Dear Trudi

This is an interesting topic and you seem to have a good handle on how you want to develop it.

You include almost no internal citations and I can’t make really make any comments on your paper until you add them. You make a lot of statements for which you offer no proof — for example: “What Tolkien tries to explain to his readers through these creatures in Middle Earth is that regardless of the who the individual is, that is be them hobbits, elves, magicians, kings, stewards, Ents, and many more, they are all a representation and a manifestation of God in one way or the other.” This statement is may be true, but you offer no evidence to support.

Aslan may indeed be an icon of Christ, but why do you think so?

Remember, if you use ANY material — an idea or actual words — from a book or article you must include a citation. Also you only cite four sources — you need to make citations to ten sources for this paper, including six articles from scholarly peer-reviewed journals.

You are having some problems with sentence structure and punctuation, especially commas. Make sure that you show you paper to a tutor at the Writing Help Center in 214 Butler library before handing it in or posting it on the wiki. Lydia Fish November 17, 2008, at 06:12 PM

I think your paper is very interesting. It would help a little if you wrote as if your audience has no background or experience with your topic. Steven Wilser ? November 13, 2008, at 04:29 PM

I commend you for choosing a topic on religion because I know that I never could. It seems that you are comparing and contrasting the two works well. I hope you found a lot of articles for your topic. I admit I do not fully understand how Christ is in Frodo, Gandalf, and Aragorn. Donald Turner

Not being a religious person, it is hard to follow some of the christian relations. Finding similarities between the two works is a difficult task, and you have done a good job there, but I would say try focusing a bit harder on showing how the similarities are relevant to Christianity. Saying that Aslan is a reflection of Christ shows the relation, but it doesn’t really establish who Christ was. I guess people like me just need a bit more background information. Other than that it is coming along great. Eligh Hanning

You have a great start thus far. I am sure you are going to expand your points quite a bit. You certainly have a great amount of resources and things to choose from. It is good that you did not define one character as God. The three characters all have aspects that could be God but others that may not and could be argued with. So far so good! brittany thrun ? November 13, 2008, at 02:50 PM

I am very interested in the topic that you chose for your paper. I feel that this is a deep topic and a good one to learn about. Since it is a deep topic and you just mentioned some points in the draft, it was a little hard to follow, but I can see that you have brought up good points that just need to be developed. overall, I feel that this is a great topic to write about.Sarah Chudyk ? November 13, 2008, at 08:20 AM

Not to nitpick…but isn’t Christ PART of the trinity…so would the three Lord of the Rings characters more accurately fullfill roles of the Trinity and not Christ himself? I dunno — I didn’t research it, but that question came to mind. Overall; it looks promising. I hope to read your paper, and the other Christian paper together, and gain a real throrough understanding of this issue. Joseph Bella ? November 13, 2008, at 02:04 AM

I think you picked a great topic and especially one that you seem to have knowledge about. How you incorporated Aslan and the Chronicles of Narnia was interesting. I think it would help when writing your paper to think your audience has little knowledge of The Chronicles of Narnia or Christian values. Your paper is well written but at times I was a little confused because I do not have religious background. Carly Lopez Carly Lopez ? November 12, 2008, at 10:37 PM

I’m not a very religiously savvy person, so your paper was a bit difficult to understand for me. Perhaps you should organize your ideas and points in a way that readers who are not that knowledgeable on religious topics could find it easier to follow. Also, you should put more information in your draft. Remember that it’s a place to put your ideas so that they are all in one spot, you can organize them later for your final draft. Brian Nacov November 12, 2008, at 09:38 PM

I think your paper is coming along nicely. I think I noticed that you used Wood as a source and he really does have some good information on religious aspects. I don’t know if Aslan is the only religious figure in Narnia, but if there is another you could try to include it so that more than just Christ-like figures appear in your paper. Very nice start. Keilah Bradley November 12, 2008, at 02:33 PM

I really like the topic of your paper. I am excited to read the final draft. Remember to have someone proof read your work in order to catch typing mistakes. Elizabeth Delano ? November 12, 2008, at 01:21 PM

This is a very interesting topic to work with. I think it was very tactful to only list the christ-like figures created by Tolkien and not to say which character is meant to be Christ in the Lord of the Rings. Perhaps for your final you should explain what qualities Frodo, Aragorn, and Gandalf share with Christ and C.S. Lewis’s Aslan. I think you may need to add more sources then just the Chronicles of Narnia and the Bible but other then that you have a great paper! Sarah McNutt November 12, 2008, at 09:49 AM

I really like this idea. The only thing that I could suggest at this point is that you’re careful not to say that these symbols are concrete. While we know that the Narnia series is definitely related to Christianity, we don’t know what Tolkien’s intentions were with his characters, unless there’s some statement on his part saying how Christianity came through in his work. Devon Cozad ? November 11, 2008, at 08:29 PM

You are off to a good start. I really like the fact that you are breaking down the image of christ being visible within three characters, and not simply one. Just be careful that you aren’t using allegory, and that you stick to similarities. Also with in-text citations, it should look like: “quote” (citation).

Overall, I can’t wait to read your final paper and see what else you come with. Lauren Brych ? November 11, 2008, at 05:21 PM

I really like the topic for your paper. Maybe you could make more direct comparisons between The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings. Nice job. Annika Laughlin ? November 11, 2008, at 07:38 PM

2nd Rough Draft: 1194 words

Parellels of Christain themes between The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia

Many critics agree that the books of Narnia by C. S. Lewis and not the trilogy of J.R. R Tolkien is an allegory of the gospels. Yet still, The Lord of the Rings has many parallels to the Gospels which can be compared to that of The Chronicles of Narnia. Although there is no one complete, concrete, visible Christ figure in Middle Earth, like Aslan in Narnia, Christ is invisibly present in the whole of The Lord of the Rings. The story concerning the rings is like that of the Eucharist. Under Eucharist’s appearances we find Christ, who under these figures (symbols, not allegories), is truly hidden (Kreeft 56). God is presented in many different forms in Middle Earth. Some individuals in Middle Earth are the representations of God. These individuals can be compared to Aslan who is the sole figure of God in Narnia to explain how the different attributes of God is split among the different creatures in Middle Earth.

Looking at the different creatures in Middle Earth, it can be inferred that Tolkien tried to represent God in all of them in order to fulfill the words utter at the creation of man. God said, “Let us create man in our own image and likeness (Genesis 1:26–27).” What Tolkien tries to explain to his readers through these creatures in Middle Earth is that regardless of the who the individual is, that is be them hobbits, elves, magicians, kings, stewards, Ents, and many more, they are all a representation and a manifestation of God in one way or the other. That is why taking any one person in the novel; it is very easy for one to see the presence of God in that individual through their actions and thoughts. Of the creatures in Middle Earth who are each a reflection of God (Christ), only three of them shall be critically analyzed in this paper. The three to be discussed include Fordo, Aragon and Gandalf. These characters can all be compared to Aslan the God of Narnia to exhibit some of his traits which makes him a represent Christ.

Aslan, a lion is the creator of Narnia the mystical city like Middle Earth in which the story of the novel unfolds. Aslan is presented as Christ in Narnia. He is the word which was there in the beginning and that very word being God at the same time. This is in accordance with John’s explanation of Christ being present at the time of creation (1 John 1:1) with his heavenly father. Aslan actually creates the world of Narnia from nothingness and like God he plants the tree of life which would forever keep the White witch (Satan) at bay until the time comes when she would rein. Aslan also promises the inhabitants of Narnia that in the depths of their despair, four saviours will arise to defeat the witch and bring back peace and harmony to the lands of Narnia.

Aslan also fulfils the Messianic symbolism of Christ being a priest, a prophet and a king. This is because he is the king of all kings in Narnia. McSporran argues that Aslan rules Narnia because he created it. The reader is introduced to the creation of Narnia when the Lion exclaims in I/9.

“Narnia, Narnia, Narnia, awake. Love. Think. Speak. Be walking trees. Be talking beasts. Be divine waters”

Even the inhabitant of the land accepts him as the King. This is how Aslan is introduced to Lucy when she first comes into Narnia. Wood explains how explicitly Lewis ensures that Aslan is viewed as the second person of the trinity. Aslan’s indentify was strengthened and leaves no room for doubt since Lewis established a Heavenly Father who is “the Emperor Beyond the Sea (240).” One then only encounters Aslan as Christ in the biblical contest. Portraying Aslan as God in this sense bestows on him the Messianic attributes of Christ.

The Messianic symbolism of Christ is not just trust on Aslan but is exemplified in his actions, his life and relationships to the various inhabitants of the land he created. Aslan is the prophet of Narnia. During the creation of Narnia, evil enters the newly created land through the actions of a boy called Digory in I/4–8. Aslan rebukes the boy for bringing such evil into the land which was only a few hours old, but then he offers a solution. As a remedy to the predicament befallen on Narnia, Aslan plants the tree of life which will help the land of flourish centuries before the eminent evil in the land can overshadow the land. Aslan goes on to assure his subjects that at the time of darkness a ray of light shall pierce it the film of darkness and through that light the land shall be restored. Aslan does this saying to the animals in I/11,

“Do not be cast down, Evil will come of that evil, but it is still long way off, and I will see to it that the worst falls on upon myself. In the meantime, let us take such order that for many hundred years yet this shall be a merry land in a merry world. And as Adam’s race has done the harm, Adam’s race shall help to heal it.”

Aslan is also believed to have made the prophecy about the thrones in Cair Paravel around this time although it is not recorded when. This assurance offers Aslan’s subjects hope for the future just as God offered Adam and Eve hope for redemption from the life of death. The life of pain, suffering and death was a result of their disobedience in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24). Hope was only offered Adam and Eve after God had administered their punishments for their disobedience. In doing this Aslan talks about his death and like Christ gives a glimpse into future happenings. Both the prophecies of Christ and refers to their death and resurrection which is only understood after this incidents have occurred.

Aslan the prophet and king of Narnia is also the sacrificial lamb whose blood must be used to cleanse Narnia in order break the hold of evil (the White witch) on the land. Aslan makes a sacrifice by offering of his life in place of Edward’s, thus taking up a priestly role as the intermediary for Narnia.

Looking at the Lord of the Rings, Christ is presented in three different individuals. This includes Argon, Frodo and Gandalf. Aragon‘s characterization only fulfills the Kingship symbolism of the three fold old testament Messianic symbolism. Aragon like Christ is the one King of whom all prophesies and the promise of the restoration of the Middle earth refers. The people Middle Earth like the Jews were waiting for the one king who would come and save them from the suppression of the times in which they lived. Like Christ, Aragon encounters much opposition. As an infant Aragon is sent away in order to ensure his safety. This is similar to the escape of Mary and Joseph to Egypt in order to save the infant Christ from the tyranny of Herod the ruling King (Luke 3:16).

Works Citied

C. S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia.

Kreeft, Peter. The Philosophy of Tolkien: The Worldview Behind The Lord of the Rings. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2005.

McSporran, Cathy. “The Kingdom of God, the Republic of Heaven: Depictions of God in C. S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, and Phillip Pullman’s

His Dark Materials.” ESharp: Electronic Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts Review for Postgraduates (2003). 19 Oct. 2008. Http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/. Peer Reviewed Articles EZ. College at Buffalo - SUNY, Buffalo. 19 Oct. 2008. Keyword: The Chronicles of Narnia and Faith.

Wood, Ralph C. The Gospel According to Tolkien: Visions of the Kingdom in Middle-Earth. Louisville, Ky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2003.

Trudy Antwi November 16, 2008, at 11:55 PM

Parellels of Christain themes between The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia

One can admit looking at the different creatures that Tolkien took to represent God that he is trying or make concrete the words utter at the creation of man. God said, ‘Let us create man in our own image and likeness (Genesis 1:26–27).” What Tolkien tries to explain to his readers through this creature in Middle Earth is that regardless of the who the individual, that is be them hobbits, elves, magicians, kings, stewards, Ents, and many more, they are all a representation and a manifestation of God in one way or the other. That is why taking any one person in the novel; it is very easy for one to see the presence of God in that individual through their actions and thoughts. Of the creatures in Middle Earth who are a representation of God (Christ), only three of them shall be critically analyzed in this paper. The three to discuss include Frodo, Aragorn and Gandalf. These characters can all be compared to Aslan the God of Narnia to exhibit some of his traits or of his traits which makes represent Christ.

Aslan is the creator of Narnia the mystical city like Middle Earth in which the story of the novel unfolds. Aslan is presented as Christ in Narnia. He is the word which was there in the beginning and that very word being God at the same time. This is in accordance with John’s explanation of Christ being present at the time of creation (1 John 1:1) with his heavenly father. Aslan actually creates the world of Narnia from nothingness and like God he plants the tree of life which would forever keep the White witch (Satan) at bay until the time comes when she would rein. Aslan also promises the inhabitants of Narnia that in the depths of their despair, four saviors will arise to defeat the witch and bring back peace and harmony to the lands of Narnia.

“Narnia, Narnia, Narnia, awake. Love. Think. Speak. Be walking trees. Be talking beasts. Be divine waters (Lewis 79).”

Even the inhabitant of the land accepts him as the King. This is how Aslan is introduced to Lucy when she first comes into Narnia. Wood explains how explicitly Lewis ensures that Aslan is viewed as the second person of the trinity. Wood also explains how explicitly Lewis ensures that Aslan is viewed as the second person of the trinity. Lewis established a Heavenly Father who is “the Emperor Beyond the Sea (240).” One then only encounters Aslan as Christ in the biblical contest. Portraying Aslan as God in this sense bestows on him the Messianic attributes of Christ.

Trudy Antwi November 09, 2008, at 09:06 PM

Page last modified on November 17, 2008, at 06:12 PM