Aspects of symbolism in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings

Abstract

Tolkien' s sources and their influence on his sub creation is the· topic dealt with in the first part. The second part deals specifically with the Ring - its sources within the legends and mythologies, its symbolic value in the mythologies and in Tolkien's work and also its effect on the quest and the characters. The third part involves symbolism through imagery, subdivided into colour, terrain, creatures and biblical imagery. The last chapter deals with the symbolic functions of the quest and the hero, the disparity between the archetypal and Tolkien' s quests and heroes due to the Christian values embedded in Tolkien' s work.