Episode 195: Lord of the Rings symbolism

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Today on Fable and the Verbivore, we’re continuing our summer of The Lord of the Rings (LOTR) series with a conversation unpacking Tolkien’s use of symbols.

We touch on how these stories are steeped in symbols and the use of them allow Tolkien to take abstract ideas and make them concrete and clear to the reader - including what the characters want, their goals, as well as what you’re hoping for (what success looks like) and what you’re fearful of (what terrible thing happens if they don’t succeed).

He also uses them to subtly echo and strengthen the themes that he has interwoven in this story in unique and interesting ways - without having to come out and directly ascribe meaning or state them openly.

Throughout this conversation, we talk about the meanings of several different symbols in this series - although there are many more that we could have talked about. These include:

  • The One Ring

  • Light Vs. Shadow

  • The Athelas plant / King’s foil

  • Nature and growing things. Especially:

    • Rivers

    • Forests & Trees

  • Broken things - especially the shards of the sword Narsil

Another aspect of storytelling that we explore in this conversation is the importance of raising the stakes and strengthening what your character is up against, but balancing those with pockets of hope. Weak stakes can drive readers away, but so can not having little glimpses of hope. We feel this balance is something Tolkien did very well in this series.

Next week, we’ll be back talking about LOTR magic and magic practitioners.

We hope you enjoy this episode! Keep reading, writing, and putting your voice out there!

Into the woods,

Fable & The Verbivore

Notes:

The Verbivore references several quotes from the books and films. They are:

  • “She [Galadriel] held up a small crystal phial: it glittered as she moved it, and rays of white light sprang from her hand. 'In this phial,' she said, 'is caught the light of Earendil's star, set amid the waters of my fountain. It will shine still brighter when night is about you. May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out.” - The Fellowship of the Ring book

  • Frodo: “What a pity Bilbo did not stab the vile creature, when he had a chance!”
    Gandalf: “Pity? It was pity that stayed his hand. Pity, and mercy: not to strike without need.”

    Frodo: “I do not feel any pity for Gollum. He deserves death.”

    Gandalf: “Deserves death! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give that to them? Then be not too eager to deal out death in the name of justice, fearing for your own safety. Even the wise cannot see all ends.” - The Fellowship of the Ring book

  • “There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.” - The Return of the King book

  • “Pay heed to the tales of old wives. It may well be that they alone keep in memory what it was once needful for the wise to know.” - The Fellowship of the Ring book

  • “The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known.” - The Return of the King book

  • “Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.” - The Fellowship of the Ring film

  • “It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” - The Fellowship of the Ring book

  • “[Saruman] is plotting to become a Power. He has a mind of metal and wheels; and he does not care for growing things, except as far as they serve him for the moment.” - The Two Towers book

Books and Movies Mentioned:

Music from: https://filmmusic.io
‘Friendly day’ by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)
Licence: CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Bethany Stedman