The Ring Motif

Tolkien himself despised Wagner (whom he knew thoroughly) and rejected comparisons between his Ring and Wagner's cycle ("Both rings are round," is the extent of his published comment). But the parallels between the two works are so extensive as to raise the question as to Tolkien's intent. The Ring of Power itself is Wagner's invention (probably derived from the German Romantic de la Motte Fouque). Also to be found in both works are an immortal woman who renounces immortality for the love of a human, a broken sword reforged, a life-and-death game of riddles, and other elements which one doesn't encounter every day. Here is a compilation derived from sundry websites, along with a few of my own observations. For those who don't know the details of the Tolkien Ring - well, you will before long, because it is a story that everyone will learn. 
* Alberich forges a Ring of Power 
* Sauron forges a Ring of Power 
* Wotan needs the giants to build Valhalla 
* The Elves need Sauron to forge their Rings of Power 
* The Ring gives the bearer world domination
* The Ring gives the bearer world domination 
* Wotan uses the Ring to pay the giants 
* Sauron betrays the Elves
* The Ring is cursed and betrays its bearer
* The Ring is evil and betrays its bearer
* Fafner kills brother Fasolt to get the Ring
* Smeagol kills friend Deagol for the Ring
* Fafner hides in a cave for centuries
* Smeagol-Gollum hides in a cave for centuries
* Siegfried inherits the shards of his father's sword
* Aragorn inherits the shards his fathers' sword
* Brunnhilde gives up immortality for Siegfried 
* Arwen gives up immortality for Aragorn 
* Wotan plays "riddles" for the life of Mime 
* Gollum plays "riddles" for the life of Bilbo 
* A dragon guards the Nibelungs' hoard 
* A dragon guards the dwarves' hoard 
* The gods renounce the world and await the end 
* The Elves renounce the world and prepare to depart 
* The Ring is returned to its origin, the River Rhine 
* The Ring is returned to its origin, Mount Doom 
* Hagen falls into the river 
* Gollum falls into the volcano 
* The immortals burn in Valhalla 
* The immortals leave Middle-earth 
* A new era emerges in the world 
* A new era emerges in the world 
* Men are left to their own devices 
* Men are left to their own devices
See: Mythemes; Archetypes
Fantasy novels about a Master Ring; Fantasy Novels About A Ring of Power
Category:Fiction
Category:Storytelling