Almost Named After Sauron: The Surprising Original Title for The Fellowship of the Ring Revealed!

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English literary genius J.R.R. Tolkien penned his masterpiece, “The Lord of the Rings,” over numerous years, and his initial working titles were frequently more connected to Sauron than the ultimate title suggests. As you might know, Sauron is indeed the Lord of the Rings himself, but the novel and movie trilogy’s title hints at him subtly. However, the story encompasses much more than just this central antagonist, and the title of the book had to encapsulate that broader scope. This fascinating evolution of the novel’s title is what makes it so intriguing, and Tolkien’s changing thoughts on it are crucial to understanding its significance.

The naming of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic “The Lord of the Rings” mirrors his deep thoughts on its core themes and crucial elements. Crafting the world within “Lord of the Rings” took time, care, and numerous years, causing Tolkien to ponder each tiny detail, titles included. The process of titling and subtitling the novel with his editor suggests an evolving journey, as Tolkien adjusted and refocused on various characters – heroes, villains, victories, and setbacks. Despite initially intending to title a part of the book after Sauron, Tolkien made a wise choice for several reasons.

Tolkien Originally Wanted To Name The Fellowship Of The Ring After Sauron

The Fellowship Of The Ring Had A Few Titles Before Being Fixed

Initially, the first part of “The Lord of the Rings” novel was not titled “The Fellowship of the Ring.” Instead, it was published in three parts from 1954 to 1955. This epic work gained immense popularity through Peter Jackson’s film adaptation in the early 2000s, which helped spread its fame worldwide. On the release of the trilogy in 2001, “The Fellowship of the Ring” became synonymous with part one of the story for millions, thereby solidifying J.R.R Tolkien’s chosen title within public consciousness forever.

The movie adaptation of “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” adopted and gained popularity due to the title proposal made by Tolkien’s editor at Allen & Unwin. In his correspondence with Rayner Unwin, Tolkien pondered over various titles, suggesting “book one of LotR could be called The Shadow Grows” or “The Return of the Shadow”. This gloomy connotation reflected the intended despair of the quest. Ultimately, Tolkien’s publisher’s suggestion of “The Fellowship of the Ring”, which related to the title of the book’s final chapter, appealed to him.

Why Tolkien’s Original Choice Wasn’t The Lord Of The Rings Book’s Final Title

Tolkien Changed His Mind On The Lord Of The Rings Titles A Few Times

In their back-and-forth discussions, J.R.R. Tolkien and Rayner Unwin finally settled on the title The Fellowship of the Ring for several reasons. Notably, Tolkien highlighted in a letter to Unwin that the final chapter of the book is named “The Breaking of the Fellowship,” thereby creating a satisfying circularity with the book’s title. It was clear from the letter that Tolkien was appreciative of Unwin’s suggestion following their extended discussions, and he was essentially agreeing in this meeting, as conveyed in his written correspondence.

Tolkien found it challenging to come up with titles for each volume of his book, especially since he felt that the subtitles didn’t accurately represent the events within them and also failed to align with a unifying title. Specifically, Tolkien questioned whether emphasizing the One Ring in the overall title was closely related to the Fellowship, which was a concern for him when it came to readers who were new to the book. However, he acknowledged that his editor provided valuable suggestions in this area, as Tolkien admitted. In simpler terms, Tolkien wanted to maintain consistency and clarity for readers unfamiliar with the book.

It Makes More Sense For The Lord Of The Rings’ Titles To Focus On The Story’s Heroes

The Lord Of The Rings Volume Titles Helped Make Them Classics

In choosing “The Fellowship of the Ring” for his book, Tolkien aptly emphasized its main characters. Despite Rayner Unwin’s suggestion for the final titles of the first and last books, it was ultimately Tolkien who decided on the subtitles, thanks to their collaborative working relationship. Each member of the Fellowship in “Lord of the Rings” was significant throughout all volumes, but they were initially presented in the first book, making the title’s focus on heroes well-justified.

J.R.R. Tolkien ultimately found “The Fellowship of the Ring” suitable as a title for his work, conveying a brighter and more hopeful tone compared to his Sauron-related suggestions. Originally, he had considered titling the final book “The War of the Ring,” but instead went with his editor’s recommendation, “The Return of the King.” Choosing a title focusing on the conflict between the strongest armies in the last volume was more somber than emphasizing Aragorn’s ascension. In the end, Unwin’s choice of uplifting titles resonated well with readers, making it clear why they struck a chord.

In a fresh and straightforward rephrasing: J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpiece, “The Lord of the Rings,” employs the concept of eucatastrophe in its thrilling conclusion, a term that he himself coined. Essentially, this means that readers are led to anticipate a grim and tragic conclusion as the story unfolds, only for an unexpected salvation to occur at the last minute, resulting in a surge of joy. It may seem fitting for Tolkien to choose somber titles for his three-volume work, but the optimistic tone of “The Lord of the Rings” makes the eucatastrophe of its ending all the more impactful. This is because the story revolves around hope, which is why the uplifting twist at the end resonates so deeply with readers.

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2025-04-21 02:31