News at Eleven (Back Page): What did [J.R.R.] Tolkien aim to do?

In his own words, he meant "to unify the lays about the Völsungs from the Elder Edda . . . to organise the Edda material dealing with Sigurd and Gudrún". These are perhaps understatements. In a lecture on Eddic poetry given at Oxford and here reprinted, Tolkien said that the poems had attracted "connoisseurs of new literary sensations" and the main aspect of that sensation was "an almost demonic energy and force".

from The Times Literary Supplement: Tolkien out-Wagners Wagner

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