CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS

In this chapter, the researcher was going to elaborate the limitations of the

problem in the chapter I. The result of this elaboration was description or the

answers of formulations of the problem. The researcher was going to explain two

main sub-topics that became limitations or formulations of the problem. There

were two sub-topics in this research: 1) the symbols and their denotative and

connotative meaning, 2) the impacts of connotative meaning toward plot and

characterization. For the first sub-topic, the researcher had listing several symbols

that were defined denotatively and connotatively. For the second sub-topics, the

researcher described the impacts of connotative meaning of the symbols. The

symbols were limited to one novel of the Lord of the Rings trilogy written by

J.R.R. Tolkien, and it was the first series, The Fellowship of the Rings.

There were several symbols that were going to be defined by the researcher.

Those symbols were actually not only appearing in the first series of the trilogy,

but could be found also in the other two series, The Two Towers and The Return

of the King. In this research, however, the researcher were going only to define

those symbols based on the findings in the first series, The Fellowship of the

Rings. Those symbols were defined denotatively based on the definition in the

Encyclopedia of J.R.R. Tolkien edited by Michael D.C. Drout. For the

connotative definition, the researcher defined it based on the researcher’s

understanding after reading it several times. The definition of the symbols were

going to be defined sequentially in the description below.

1. Rings of Power

a. Denotative Meaning

Rings of power were magical rings that were created by Noldor Elven-

smiths of Ergion and the Dark Lord, Sauron between 1500 and 1590 SA. There

were twenty magical rings that were given evenly by Sauron to all races. Eleven

rings were given to men race, seven rings for Dwarves, and three rings for Elves.

One additional ring, the One Ring, was forged by Sauron himself at Mount Doom.

Each of the rings is made of precious metals and contains precious stones.

The Rings of Power were created to bestow gifts of longevity and special strength

to their bearers according to their nature. Approximately ten years after the

forging of the last Ring of Strength, that is, 1600 AU, Sauron secretly made the

One Ring to dominate the rest. The nineteen lesser Rings were linked somehow to

the power of the One, and were dependent on it. Their wielders could be

controlled by the wielder of the One, and if the One was destroyed, their own

powers would fade.

b. Connotative Meaning

Connotatively, the rings of power represented something more than magical

rings. They did not just bring the bearer longevity but they could also bring the

bearer into havoc. It was described by Gandalf in the novel that the rings of power

was dengerous items that could bring any mortal bearers to be drown by their

power. The script could be seen below:

But the Great Rings, the Rings of Power, they were

perilous. 'A mortal, Frodo, who keeps one of the Great
Rings, does not die, but he does not grow or obtain more
life, he merely continues, until at last every minute is a
 weariness. And if he often uses the Ring to make himself
invisible, he fades: he becomes in the end invisible
permanently, and walks in the twilight under the eye of the
Dark Power that rules the Rings. Yes, sooner or later -
later, if he is strong or well-meaning to begin with, but
neither strength nor good purpose will last - sooner or later
the Dark Power will devour him. ' (page 47)

Gandalf described that the rings of power were the great rings which could

lure people to the darkness. There was a line which said “he fades”. “He” referred

to any mortal beings, like men, could dissappear as he wore one of the rings. It

was a metaphor which meant the rings had power to make humanity in men

vanished. It was followed by “and walks in the twilight under the eye of the Dark

Power that rules the Rings”, which it could be interpreted that the rings

represented the dark side of people. The rings of power were temptations that had

to corrupt people’s mind and heart. They potentially blinded people to the wrong

paths which only evil dwelled.

This statement was proven in the novel as there were men who had

surrenderred their humanity and let themselves to be part of the evil. They were

Nazguls or Ringwraiths who were the dreaded ring-servants of the Dark Lord,

Sauron. They had been just a regular people, but as they used the rings of power,

they were lured to ignore their morality.

Nine he gave to Mortal Men, proud and great, and so

ensnared them. Long ago they fell under the dominion of
the One, and they became Ringwraiths, shadows under his
great Shadow, his most terrible servants. Long ago. It is
many a year since the Nine walked abroad. Yet who
knows? As the Shadow grows once more, they too may
walk again. (page 51)
 The rings of power showed that they reffered to temptation to lead people to

walk in the wrong paths. Nine Mortal Men were the victim. Since the Dark Lord

give them priviledge to use the rings of power, they were consumed by temptation

and in the end they became slaves of evil ruler. It was important to note that the

rings of power did not refferred to just magical rings but they were represented as

the urge to have power by neglecting goodness.

c. The Impacts of the Symbol’s Connotative Meaning to the Plot,

Setting and Characterization

The appearance of the Rings of Power, especially the One Ring in the novel

had brought conflicts between people who wanted destroyed and people who

wanted to use it. Nevertheless, it was not just conflict that was occurred, but there

was also fellowship that was occurred. When Frodo, from Hobbit race, decided to

take a journey in order to destroy the One Ring, other races also took apart in this

journey. Races like Wizard, Elve, Dwarf, and Men helped Frodo in his journey to

destroy the ring.

'The Company of the Ring shall be Nine; and the Nine

Walkers shall be set against the Nine Riders that are evil.
With you and your faithful servant, Gandalf will go; for
this shall be his great task, and maybe the end of his
labors.
'For the rest, they shall represent the other Free Peoples of
the World: Elves, Dwarves, and Men. Legolas shall be for
the Elves; and Gimli son of Glo´ in for the Dwarves. They
are willing to go at least to the passes of the Mountains,
and maybe beyond. For men you shall have Aragorn son
of Arathorn, for the Ring of Isildur concerns him closely.
'(Pages 275-276)

The fellowship was called The Company of the Ring. It was said that this

fellowship was purposed to accompany Frodo to be set against the evil. It meant
that all races had awarenss that it was not only Frodo’s responsibility to take the

journey in order to destroy the One Ring, but it was the responsibilty of all races.

Wizard, Elve, Dwarve, and Men united and took apart in opposing the evil. It

could be said that the connotative meaning of the Rings of Power did not only

brought clash but also friendship.

The symbol of the Rings of Power also affected connotatively to

characterization. It meant the symbol affected characters’ personality. One of the

characters who was affected by the symbol was Boromir. He was a part of Men

race and he was commanded to accompany Frodo and the others to destroy the

one of the Rings of Power. He had fallen to the temptation of its power. He even

frankly said to Frodo that he wanted and refused to destroy it.

'... And behold! in our need chance brings to light the Ring
of Power. It is a gift, I say; a gift to the foes of Mordor. It
is mad not to use it, to use the power of the Enemy against
him. The fearless, the ruthless, these alone will achieve
victory. What could not a warrior do in this hour, a great
leader? What could not Aragorn do? Or if he refuses, why
not Boromir? The Ring would give me power of
Command. How I would drive the hosts of Mordor, and all
men would flock to my banner! '
'And they tell us to throw it away!' He cried. 'I do not say
destroy it. That might be well, if reason could show any
hope of doing so. It does not. The only plan that is
proposed to us is that a halfling should walk blindly into
Mordor and offer the Enemy every chance of recapturing
it for himself. Folly! (page 398)

Boromir frankly said that the Ring of Power was a gift. He would used it to

have power and be able to rule. He even said his companions who wanted to

destroy it as stupid people. He had showed his greed side because it was many

times told in the novel that nobody could be good after using the Rings of Power.
2. The One Ring

a. Denotative Meaning

The One Ring, also known as the Ruling Ring, was one of the twenty rings

of power that had been created. It was forged by the Dark Lord, Sauron during

the Second Age of Middle-earth, about 1600. along with Noldor in craftsmen of

Eregion, Sauron got help in the creation of Rings of Power. The One Ring was

the most powerful artifacts ever created in Middle-earth. It had the power to

control the other nineteen rings. It was crafted by the Dark Lord Sauron in the

fire of Orodruin, also known as Mount Doom, during the Second Age.

b. Connotative Meaning

The one ring could be interpreted connotatively as the urge for total

domination and control. This statement could be found from the text of the novel,

as it was created or forged for the Dark Lord or Sauron to have control over the

other nineteen rings. The power of this ring was engraved on the ring. The script

was like this:

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,

One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
(page 50)

It could be interpreted that the One Ring was the depiction of human side to

totally control and to dominate everything. To control in this sense had negative

meaning as the carving on the ring said that it can “bring them all and in the

darkness bind them”. “Them” did not only refferred to the other nineteen rings but

all people because the nineteen rings were given to the lords of each races. As the

One Ring had power to control the lords, then it meant it had power to control and
to dominate the people who served the lords. Beside, the One Ring and the Dark

Lord could be interpreted as the same representation because the One Ring was

created by him and it contained his desire. In other words, the Dark Lord was not

just the depiction of the evil force but the depiction of the urge for domination.

c. The Impacts of the Symbol’s Connotative Meaning to the Plot,

Setting and Characterization

The first impact was to the plot that there was clash between characters

because of this symbol. The clash could be classified as the clash between values.

The clash occured mainly because of different perspective in viewing what was

good and what was evil. Main characters of the novel might view the One Ring as

an evil force, but there were characters who whorshipped this ring, like Saruman.

Saruman or Saruman the White was the first of the order of Istar (wizard),

who came to Middle-earth as Emissaries of the Valar in the Third Age. He also

was the leader of the wizards and of the White Council. Gandalf, who was also a

wizard, initially respected him but changed to fight him after Gandalf found that

Saruman had betrayed wizards by following Sauron to prevent the One Ring from

being destroyed. Saruman did not view the One Ring as an evil force. He viewed

it as a great power that could grant his wish, while Gandalf thought the opposite.

This clash of perspective later led to great war in Middle-Earth.

'' 'And listen, Gandalf, my old friend and helper!' 'He said,
coming near and speaking now in a softer voice. '' I said
we, for we it may be, if you will join with me. A new
Power is rising. Against it the old allies and policies will
not avail us at all. There is no hope left in Elves or dying
Nu´menor. This then is one choice before you, before us.
We may join with that Power. It would be wise, Gandalf.
There is hope that way. Its victory is at hand; and there
 will be rich reward for those that aided it. As the Power
grows, its proved friends will also grow; and the Wise,
such as you and I, may with patience come at last to direct
its courses, to control it. We can bide our time, we can
keep our thoughts in our hearts, deploring maybe evils
done by the way, but approving the high and ultimate
purpose: Knowledge, Rule, Order; all the things that we
have so far striven in vain to accomplish, hindered rather
than helped by our weak or idle friends. There need not
be, there would not be, any real change in our designs,
only in our means. '' (page 259)

The quotation above showed Saruman’s wishes, as he viewed that the recent

era was dying, he found that he needed “Power” to rebulid it, and it was through

the aid of Sauron or the Dark Lord. Saruman clearly had different perspective in

viewing the existence of Suron, as for him Sauron could be a savior. From his

statement it was clearly that he had intention to ignore the fate of other races

because he found that other races could not bring “Knowledge, Rule, Order”, and

he saw them as a weak friends. On the other hand, Gandalf did not approve this,

and it led to the clash between perspectives and led to the coming of great war.

The next impact of this symbol was to the characterization of the novel

characters. There were some characters who initially had desire to destroy the One

Ring, but then they turned to greed when they felt the presence of the rings near

them, like Bilbo and Boromir. Bilbo who was the uncle of the main character

Frodo was also fall into this temptation. He was even involved in a conflict with

one of his best friend, Gandalf because of it. It was told that he had the One Ring

in his hand, and he seemed to refuse when Gandalf told him to stay away from the

ring.
 'Now, now, my dear hobbit!' Said Gandalf. 'All your long
life we have been friends, and you owe me something.
Come on! Do as you promised: give it up! '
'Well, if you want my ring yourself, say so!' Cried Bilbo.
'But you won't get it. I won't give my Precious away, I tell
you. 'His hand strayed to the hilt of his small sword. (page
36)

Bilbo was turned to be cruel even to his friend Gandalf. Gandalf, who felt

that it was better for him to give up the ring, had to face the evil side of his friend.

Bilbo even said that the ring he kept was his “Precious”, which it meant he was

dragged away by the temptation contained in the ring so that he did not hesitate to

be hostile. He even took a small sword as a sign the he did not give up the ring

and was ready to fight Gandalf. Because the One Ring was the embodiment of

power, thus it was consired as a precious thing.

3. Mordor

a. Denotative Meaning

Mordor was stronghold of Sauron at the end of the Third Age. The place

was described as the Black Land of the Middle East-earth. In addition, Mordor

was protected from three sides by large mountains, arranged roughly in a

rectangular shape: the Ash Mountain ('Ered Lithui') to the north, and the Ephel

Dúath to the west and south. Mordor was chosen by Sauron to be his territory

because of the mountains that surrounded him on three sides, creating a natural

fortress against his enemies.

b. Connotative Meaning

In a connotative way, Mordor did not merely represent a region or a fortress,

but was the embodiment of all evil things and bad intentions. It was written on the
engraving on the One Ring, on which was engraved "In the Land of Mordor

where the Shadows lie". The word "Shadows" refers to evil, and not just one evil

but many because it is a plural. The same thing was confirmed by Gandalf when

he described the place to Frodo, the main character. The connotative meaning of

Mordor could be seen from the script below:

‘...But I am afraid there is no possible doubt: he had made

his slow, sneaking way, step by step, mile by mile, south,
down at last to the Land of Mordor.'
A heavy silence fell in the room. Frodo could hear his
heart beating. Even outside everything seemed still. No
sound of Sam's shears could now be heard.
'Yes, to Mordor,' said Gandalf. 'Alas! Mordor draws all
wicked things, and the Dark Power was bending all its will
to gather them there. (page 58-59)

Gandalf said “Alas!” as he described what Mordor was. It was the

expression of grief and concern. He was concerned because he felt cautious of

Mordor because it was not just a place but a sign of danger. Frodo was silent

when he heard Gandalf mentioned that place which meant that he felt cautious

too. In short, Mordor was also an embodiment of anxiety over evil and dangerous

things. Since Gandalf described that Mordor drew “all wicked things”, it could be

concluded that it was not the place that evil but the atmospheres.

c. The Impacts of the Symbol’s Connotative Meaning to the Plot,

Setting and Characterization

The symbol of Mordor had impact to the setting of the story. In the novel,

Mordor became the place that was aimed by the Companion of the Rings. This

companion had one and only purpose that was to destroy the One Ring, and the

place to destroy it was Mordor. Since Mordor was the embodiment of evil forces,
the companion’s goal did not just literalily meant to destroy a ring, but to defeat

these evil forces. The companion’s purpose could be seen from the script below:

"None here can do so," said Elrond Gravely. 'At least none
can foretell what will come to pass, if we take this road or
that. But it seems to me now clear which is the road that
we must take. The westward road seems the easiest.
Therefore it must be shunned. It will be watched. Too
often the Elves have fled that way. Now at this last we
must take a hard road, a road unforeseen. There lies our
hope, if hope it be. To walk into peril - to Mordor. We
must send the Ring to the Fire. ' (page 267)

The script above showed that Elrond was leading a meeting among the

members of the Companion of the Rings. He said that the companion must send

the ring to the fire, which meant they must destroy the evil, and the place to

destroy it was Mordor because this place was the source of evil.

4. Hobbits

a. Denotative Meaning

Hobbits were one of many races in the novel. They were depicted as Little

People or Little Folk because of their small size body. They were also human-like

race because it was said that they were relatives to the race of Men, but they were

only about half the height of humans. The Hobbits' home has been in Eriador in

west-central Middle-earth since the eleventh century Third Age; Finally, they

started calling their little district “the Shire." Most hobbits were farmers and fruit-

growers or worked in farm-related pursuits like smithery or milling. One of the

main character in the novel Frodo was a Hobbit.

 b. Connotative Meaning

Hobbits could be said as a race that loved quite and privacy life. Because of

their small-sized body, they were quite shy to meet other races that were bigger

than them. Hobbits were embodiment of inferiority in human’s emotion. It was

described in the novel that they mostly avoided to meet other people from

different races.

Even in ancient days they were, as a rule, shy of 'the Big

Folk', as they call us, and now they avoid us with dismay
and are becoming hard to find. (page 1)

Since they had tiny body Hobbits seemed do not confident to meet other

races. Hobbits might have inferior feeling that forced them to avoid meeting races

other than theirs. They the embodiment of timidness, privacy, and tribal nature.

c. The Impacts of the Symbol’s Connotative Meaning to the Plot,

Setting and Characterization

The symbol of the Hobbits had impacts to the characterization. Because of

timidness, it was normal for Hobbits to be family-oriented people. it was

mentioned by Bilbo, one of the Hobbits, that Hobbits really consideed family with

great care.

They had heard this and other darker rumors before, of

course; but hobbits have a passion for family history, and
they were ready to hear it again. (page 22)

Family was one of the main interest of Hobbits. Even the way they lived

was also family oriented, in which many of Hobbits’s houses were inhabitted by

large families. Since they did not really make connection with other races, the

tribal nature of them had made them to believe in nepotism.

5. Andúril

a. Denotative Meaning

Andúril, also called the Flame of the West, was the new sword which was

reforged from the shards of Narsil. It had been used, when it was still called

Narsil, to cut the Dark Lord’s hand in the War of the Last Alliance, but it had

been broken after that. It used to belong to Isildur, and after that it belonged to

Aragorn. Before it was reforged, it was brought to Rivendell where it was repaired

by the Elves. After the Council of Elrond, it was given to Aragorn who was the

heir of Isildur. The sword was carried by Aragorn during his journey along with

the Companion of the Ring to destroy the One Ring.

b. Connotative Meaning

Connotatively, Andúril symbolized Aragorn’s claim to kingship to lead Men

to restore the broken kingdom and his family line. Andúril carried Aragorn’s wish

to bring back Men to their dignity and its history as one of the powers to beat the

Dark Lord. As the sword was reforged, Aragorn as the heir of Isildur regained his

confidence to lead Men in his command. The quotation below showed Aragaorn’s

claim to kingship:

Aragorn threw back his cloak. The elven-sheath glittered as he

grasped it, and the bright blade of Andúril real shone like a
sudden flame as he swept it out. ‘Elendil!’ He cried. 'I am
Aragorn son of Arathorn, and am called Elessar, the Elfstone,
Du´nadan, the heir of Isildur Elendil's son of Gondor. Here is the
Sword that was Broken and is forged again! Will you aid me or
thwart me? Choose swiftly! '(Page 433)

Aragorn seemed confidence as he had the new sword. The sword represnted

his hope to rebuild his kingdom. As it had been broken, Aragon’s spirit to bring
back Men to their dignity was none, but as it was already reforged he regained his

hope and confidently he claimed that he had the right to lead Men. He asked only

two to his people, aiding him or thwarting him. He also asked them to “choose

swiftly” because the urgent situations where he had to rebuild his kingdom and he

had to get aids in his journey to defeat the Dark Lord. Andúril brought his

leadership to arise at the same time with the appearance of the new sword.

c. The Impacts of the Symbol’s Connotative Meaning to Plot, Setting

and Characterization

The impact of the symbol of Andúril to the plot as it affected to the rising of

hope for the race of Men. Especially Aragorn who kept the sword in his hand, and

it brought hope for him to fix anything he thought broken before the sword was

reforged. Before the sword was reforged or before it was renamed as Andúril, the

kingdom of Men was broken into pieces. Especially, after many Mighty Men who

served the Dark Lord, the race of Men lost its dignity. However, after the sword

was reforged, the new hope was raising, as it was said by Aragorn in the quotation

below:

Very bright was that sword when it was made whole

again; the light of the sun shone redly in it, and the light of
the moon shone cold, and its edge was hard and keen. And
Aragorn gave it a new name and called it Andúril, Flame
of the West. (page 277)

Aragon renamed the old Nasril as Andúril, which meant the Flame of the

West. It was not just a mere name, it carried hope of Aragorn. The new sword was

described very bright, and the red light shone from it. The red light symbolzed the

rising hope. The edge of the sword was hard and keen, which it meant the hope
would not easily be broken again and it had the power to defeat evil. As Aragorn

named it according to what he believed and as the heir of Isildur the legend who

had injured the dark Lord, then it could be said that Andúril carried Aragorn’s

hope to bring light to the world.

Meanwhile, the impact was also found in the characterization, which

Andúril obviously affected Aragorn’s personality. As he had a new weapon and a

new hope, then it affected his personality. Aragorn became very confindent with

his leadership. It could be seen from the script below:

'I am Aragorn son of Arathorn, and am called Elessar, the

Elfstone, Du´nadan, the heir of Isildur Elendil's son of Gondor.
Here is the Sword that was Broken and is forged again! Will you
aid me or thwart me? Choose swiftly! '(Page 433)

The script above told that the confidence had grew in him, so he did not

hesitate to order another Men. The power of the sword had affected him to be

straightforward, which it did not show before.

6. Lembas

a. Denotative Meaning

Lembas, also called Elven bread or Waybread in the Common Speech, was

a special travel-food made by the Elves. It was also called as journey-bread or

life-bread. It was cookies Galadriel gave to the Fellowship members when they

left Lo'rien. Like some of the other gifts (for example, robes or ropes), it took part

of Eldar's power without being `` magical '' in a narrower sense and was only for

use by those who were Eldar's friends. So, the Orcs who robbed Frodo's

equipment wouldn't touch it, and Gollum couldn't seem to eat it. The bread was

very nutritious, stayed fresh for months when wrapped in mallorn leaves, and was
used for sustenance on long journeys. Lembas was light brown on the outside, and

the color of cream on the inside. It was made of meal that was baked thin and

crisp.

b. Connotative Meaning

Lembas could be interpreted as a faith, like religion, to the virtue and

goodness. Although the one who made it was Elves, a race that was known to

possess immortality and magical power, lembas was not had specific magical

power. Yet, it had the power to whomever ate it would gain strength. In the novel,

it was said that it could help people who were in journey to keep their strength by

consuming it little by little. However, if it was interpreted connotatively, it did not

meant just a nutritious food, but more than that it had similar function as faith.

This definition could be found in the script below:

"Eat little at a time, and only at need. For these things are
given to serve you when all else fails. The cakes will keep
sweet for many many days, if they are unbroken and left in
their leaf-wrappings, as we have brought them. One will
keep a traveler on his feet for a day of long labor, even if
he be one of the tall Men of Minas Tirith." (page 370)

The script was a statement from one Elve who described the power of

lembas. He said to eat it only at need when all things failed to serve, and it would

keep a traveler to have the sweet for many days. Lembas was given by the Elves

to the Companion of the Rings who did journey to defeat the evil of the Dark

Lord. As their journey was getting nearer to Mordor, the Dark Lord’s fortress,

they would be nearer to the source of evil. Therefore, lembas had its function to

weaken the evil. It was like prayer that could keep someone from bad intentions

or evil forces.
 c. The Impacts of the Symbol’s Connotative Meaning to Plot, Setting

and Characterization

The symbol of lembas had impact to the characterization of the novel. The

bread kept the Companion of the Ring to keep strength until Mordor. Because it

was the embodiment of faith, it had kept all members of the Companion of the

Ring to remain calm although many obstacle on the way. Two of the members felt

the good effect of the lembas. They were Pippin and Merry. There was time in the

novel, they got captured by Orcs, the Dark Lord’s and Saruman’s servants. When

they were in desperate, they ate it and found peace after it. The description could

be seen from the script below:

The cakes were broken, but good, still in their leaf-

wrappings. The hobbits each ate two or three pieces. The
taste brought back to them the memory of fair faces, and
laughter, and wholesome food in quiet days now far away.
For a while they ate thoughtfully, sitting in the dark,
heedless of the cries and sounds of battle nearby. Pippin
was the first to come back to the present. (page 457)

Both Pippin and Merry in the description above were said that they were

eating the lempas in the dark. They were in the dark because they were captured

by the Orcs, the Dark Lord’s servants. Yet, the cakes made them in piece because

the taste brought back to them the memory of fair faces and laughter. It meant

even though they were in desperate situation, they could stay calm because of

their faith. The connotative meaning of lembas affected both characters to stay

calm in the tense situation.

7. The Mirror of Galadriel

a. Denotative Meaning

The Mirror of Galadriel was a silver basin of water used in the Elven realm

of Lothlórien by Galadriel. The Mirror was used to grant the viewer things of the

past, present, and possible future. It could show images that the viewer desired to

see, or that of its own choice. In the novel, when Frodo and Sam were discussing

Elf-magic, when Galadriel appeared and took them to the Mirror. She told them

the Mirror was what hobbits (and perhaps humans) called magic, a term Elves

found confusing, because it used the same word for the deceits of the Enemy.

b. Connotative Meaning

Connotatively, the Mirror of Galadriel represented the ambigious of

knowledge. It was knowledge because of the similarity that both the mirror and

knowledge could lead someone to read the past and the present, and to predict the

future. It was ambigious because knowledge did not only serve as a good thing, it

could also serve as a bad thing if it was used for no good aims. This definition

could be seen in the script below:

‘Many things I can command the Mirror to reveal,” she

answered, “and to some I can show what they desire to
see. But the Mirror will also show things unbidden, and
those are often stranger and more profitable than things
which we wish to behold. What you will see, if you leave
the Mirror free to work, I cannot tell. For it shows things
that were, and things that are, and things that yet may be.
But which is it that he sees, even the wisest cannot always
tell. Do you wish to look?’ (page 362)

The quotation described conversation between Geladriel with Frodo and

Sam. Geladriel said that she could command the Mirror to reveal many things. It
was like knowledge, which someone could get many information through it. She

also said that the Mirror could show what people desired to see, which it meant

knowledge could be used freely as people willed. It could be used for good

purpose or bad purpose. It all depended on people’s desire, thus it became

ambigious.

c. The Impacts of the Symbol’s Connotative Meaning to Plot, Setting

and Characterization

The symbol of the Mirror of Geladriel affected characterization. Since

connotatively the Mirror meant knowledge, it affected character’s personality in

the novel to have fear and curiosity at the same time. Just like knowledge, it could

offer people with fear if they had to face with unpleasant truths. Yet, it also

triggered people’s curiosity because of the nature of human beings who often

thirsted for information. This description could found in the script below:

Do you wish to look? '

Frodo did not answer.
'And you?' She said, turning to Sam. 'For this is what your folk
would call magic, I believe; though I do not understand clearly
what they mean; and they seem to use the same word of the
deceits of the Enemy. But this, if you will, is the magic of
Galadriel. Did you not say that you wished to see Elf-magic? '
'I did,' said Sam, trembling a little between fear and curiosity.
'I'll have a peep, Lady, if you're willing. (page 362)

Geladriel offered Frodo and Sam to take a look to the Mirror. Frodo was

silence but Sam was tempted to try. Sam had both fear and curiosity for it. Since

knowledge could reveal truth, it was normal if people was worry for unpleasant

truth. Nevertheless, curiosity made people often could not reject it. It was the

same case with Sam who wanted to find some knowledge about something.