Upon taking an indepth look at J.R.R. Tolkein's Lord of the Rings, the reader and/or viewer may notice a number of references to the Christian and Pagan religions along with significant familiarities to ancient Norse mythology.
Christianity in Lord of the Rings
Due to his personal religious views, that of a devout Catholic, it is not surprising that Tolkein used Christianity as one of the major bases for his Middle Earth masterpiece. In fact, the entire elf species presumably portrays what humans would be like if they had not fallen from paradise. From their way of life to their elaborate costumes, the elves of Lord of the Rings embody near perfect humans. Even their physical appearance, more specifically, the whiteness of their skin, inhabits the purity that humans lost as a result of Adam and Eve's sins.
Gandalf and Frodo as Christ Figures
Perhaps the most telling example of Christianity is Gandalf as a Christ figure. In the mines of Moria, Gandalf the Grey sacrifices himself to the balrog to save the rest of the group. Just as Jesus sacrifices himself for the sake of humanity, so too does Gandalf. Both figures die, but are later resurrected as considerably more powerful beings. While Christ returns as a the spiritual Son of God, Gandalf returns as an all powerful white wizard.
The protagonist of the Lord of Rings trilogy, Frodo Baggins, is similarly created in Christ's image. As does Jesus, Frodo faces the last temptation as he prepares to destroy the ring once and for all. Throughout the story, Frodo is forced to deal with an internal struggle between good and evil. Frodo's entire plight is spelled out clearly in the following lines of the well known "Lord's Prayer", "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (KJV Matthew 6:18). Frodo's temptations by the power of the ring are similar to those placed, by Satan, before Christ on his journey through the desert. The major difference, is that Christ resists, while, ultimately, Frodo is unable to.
Paganism in Lord of the Rings
The presence of Paganism in Lord of the Rings, is, due to Tolkein's own religious affiliation, more surprising. For instance, Tolkein's many monsters can be seen in direct relation to the much explored clash of the gods throughout ancient myth.
Once again, it is Gandalf that embodies qualities attributed to Paganism. His character is based on the Norse God, Odin, who is associated with wisdom, magic, and prophecy. The wizard-like qualities that Gandalf possesses are regarded as evil according to Christian doctrine. This connection between Christianity and Paganism within one character is most interesting.
Reference
Clash of the Gods: Tolkein's Monsters
Brandy Robertson - Brandy Robertson writes on a wide range of subjects including literature, religion, film and popular culture.
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