Overview
The Lord of the Rings trilogy, consisting of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, is a moral fantasy pitting good against evil in a world where Wizards are the stewards of mankind, Ents shepherd forests, Dwarves mine mountains, Elves preserve beauty, and Orcs, Trolls, and Uruk-hai serve a dark master. The three-part epic shows darkness battling light, evil struggling against good, pride fighting humility, and despair wrestling hope.
This study guide will help you discuss some of the deeper themes of the movies. What does this film say about the struggle for virtue, the temptations of power, the providence of God, and the power of story.
Discussion Guide
• Movie Summary
• Discussing the Scenes
—The Struggle for Virtue
(Romans 6:15–8:2)
—Resisting Power and Sin
(Genesis 3:5; Matthew 4:1–11; Philippians 2:1–11; Mark 1:11–12; Luke 4:1–13, 1 Timothy 6:10)
—Infinite Power in Small Packages
(Matthew 13: 32–33, Matthew 17: 20; Judges 7: 1-22.)
—Providence and Faith
(Genesis 50:20; Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 1:20; 8:28; 2 Corinthians 4:1; Philippians 2:12–13; Ephesians 1:11, Psalms 139: 9-10)
—Inspiring Stories
(Deuteronomy 6:4–9; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:11–16; Matthew 13:10–17; 2 Timothy 3:14–17; Hebrews 4:12)
• As the Credits Roll
Based On
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (New Line Cinema, 2001), The Two Towers (New Line Cinema, 2002), and The Return of the King (New Line Cinema, 2003), all directed by Peter Jackson; based on the novels by J. R. R. Tolkien (Houghton Mifflin); screenplay written by Frances Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Peter Jackson; rated PG-13 for epic battle sequences and some scary images.
This Bible study is not an endorsement of the movie by Christianity Today International. Before watching this film, please get advice and guidance from your parents or youth pastor.
Photo © Copyright New Line Cinema
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