The Hidden Meaning of The Lord of the Rings

Christ figures and hidden symbols...

If you’re familiar with Tolkien’s work, you likely know he was good friends with C.S. Lewis. While the two Oxford professors had much in common, there’s one thing they disagreed about vehemently: allegory.

Lewis viewed allegory as a device that allowed an author to write a great story, but still ensure the message he wanted to convey was understood by the reader. Tolkien notoriously hated allegory, considering it a cheap, intellectually lazy way to convey ideas.

So while Lewis’s Narnia is rife with allegory (like Aslan representing Christ), no such obvious allegories are found in Tolkien’s work. However, The Lord of the Rings is packed with religious, specifically Christian symbolism.

The key difference between Lewis and Tolkien lies in how the latter forwent one-to-one allegory and instead chose to convey different aspects of symbols through varying characters. Whereas Aslan is a clear representation of Christ, Tolkien spreads his Messianic symbolism across three characters: Frodo, Gandalf, and Aragorn, all of whom embody different aspects of Christ’s persona.

Today, we reveal the main religious symbols in The Lord of the Rings, from Frodo’s sacrifice to Lembas bread. Remember though, this is no allegory — while characters or objects might embody aspects of a religious element, not everything they do is done in the spirit of what they represent. They are still their own characters, but when viewed in the context of the larger story, they reveal Tolkien’s spiritual vision…

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The One Ring

Tolkien was meticulous about dates and timelines, as he was virtually every other detail. And while many of the symbols we will come on to are quite subtle, only noticeable upon a perspicacious reading of the text, some things stare you in the face.

For instance, the quest to destroy the One Ring began with the Fellowship setting out from Rivendell on December 25th, at dusk. The ring is finally destroyed on none other than March 25th — the Church’s traditional date of Christ’s Crucifixion, as well as the Feast of the Annunciation in today’s calendar.

These are details that few readers actually notice — partly because you have to read the appendix to The Return of the King, which lays out the timeline.

Three Aspects of Christ

Tolkien’s deep Christian faith permeates his epic, and this is best seen in the characters of Frodo, Gandalf, and Aragorn. Each of these central figures embodies different aspects of Christ’s persona, and together they bring the spiritual dimension of Tolkien’s work to the forefront of the story.

Frodo: The Suffering Servant 

Frodo’s journey to destroy the One Ring mirrors Christ’s sacrificial journey. Frodo bears the immense burden of the Ring (which symbolizes, among other things, sin and corruption), much like Christ bore the weight of humanity’s sins. Frodo’s suffering and perseverance during the journey to Mount Doom clearly reflects the Passion of Christ, and his eventual departure to the Undying Lands parallels Christ’s triumph over death and his ascension to heaven.

Gandalf: The Prophet and Guide 

Gandalf’s wisdom and guidance resemble Christ’s role as a teacher and prophet. His fight with the Balrog, including his subsequent death and resurrection, is a stand-in for Christ’s death, descent into hell (the “Harrowing of Hell” in Christian theology), and return from the dead. Gandalf’s reappearance as Gandalf the White brings hope and renewal to the Fellowship, which indirectly echoes the transformative power of Christ’s resurrection.

Aragorn: The Messiah and King