"Lord of the Rings" Epic Connections

Having been a first time "Lord of the Ring" watcher as well, I found myself constantly trying to connect the various plots to the epics we covered this semester. I discovered the following similarities:

• There were various subplots; almost every character had there own specific conflicts. There were no insignificant characters; everyone in the movie played a specific role and served an important purpose.
• Various layers of moral significance surfaced: similar to Paradise Lost and the Aeneid, "Lord of the Rings" brings forth the idea of sacrifice for the common good over one's self. Another illustration of morality lies in the fight between good and evil that plagues the entire work.
• One may be able to validate the idea of Mordor symbolizing Hell and Lord Sauron and the Ring of Power symbolizing Satan.
• The idea of temptation, like in the other epics covered, is very prevalent. The power of the ring and its promise of riches and wealth to its owner is a significant source of temptation throughout the story. Only an individual who is strong willed and keeps the good of others in mind over self gratification will survive. (In this case, Frodo and Sam, ultimately possess this power of temptation.
• Similarly to Paradise Lost, there is the premise that evil will always exist, however, the question lies in who will follow this evil power. Just as Satan and his devils had a choice, so do the characters in Middle Earth.
• In contrast to the idea of evil is the existence of good. We see that good, similar to its role in Paradise Lost, is not vengeful. Rather, it places in its roots in the ideals of putting others first. After all, if Biblo had killed Gollum all would have been lost; as Gollum played an integral role in destroying Sauron's power.