5 Things About Lord Of The Rings Canon You Probably Misinterpret

The beloved Lord of the Rings story has earned a solid fan base with its rich mythology and intricate world-building.

However, due to the complex lore created by J.R.R. Tolkien and the changes made in the film adaptations, there are certain canonical details within the Middle-earth universe that even true fans often misunderstand.

Here we will illuminate the most common misconceptions about canonical events and set the record straight.

Middle-Earth Is Only A Part Of A Larger Continent

The term Middle-earth, as the primary setting for Frodo's adventures, often comes to mind when people think of The Lord of the Rings. However, it's important to note that Middle-earth is only one continent within the larger world of Arda.

There are four continents in Arda: Middle-earth, Aman (the Land of the Blessed), the Land of the Sun, and the Land of the Dark.

Sauron Didn't Give the Elves the Three Elven Rings

In Tolkien's books, the Three Elven Rings were not created by Sauron, nor were they part of his plan as explained in the movies. They were made by the Elven smiths in secret, without Sauron's awareness, for the preservation of the beauty and strength of the Elven realms.

These rings were not under Sauron's control and were meant to resist his influence. However, because of Sauron's forging of the One Ring and its connection to the other Rings of Power, the Three Rings were still susceptible to his influence.

Sauron Has Multiple Forms

Unlike the films, where the symbol of Sauron's power is depicted as the giant eye atop Barad-dûr in Mordor, the portrayal of Sauron in the books allows for a more nuanced understanding of his presence and interactions within the story.

In the books, characters such as Aragorn have direct encounters with Sauron through the Palantir, a seeing-stone. Gollum describes Sauron as a figure with a missing finger after being captured and tortured by him. Sauron is thus a very real figure of many guises.

Not All Elves Have Pointed Ears

Pointed ears are strongly associated with Elves, but the ears of the Middle-earth Elves were never specifically described in the books. While the Elves were portrayed as beautiful and graceful, there is no mention of pointed ears in Tolkien's writings.

It is possible that the broader mythology and folklore surrounding these magical beings led to the assumption of pointed ears for Elves.

Elrond Always Supported Aragorn & Arwen's Relationship

In the Lord of the Rings films, a significant point of contention in the relationship between Aragorn and Elrond is portrayed as Elrond's opposition to their union. In Tolkien's books, however, there is a history of marriages between Elf women and Human men in Middle-earth.

Elrond's attitude in the books is not one of outright opposition, but rather a request that Aragorn and Arwen delay their marriage until Aragorn fulfills his destiny and becomes the rightful king. That's why in the books Elrond, as the ruler of the Elves, ultimately supports his daughter's union with a human and gives his blessing to their marriage.