Question: Lord of the Ring Theory

Lord of the Ring Theory

Is the One Ring Commutative? Do you think Tolkien intended the other 9 rings to be ideals of the One Ring? In which case what is the Factor Ring if you take the One Ring factored by one of the elvish rings?

Date Posted: July 29, 2007 Tagged Under: Literature . tolkien . Ring Theory
Rating:
n/a

First of all, I don't understand your use of the word "commutative". There are two definitions that might apply which are: 'reduce the severity of a penalty' or 'replace something with something else or to be a replacement'. (Microsoft Encarta Dictionary) The ring that Frodo had to destroy overpowered all the powers of the other rings, thus the continual struggle against the evil of the ring.

Rating:
10.0

First off, there are more than nine other rings. There were nine rings given to men, seven to dwarves, and three to the elves. I don't think they were intended to be ideals of the One Ring and thus talking of a Factor Ring with respect to the elvish rings is not well defined.