Tom Bombadil
Väinämöinen has been identified as a source for Gandalf, the wizard in J. R. R. Tolkien's novel "The Lord of the Rings". Another Tolkienian character with great similarities to Väinämöinen is Tom Bombadil. Like Väinämöinen, he is one of the most powerful beings in his world, and both are ancient and natural beings in their setting. Both Tom Bombadil and Väinämöinen rely on the power of song and lore. Likewise, Treebeard and the Ents in general have been compared to Väinämöinen.