C.S. Lewis in the Narnia books has Aslan as a Christ like figure, a "supposal" of what it would be like if Christ was born in an another world of Talking Animals. This is a very clear in that Aslan dies on the stone table, it is broken, he vanishes and then returns to life.
But there is perhaps a more subtle Pagan figure of Christ in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.
I am sure Tolkien must have been influenced by the strangeness of the resurrection stories.
Although not a Christ figure as such, Gandalf the Grey falls to his death stopping the Balrog from attacking the Fellowship of the Ring.
“Darkness took me, and I strayed out of thought and time”
He returns, but now clothed in white, as Gandalf the White, and when the remnant of the company see him again, in Fangorn forest, they do not recognise him for certain.
They wonder if they are seeing Saruman the White. It is only after the elve Legolas shoots an arrow in the air, and Gandalf uses his magic to set it on fire – something the old Gandalf could do – that they know for certain it is the same Gandalf, but reborn, like, yet not like, or as Gandalf says “Saruman, as he should have been”.
The Jesus / book of Revelation imagery is even more explicit
He sprang to his feet and leaped to the top of a large rock. There he stood, grown suddenly tall, towering above them. His hood and his grey rags were flung away. His white garments shone (…) His hair was white as snow in the sunshine; and gleaming white was his robe; the eyes under his deep brows were bright, piercing as the rays of the sun; power was in his hand.
That strangeness in not quite recognising a familiar face is, I am sure, something Tolkien unconsciously or consciously imbibed from the Gospel resurrection stories where some act sparks certain recognition – a word (Mary), scars (in the locked upper room) , breaking bread (on the road to Emmaus) or in one case, a miraculous catch of fish again on the sea shore. This "unveiling" is something which is very clearly portrayed when Gandalf returns.
At last Aragorn stirred. ‘Gandalf!’ he said. ‘Beyond all hope you return to us in our need! What veil was over my sight? Gandalf!’ Gimli said nothing, but sank to his knees, shading his eyes.
‘Gandalf,’ the old man repeated, as if recalling from old memory a long disused word. ‘Yes, that was the name. I was Gandalf.’ He stepped down from the rock, and picking up his grey cloak wrapped it about him: it seemed as if the sun had been shining, but now was hid in cloud again. ‘Yes, you may still call me Gandalf,’ he said, and the voice was the voice of their old friend and guide.
Gandalf is not a Christ figure in the same way as Aslan, but this mysterious quality of difference in the "resurrected" Gandalf does, I am sure, reflect something of Tolkien's Catholic Faith.
The Jesus / book of Revelation imagery is even more explicit
He sprang to his feet and leaped to the top of a large rock. There he stood, grown suddenly tall, towering above them. His hood and his grey rags were flung away. His white garments shone (…) His hair was white as snow in the sunshine; and gleaming white was his robe; the eyes under his deep brows were bright, piercing as the rays of the sun; power was in his hand.
That strangeness in not quite recognising a familiar face is, I am sure, something Tolkien unconsciously or consciously imbibed from the Gospel resurrection stories where some act sparks certain recognition – a word (Mary), scars (in the locked upper room) , breaking bread (on the road to Emmaus) or in one case, a miraculous catch of fish again on the sea shore. This "unveiling" is something which is very clearly portrayed when Gandalf returns.
At last Aragorn stirred. ‘Gandalf!’ he said. ‘Beyond all hope you return to us in our need! What veil was over my sight? Gandalf!’ Gimli said nothing, but sank to his knees, shading his eyes.
‘Gandalf,’ the old man repeated, as if recalling from old memory a long disused word. ‘Yes, that was the name. I was Gandalf.’ He stepped down from the rock, and picking up his grey cloak wrapped it about him: it seemed as if the sun had been shining, but now was hid in cloud again. ‘Yes, you may still call me Gandalf,’ he said, and the voice was the voice of their old friend and guide.
Gandalf is not a Christ figure in the same way as Aslan, but this mysterious quality of difference in the "resurrected" Gandalf does, I am sure, reflect something of Tolkien's Catholic Faith.
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