Symbolism In The Fellowship Of The Ring

The book The Fellowship of the Ring begins with a quiet life of the Hobbits in The Shire. When Frodo Baggins comes into the possession of the One Ring, left for him by his cousin Bilbo Baggins, he and three of his friends set out to destroy the ring because of its dangerous power. Soon after, they get lost and almost die. Frodo is gravely injured and needed to be healed by the Rivendell Elves. In Rivendell, a council is formed and it is decided that a group including a wizard, an Elf, Dwarves, Hobbits and Men will set out to take the ring to Mount Doom so that it can be destroyed. In the conclusion of the book, Boromir, thirsty for the ring’s power, attacks Frodo in attempt to take it for himself but fails. Frodo decides to leave the rest …show more content…
This literary theory talks about universal symbols. Many of these symbols are evident when reading this novel. The most significant symbol in this novel is the One Ring itself. Everyone in Middle-Earth knows about this ring. It is a universal symbol for power. Few in the novel would admit that it is also associated with the horrid things such as pain, suffering, destruction, and evil which are only noted by the key character. Water would also be a universal symbol to the inhabitants of Middle-Earth. Water symbolizes the force of good and also the afterlife. Ruxandra Cesereanu wrote an article called “The Fantasy Complex,” which is an analysis of The Lord of the Rings and they discuss the different character types and their classifications so to speak. The Hobbits, for example, are most noted for being small and boring, not liking the idea of leaving their homes or adventure. On the other hand, Dwarves are well-known for being short, brutish, tough, drunkards. In the beginning of the novel, Frodo wants to do the right thing and be the hero of the story. This fits in with the idea of mythological theory that all people need to make sense of the meaning of their lives at some point or