similar to Aragorn in stature and backstory. They are both uncrowned kings of a destroyed/declining nation. Both are master swordsmen who take the hero yokels under their wing. They defer to Moiraine/Gandalf.

  

• Mat Cauthon
  • Like Pippin, he's a bit mischievous yet a stalwart fighter.
  • Like Samwise Gamgee, he stand outs as a character that is typically referred to via a common modern name derived from shortening their true name. Sam and Tom Bombadil are the only characters with this trait in LOTR.
    • There are a few debatable characters in WoT which may share this, namely Thomdril Merrilin and (sans the shortening) Elayne Trakand. Many WoT characters have slight variations on modern or historical/legendary/mythological names, such as Paitr Conel, Paitr do Fearna a'Conn, Rand al'Thor, or Laman Damodred.
  • Like Legolas, he is the only member of the nine riders to use a bow as his primary weapon.
• Moiraine Damodred and Gandalf are both wise magic users who are older than they look who look after the main characters.
• Myrddraal - While Fades are far less of a threat in most ways than Tolkien's Näzgul, they share many similarities

  

  • Appearance
    • Attire - both Fades and Ringwraiths drape themselves in hooded black cloaks
    • Humanoid - both can pass as human under certain conditions
  • Origins - both are the result of corrupting human stock
  • Abilities
    • Invisibility - Ringwraiths are invisible. Fades are said to be able to become invisible when they turn sideways
    • Swordplay - both are very adept at sword combat
    • Toughness - both are very, very hard to kill
    • Mobility - both are similar to humans in mobility and are known to commonly use horses for transportation
    • Magic sense - Fades can sense channeling. Ringwraiths, at least in Peter Jackson's film adaptations, can sense those who wear the One Ring to a degree
• Ogier share the Elves' seclusion, mostly peaceful demeanor belying the potential of great violence, love of nature, and craftsmanship. They also share the Ents attitude towards nature and especially trees. Like Dwarves, they tend to dwell in mountains and have great stonemason skills. Their size is somewhere between that of Elves and Ents.
• Padan Fain and Gollum are both (roughly) members of the main character's race who were twisted by evil forces into an evil creature of dubious sanity. Fain is as obsessed with Rand as Gollum is with the One Ring. Fain has a brief seeming (to Egwene at least) return to a facsimile of normalcy in TEOTW/TGH, just as Gollum briefly seemingly reverts to Smeagol (to Frodo at least) when captured by Frodo and Sam.
• Perrin Aybara
  • Like Gimli, is the only member of the nine riders to use an axe as his primary weapon.
  • Like Beorn, has a very strong affinity and relationship with a particular apex predator mammal species and has certain supernatural abilities derived from that connection. Beorn can shapeshift into a bear. Perrin (and other Wolfbrothers) spark rumors of men that can turn into wolves and, in Tel'aran'rhiod, they can.
• Raken and To'raken are reminiscent of the Ringwraiths' flying steeds, most likely due to having European dragons (as opposed to Asian dragons such as those that inspired the creature on the Dragon Banner) as a common inspiration.
• Rand al'Thor's relationship to the Aiel is similar to Aragorn's relationship to the Dunedain.
• Someshta, like Tom Bombadil, is a very powerful and (in the main sequence of events) unique creature who lives in his own small domain ensconced in a dangerous wildland. He spends most of his time tending his domain, with little interaction with the larger world.
• Trollocs and Orcs (or at least Uruk-Hai) are roughly similar in size, strength, ferocity, and narrative purpose. They are both known to eat men.
• Bran al'Vere, see Winespring below.

Locations

• Baerlon and Taren Ferry remind one of Bree.
• Blasted Lands remind one of Mordor.
• Fal Dara and Minas Tirith are both crucial cities guarding the Dark Lord's territory.
• Manetheren is reminiscent of Gondolin.
• The Mountains of Dhoom protect Shayol Ghul and are in the Great Blight. Mt. Doom sits in the heart of Mordor.
• The Mountains of Mist/Misty Mountains.
• The Nine Rings Inn in Cairhien, children's adventure story, and chapter title are deliberate references to the Rings of Power gifted to Men and The Lord of the Rings more generally.
• The Pit of Doom houses the thinnest part of the Bore at a heart of a volcano. It is the only place that certain magical events can occur. Mt. Doom is the only place where the One Ring can be destroyed.
• Tar Valon translates as "Tower Guard" in the Old Tongue. Minas Tirith also translates "Tower of Guard" or "Tower of Watch" in Sindarin.
• Shadar Logoth
  • Like Minas Morgul and Moria, it is a formerly grand city of hope that fell to evil and death.
  • Like Moria, the heroes have to reluctantly traverse it after exhausting alternatives, and the forces of evil beset them once inside.
  • Like the barrow-downs, the heroes have a nearly-fatal incident with an otherworldly figure that results in at least one newly-acquired weapon being taken with the heroes.
• Stedding with their peace and tranquility and long-lived, generally-peaceable-but-capable-of-great-violence residents are reminiscent of major Elven abodes like Rivendell and Lothlórien.
• The Ways are very reminiscent of Moria in that they are pitch black and are the evil and dangerous remnant of a once rich and positive realm. They both have magical entrances and unique (in the main narrative) entities that destroy those who enter.
• The Winespring/Brandywine river that runs through the main characters' home. Additionally, the owner of The Winespring Inn is Brandelwyn al'vere, Bran for short.

Magic and artifacts

• Chora
  • Avendesora and Avendesoraldera are similar to the White Trees of Gondor in that they are powerful positive symbols.
  • The Fourth White Tree was a retrieved sapling similar to Avendesoraldera being a cutting of Avendesora.
  • Both Avendesoraldera and the four White Trees featured prominently in their respective kingdoms of Cairhien and Gondor.
  • The felling of Avendesoraldera is an indicator of Laman Damodred's unfitness for rule and the trigger for the Aiel War that results in his death and a twenty-year decline in the kingdom of Cairhien. Similarly, a theme of fallen rulers can be seen in Denethor's decline and/or the "fall" of the Kings of Gondor and the withering of the Third White Tree.
• The Guild of Illuminators and Gandalf both produce fireworks, which is somewhat unusual in a fantasy setting.
• The Horn of Valere and the Horn of Gondor are both legendary horns of heroes featured in the first book.
• The Ruby-hilted dagger and the One Ring inexorably and gradually corrupt their bearers until they are but an evil shadow of their former selves. So do most things in Shadar Logoth and most Rings of Power.

  

• The Taint has a similar effect on men as the One Ring. The destruction of both is a major climactic high point in the series, with profound consequences for the societies of Randland and Middle Earth.
• Tam al'Thor's sword and Sting are given to Rand al'Thor/Frodo by Tam al'Thor/Bilbo near the start of their adventure. Tam's sword and the One Ring are given to Rand/Frodo by Tam/Bilbo only for them to be destroyed in the course of the narrative.