The Lord of the Rings

Film Study
English 20-1
Name: _______________________
Segment One
1. In the beginning of the movie, Galadriel, one of the elves begins to narrate the film with a
black backdrop. Why did the director, Peter Jackson, decide not to have any scenes
showing?

2. How do the elements (fire, water, air, and earth) play a significant role?

3. Why was the ring Sauron was wearing shown before his face? (Keep in mind Sauron is
the deceiver of mankind)

4. How is black versus white lighting used in the beginning historical story of the ring?

5. What is meant by a “nameless fear”? What might this represent?

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Segment Two
6. How do the aesthetics change when the film switches from the past to the present, in the
Shire? (look at colour, music, atmosphere/mood)

7. What is the relationship of Gandalf and Frodo like?

8. How does Jackson use high angle and low angle shots?

9. What does Bilbo mean when he says he feels like “butter scraped over too much bread”?

10. When Gandalf and Bilbo are sitting outside smoking, what do you notice about the shift
in colour? What emotion does this give off?

11. How does Jackson use music to create suspense?

12. What does Bilbo mean when he says, “I don't know half of you half as well as I should
like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve”? Does he mean this or is
it a joke?

13. How does Gandalf demonstrate his power?

14. How could Gandalf saying “trust me as you once did” be symbolic?
 15. Bilbo says that he won’t return to The Shire, and yet, Gandalf’s last words are “until our
next meeting.” Is Gandalf hopeful to see Bilbo again, or do you think he knows he will
see him again?

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Segment Three
16. If the ring is so powerful, why does Gandalf just leave it on the entrance floor?

17. Why is there such an enhanced close up when Gandalf says “keep it secret, keep it safe”?

18. How are the black riders and Gandalf juxtaposed?

19. What do you notice about the rhythm and effect of the following markings on the ring:
“One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, one ring to bring them all and in the
darkness bind them.”

20. How would you describe the relationship between Sauron and the ring?
 21. Why doesn’t Gandalf take the ring? Does he think Frodo is stronger than him? What
does he mean by “but through me, it will wield a power too great and terrible to
imagine”?

22. How can an inanimate object “want to be found”?

23. How does Sauron share similar qualities to Roger from Lord of the Flies? (play close
attention to facial expressions and actions)

24. When the ring is worn, it cannot be seen. What might this be symbolic of?

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Segment Four
25. Sam is afraid of losing Frodo. Why does he feel this way?

26. Why are the black riders faceless?

27. How does Jackson use a variety of angle shots?

 28. Why does Jackson choose to have the black riders make screaming noises?

29. When Frodo puts on the ring, Sauron (the eye) says “you cannot hide.” What does he
mean by this?

30. “They will never stop hunting you.” The literal “they” are the black riders. What might
the symbolic “they” suggest?

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Segment Five
31. How does Jackson use camera angles to show Gandalf at the top of the tower of Orthanc?

32. How does the scene where the hobbits are huddled together waiting for the black riders
mirror Act I Scene I of Macbeth?

33. What does Frodo see when he puts on the ring?

34. How might Mordor mirror the Industrial Revolution?

 35. What might the moth represent?

36. How has Saruman taken on the role of God?

37. Why does Frodo see Arwen in such a different light than the others?

38. How does the scene between Arwen and the black riders allude to the Bible? (There are
at least three answers here)

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Segment Six
39. “So you have chosen death.” What is the dichotomy between Gandalf and Saruman?

40. Bilbo wore a bright red vest on his birthday party, the night he left The Shire. What does
his change of clothing suggest?

41. “I spent all my childhood pretending I was somewhere else,” and now all Frodo wants is
to go home. Explain what is happening here.
 42. Elrond says “evil is allowed to endure.” What does he mean by this?

43. What does Aragorn fear? How does this fear affect his actions?

44. When Frodo puts the ring on the alter table for the council to see, Jackson provides
close-ups to each prominent character. What do we notice?

45. Boromir says that there is evil in Mordor that does not sleep and that the eye is always
watching. What is symbolic of this statement?

46. What do each of the races of Middle Earth (elves, dwarves, hobbits, and men) represent?

47. Frodo is told by various people that he carries a heavy burden, yet, without him, evil
cannot be destroyed. Do we see his quest as a burden or as an opportunity?

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Segment Seven
48. What is the significance of Frodo knowing the language was a riddle?

49. What characteristics and traits do we notice in Boromir at this point?

50. Gandalf asks the question, “Many that live deserve death, but some that die deserve life.
Can you give it to them, Frodo?”

51. Frodo wishes that the ring had never come to him. Gandalf says “so do all who live to see
such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the
time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the
will of evil,” What is Gandalf saying here? What or who are the other forces at work?

52. What role does Pippin play in the story thus far? What do we notice about him?

53. What is both the literal and the figurative meaning of Gandalf stating “there is more to
this hobbit than meets the eye”?
 54. Both the black riders and the troll go straight for Frodo, as he gets stabbed by them
twice. Why do you think this is? It is highly doubtful that the troll knows Frodo has the
ring.

55. A new sound is heard after the orcs surround them. What effect does his have on the
viewers? What does this say about who the sound is coming from?

56. The chanting in the background is the same type of chanting that the boys on the island
in Lord of the Flies were vocalizing right before they killed Simon. How does this
connection hold significance?

57. Gandalf, a similar archetype to Jesus, is taken down by the Balrog. What might this
scene symbolize? Also, why does he choose his last words to be “Fly, you fools”?

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Segment Eight
58. What imagery does Lothlorien give the viewers? What is so special about Galadriel?

59. What happens to each character when Galadriel looks at them in the eye?
 60. What do we notice in regards to Boromir’s certainty and identity?

61. What is significant about showing Frodo future events?

62. Galadriel says that she “passed the test” and will continue to be Galadriel. What does she
mean by this? How is this significant to real life and the power of evil?

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Segment Nine
63. “You do not know pain and you do not know fear.” What is the dichotomy between the
fellowship and the orcs?

64. “May it be a light to you in dark places when all other lights go out.” Does Galadriel mean
this literally, symbolically, or both? Explain.

65. Boromir sees the ring as hope. Why is this a dangerous view to have?

66. What different sides do we see of Boromir? (There are at least four)
67. Frodo asks Aragorn if he can protect him from himself. What does this say about the
power individuals have on others? Do we believe in this power of influence?

68. In what ways are Merry and Pippin similar and in what ways do they foil?

69. In what ways is pathos evoked in the viewers for Boromir, even though he betrayed
Frodo?

70. The lead Uruk-hai pushes Aragorn’s sword deeper into his chest. What purpose does this
have?

71. What role did Gandalf play in Frodo’s life? What role does Gandalf still play?

72. What role does Sam play in Frodo’s journey? How is their relationship stronger than any
other friendship?

73. What is the definite motif throughout the film thus far? What does this motif symbolize?
How does it affect Frodo, Bilbo, Boromir, Aragorn, and Galadriel?