The medievalist and Tolkien scholar Marjorie Burns writes that Tolkien uses the fact that wolves were among the Norse god Odin's war beasts "in a particularly innovative way". Odin kept two wolves, Freki and Geri, their names both meaning "Greedy"; and in the final battle that destroys the world, Ragnarök, Odin is killed and eaten by the gigantic wolf Fenrir. Thus, Burns points out, wolves were both associates of Odin, and his mortal enemy. She argues that Tolkien made use of both relationships in The Lord of the Rings. In her view, both the dark lord Sauron and the evil Wizard Saruman embody "attributes of a negative Odin". She points out that Saruman has wargs in his army, while Sauron uses "the likeness of a ravening wolf", book 5, ch. 4, "The Siege of Gondor" for the enormous battering ram named Grond which destroys the main gate of Minas Tirith. On the other side, the benevolent Wizard Gandalf leads the fight against the wargs in The Hobbit, using his ability to create fire, and understands their language. In The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf again uses magic and fire to drive off a great wolf, "The Hound of Sauron",, book 2, ch. 4, "A Journey in the Dark" and his wolf-pack; Burns writes that the wolves' attempt "to devour Gandalf hints at Odin's fate", recalling the myth of Fenrir and Odin.
The medievalist and Tolkien scholar Marjorie Burns writes that Tolkien uses the fact that wolves were among the Norse god Odin's war beasts "in a particularly innovative way" Odin kept two wolves Freki and Geri their names both meaning "Greedy"; and in the final battle that destroys the world Ragnarök Odin is killed and eaten by the gigantic wolf Fenrir Thus Burns points out wolves were both associates of Odin and his mortal enemy She argues that Tolkien made use of both relationships in The Lord of the Rings In her view both the dark lord Sauron and the evil Wizard Saruman embody "attributes of a negative Odin" She points out that Saruman has wargs in his army while Sauron uses "the likeness of a ravening wolf" book 5 ch 4 "The Siege of Gondor" for the enormous battering ram named Grond which destroys the main gate of Minas Tirith On the other side the benevolent Wizard Gandalf leads the fight against the wargs in The Hobbit using his ability to create fire and understands their language In The Fellowship of the Ring Gandalf again uses magic and fire to drive off a great wolf "The Hound of Sauron" book 2 ch 4 "A Journey in the Dark" and his wolf-pack; Burns writes that the wolves' attempt "to devour Gandalf hints at Odin's fate" recalling the myth of Fenrir and Odin