Kullervo to Túrin: Tolkien’s Finnish Tragedy
A Study of the Tragic Hero Archetype.
This guide explores the influence of the Finnish epic, the Kalevala, on Tolkien’s tragic character, Túrin Turambar.
Order Comparative EssayThe Genesis of a Tragedy
While Tolkien’s main inspirations were Norse and Anglo-Saxon, a profound early influence came from Finland. As a young man, he discovered the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala, and was captivated by the story of a tragic hero named Kullervo.
This guide explores a direct literary borrowing in Tolkien’s legendarium. The tale of Túrin Turambar, a cornerstone of The Silmarillion, is a conscious reworking of the Kullervo story. Tolkien wrote that this was “the germ of my attempt to write legends of my own.” Understanding this connection reveals the genesis of his tragic mode and his exploration of doom and free will.
Tolkien and The Kalevala
Tolkien’s fascination with the Kalevala was twofold. As a philologist, he loved the Finnish language, which became the model for his High-Elven tongue, Quenya. He also found in its myths a “primitive weirdness” absent from more familiar legends.
His first prose work of Middle-earth was a retelling of the Kullervo story, titled “The Story of Kullervo” (c. 1914). This early attempt contains the core elements later refined into the epic tale of Túrin, the *Narn i Chîn Húrin* (The Tale of the Children of Húrin).
Narrative Parallels
Túrin’s story follows Kullervo’s tragic arc with striking precision. Both are tales of cursed orphans whose pride and rage lead to disaster.
The Cursed Orphan
Both heroes are born into noble families destroyed by an enemy. Kullervo’s father is killed by his uncle, Untamo. Túrin’s father, Húrin, is captured by Morgoth, who curses his family. Both boys grow up as outcasts, filled with rage and a sense of doom.
The Unwitting Incest
The most direct parallel. Both heroes, after years of wandering, encounter and seduce a young woman, not knowing she is their long-lost sister. In both stories, the sister, upon learning the truth, kills herself by throwing herself into a river.
The Talking Sword and Suicide
Devastated, both heroes return to the site of their sister’s death. They speak to their black swords, asking if the blades will kill them. In both tales, the sword answers, agreeing to slay its master. Both Kullervo and Túrin then fall upon their swords and die.
The Trail of Destruction
Both characters are agents of ruin. Their attempts to do good often result in disaster. Kullervo’s rage destroys his master’s estate. Túrin’s pride leads to the destruction of Nargothrond. They are tragic figures who cannot escape their doom.
Thematic Divergence: Pagan vs. Christian Views
While the plots are nearly identical, Tolkien’s Christian worldview creates a profound thematic difference.
Kullervo’s Pagan Fatalism
Kullervo’s story is one of pagan despair. His fate is sealed from birth with no hope of redemption. His actions are driven by uncontrollable rage, and his end is nihilistic. It is a tragedy of inescapable doom.
Túrin’s Tragedy of Pride
Túrin is also cursed, but Tolkien introduces free will. Morgoth’s curse creates the conditions for his downfall, but Túrin’s tragedy is amplified by his own choices, driven by pride (*ofermod*). He rejects wise counsel and tries to master his fate, which only tightens the trap. As explored in the Journal of Tolkien Research, his story is a Christian tragedy of a flawed hero who refuses grace.
The Black Sword: A Character in Itself
In both myths, the hero’s sword is not merely a weapon but an active participant in the tragedy. It is an agent of the hero’s doom and the final judge of his life.
Kullervo’s Sword
After a life of misuse and vengeance, Kullervo asks his sword if it is willing to kill a guilty man. The sword replies that it has killed the innocent, so it would gladly kill the guilty. It acts as an instrument of a cold, impersonal justice.
Túrin’s Gurthang
Túrin’s black sword, Gurthang (“Iron of Death”), was forged by a captive Elf who imbued it with his malice. The sword speaks to Túrin, saying it will “drink thy blood gladly,” not for justice, but to avenge the death of its master, Beleg, whom Túrin had accidentally slain. It represents a history of sorrow and kin-slaying, making Túrin’s end even more personal.
The Tragic Sister: The Loss of Identity
The role of the sister in both tales is central to the hero’s final downfall. She represents an innocence that the hero’s cursed nature ultimately destroys, sealing his guilt.
Kullervo’s Sister
In the Kalevala, Kullervo’s sister is unnamed and lost. Her tragedy is one of pure chance and misfortune. Their encounter is a cruel twist of fate in a world without divine oversight.
Túrin’s Sister: Niënor Níniel
Tolkien gives the sister a name and a deeper tragedy. Niënor is not just lost; she is enchanted by the dragon Glaurung, who erases her memory. She meets Túrin as “Níniel” (Tear-maiden) and falls in love with him. Her tragedy is not just misfortune but a direct result of Morgoth’s malice, making the story’s evil more personal and deliberate.
Our Literature & Mythology Experts
Our writers can help you craft a nuanced comparative analysis of Tolkien’s work and its mythological sources.
Zacchaeus Kiragu
Literature & History
With expertise in comparative literature, Zacchaeus can guide students in structuring a powerful essay on Túrin and Kullervo.
Julia Muthoni
Communication & Narrative Structure
Julia excels at analyzing character archetypes and can help you deconstruct how Tolkien adapted the Finnish myth to fit his own thematic and moral framework.
Student Feedback
“I had to write a comparative essay on Túrin and Kullervo. This guide was the perfect starting point, and my writer helped me find excellent sources on the Kalevala.”
– Maria G., Literature Student
“The distinction between pagan fatalism and Christian tragedy was the core of my argument. My expert helped me explore this nuance in depth.”
– Alex P., Mythology Major
“My paper was so much stronger once I understood that Tolkien wrote his own version of the Kullervo story first. It showed a clear line of influence.”
– Kevin T., Humanities Student
Kullervo & Túrin FAQs
Why was Tolkien so interested in this story?
As an orphan affected by World War I, Tolkien likely saw in the doomed figure of Kullervo a way to explore feelings of loss, fate, and the struggle against a marred world.
Is The Story of Kullervo the same as The Children of Húrin?
No. The Story of Kullervo is Tolkien’s early, unfinished retelling of the Finnish myth. The Children of Húrin is the final, standalone novel version of the Túrin story, fully integrated into the mythology of Middle-earth.
Are there other Finnish influences?
Yes. The language Quenya is phonologically based on Finnish. Additionally, Gandalf has parallels to the wise shaman figure Väinämöinen from the Kalevala.
A Myth Reborn
The tale of Túrin Turambar is a masterful example of Tolkien’s sub-creative process. By filtering the raw tragedy of Kullervo through his own moral and theological lens, he created one of the most enduring stories in his legendarium.
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