SEMIOTIC MEANING OF RING IN NOVEL THE LORD OF THE RINGS

BY J.R.R TOLKIEN

THESIS WRITING

By:

SEPTRI LOLITA AMBARITA

NIM. 16924005

COLLEGE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE

(STIBA) PERSADA BUNDA
PEKANBARU
2019
 TABLE OF CONTENT

TABLE OF CONTENT...........................................................................................i
AKNOWLEDGMENT…......................................................................................ii

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION.............................................................................1
A.
Background of the Problem...........................................................1
B.
Limitation of the Problem..............................................................3
C.
Formulation of the Problem...........................................................3
D.
Purpose of the Problem..................................................................3
E.
Significant of the Research............................................................3
1. Academic Benefit....................................................................3
2. Pratical Benefit........................................................................4
F. Definition of the Key Terms..........................................................4
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE....................................6
A. Related Theories............................................................................6
B. Related Findings ...........................................................................14
CHAPTER III METHOD OF THE RESEARCH................................................16
A. Research Design............................................................................16
B. Source Data ...................................................................................16
C. Thecnique of Collecting Data........................................................17
D. Thecnique of Analyzing Data........................................................17

BIBLIOGRAPHY....................................................................................................18
 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

First and foremost, praises and thanks to the God, the Almighty, for His showers of
blessing throughout my research work to complete the research successfully.

I would like to express my deep and sincere gratitude to all of my lecture in Persada
Bunda especially to literature’s lecture who teach me about english literature. I would also
like to say thank you for all of my friends who give me support.

I am extremely grateful to my parents for their love, prayers, caring and sacrifices for
educating and preparing for my future. Also I express my thanks to ,my sister and my
brothers for their support and valuable prayers.
 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Problem

The existence of literature becomes a part of human life since the civilization and
human culture appears in this world. Technically, anything spoken or written is literature.
And there are some kinds of types of literature as the art work. Novel is one kind of thing
that supports the existence of literature and work itself. Based on that statement, the relation
between art work and society which always has its change is very important in giving the
significance influence to the development of literature theory.

Novels is a story in prose about imiginary people long enough to cover a book. In other
word a novel is an imaginative storybook. Novel is a fictitious prose narrative of
considerable length, portraying characters, action, and scenes representative of real life in a
plot of more or less intricacy.

To convey the meaning of sign/symbol, semiotic is one of the ways that can reveal the
meaning of signs. One of the theories is called Barthe’s semiotic theory which explain
about the process of reading signs and focused on their interpretation by different cultures
or societies. The semiotic aspect based on Barthe’s semiotic theory consists denotative sign
system or a connotative sign system.
B. Limitations of the Problems

Many of aspect in Novel The Lord of The Rings “The fellowship of the rings”, but the
writers makes limitation of discussion to assure the theme of this thesis analysis, namely
background religion in novel The Lord of The Rings “The fellowship of the rings” by J.R.R
Tolkien

1) Semiotic meaning of ring towards internal conflict

2) Semiotic meaning of ring towards external conflict

C. Formulation of the Problem

After reading the novel, the reader can found that have connotative meaning of ring in the
novel The Lord of The Rings

The writer will try find out :

1) What the relation between the semiotic meaning in novel with people’s life?
2) How the reader get the connotation meaning of ring in the novel with using
Barthe’s semiotic theory?

D. Purpose of the Research

 1) The reader sees a flashback of Bilbo’s adventures during The Hobbit throughout the
first chapter, and we learn of how Bilbo came in possession of “the ring”, the cause
of all troubles as the story goes on.
2) Many morality tales can be compared to other “moral” religions, a story that is said
to be specifically “Christian-themed” must center on a Christ-type hero.

E. Significant of The Problem

1) Academic benefit, to give knowledge to students about analyzing the contents of story in
novel

2) Public benefit, to give knowledge about semiotic and the theory

F. Definition of Keyterm

1. Religion are of transcendental beliefs that have been passed on from believers to
converts, that are held by adherents to be actively meaningful and serious.

2. Symbolis is A literary device in which a writer uses one thing—usually a physical

object or phenomenon—to represent something more abstract.
 CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED THEORIES

A. Related Theories

The understanding of literary elements can be very helpful in analyzing literary work,
for example, novel, drama and poetry. The elements are theme, plot, setting, character
and characterization, and figure of speech. Any thesis topic other than in own native
literature. They may be the literature of another literature, comparative literature or any
theme, topic, genre of a foreign literature. It can be written in one’s own native
language. Analyzing a novel or short story is a little more interesting given the fact that
you have much more to work with. You may, for example, identify and explore a particular
theme (like a character’s inability to form strong bonds after experiencing a tragic
childhood) and outline how the author depicts that theme based on the point of view or
direction that the story goes.

1. Definition of Symbolism

Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities, by giving them
symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense.
Symbolism can take different forms. Generally, it is an object representing another,
to give an entirely different meaning that is much deeper and more significant.
Sometimes, however, an action, an event or a word spoken by someone may have a
symbolic value. For instance, “smile” is a symbol of friendship. Similarly, the
action of someone smiling at you may stand as a symbol of the feeling of affection
which that person has for you. Symbols do shift their meanings depending on the
 context they are used in. “A chain,” for example, may stand for “union” as well as
“imprisonment”. Thus, symbolic meaning of an object or an action is understood by
when, where, and how it is used. It also depends on who reads the work.

B. Theory approach

Semiotic

1. Definition of Semiotic
Semiotic is a study of how sign convey meaning, in the life but not all sign
work immediate, visible, or even noticeable aspect of social life. Alex Sobur
also said, “semiotik adalah ilmu yang mempelajari arti tanda”. (Semiotic is
study or method of analysis to convey the meaning of signs). There are two
kinds of semiotic that often studied in recent time. First is semiotic of
communication, in this term, the explanation is about how the sign is produced,
and this theory pays attention to five factors of communication, which are:
sender, receiver, message, media, and reference. The first term of semiotic is
more about the goals of communication. The second term is semiotic of
signification, in this second term, the understanding of signification is more
important to discuss which receiver’s cognitive process is having more
attention. The semiotic significant usually used in poems, drama, or prose. Here,
the readers have to understand by themselves about the meaning of symbol or
 sign used by author in his/her literary work. Semiotic tries to explain
combination of sign which were the essential, the characters, and form of sign,
and the process of its signification. Semiotic gives big attention to everything
that can be esteemed as a sign. One sign can be used as a signifier that has the
important meaning to substitute something else. There is nothing considered
axcept sign in semiotic, the study is about anything that has related to sign,
whether it is signifier, signified, how the sign can produce, meaning of the sign
or anything else. Semiotic is one of the ways that communication can be
delivered.
C. Synopsis

The Fellowship of the Ring is the first of three volumes in The Lord of the Rings,
an epic set in the fictional world of Middle-earth. The Lord of the Rings is an entity
named Sauron, the Dark Lord, who long ago lost the One Ring that contains much
of his power. His overriding desire is to reclaim the Ring and use it to enslave all of
Middle-earth. The story of The Lord of the Rings begins with several events that
take place in The Hobbit. While wandering lost in a deep cave, Bilbo Baggins, a
Hobbit—one of a small, kindly race about half the size of Men—stumbles upon a
ring and takes it back with him to the Shire, the part of Middle-earth that is the
Hobbits’ home. All Bilbo knows of his ring is that wearing it causes him to become
invisible. He is unaware that it is the One Ring, and is therefore oblivious to its
significance and to the fact that Sauron has been searching for it. The Fellowship of
the Ring opens with a party for Bilbo’s 111th birthday. Bilbo gives his ring to his
heir, his cousin Frodo Baggins. When the time comes to part with the ring, however,
Bilbo becomes strangely reluctant to do so. He gives up the ring only at the
determined urging of his friend, Gandalf the Grey, a great Wizard. Gandalf suspects
that the ring is indeed the One Ring of legend. After confirming his suspicions, he
tells Frodo that the Ring must be taken away from the Shire, as Sauron’s power is
growing once again. Frodo sets out from the Shire with three of his Hobbit friends
—Sam, Merry, and Pippin. Along the way, they are pursued by the nine
Ringwraiths, servants of Sauron who take the form of terrifying Black Riders. The
hobbits spend a night in the company of wandering Elves, who promise to send
word ahead to friends who will protect the hobbits. Barely out of the Shire, the
hobbits get lost in the Old Forest, where they have to be rescued from a malevolent
willow tree, which swallows up Merry and Pippin, and then from an evil tomb
ghost. The hobbits’ rescuer is Tom Bombadil, a strange, jovial entity with great
powers who is the oldest creature in Middle-earth. The hobbits make it to the town
of Bree, where they meet Aragorn, a Ranger who roams the wilderness and who is
the heir of the Kings of the ancient Men of Westernesse. Those who do not know
Aragorn’s true name call him Strider. Frodo tries to keep a low profile at the inn in
Bree, but he ends up causing a scene when while taking part in a rollicking rendition
of a song he falls, accidentally slips the Ring onto his finger, and vanishes. That
night, Aragorn advises the hobbits not to sleep in their rooms at the inn. In doing so,
he saves their lives—for the first of many times. A letter Gandalf left at the inn
months before advises the group to head for Rivendell, a realm of the Elves.
Aragorn sets out with the hobbits the next day, and with his help they avoid the
Black Riders for some time. However, at the top of the hill Weathertop, the
Company is forced to defend itself against the attacking Riders. Frodo is wounded
during the skirmish. Frodo’s wound, made by a weapon of a servant of Sauron,
plagues the hobbit as the Company makes its way eastward. Aragorn is greatly
concerned about the power the wound might exert over Frodo. Near Rivendell they
meet the Elf-lord Glorfindel, who has been out looking for them. At the last ford
before Rivendell, Frodo, riding Glorfindel’s horse, outruns the ambushing Black
Riders, who are swept away in a flood created by Elrond, the master of Rivendell.
Elrond heals Frodo and then holds a meeting to discuss what to do about the Ring.
During this Council, Frodo learns the full history of the Ring. Frodo accepts the
burden of taking the Ring to the only place it can be destroyed—the place where it
was forged. It promises to be a long, nearly impossible journey, as the Ring was
forged in the Cracks of Doom, part of the fiery mountain Orodruin in the very heart
of Sauron’s realm of Mordor. At the end of the meeting, the Council creates a group
to help Frodo in his quest. In addition to Frodo, the Fellowship of the Ring includes
Sam, Merry, Pippin, Aragorn, Gandalf, an Elf named Legolas, a Dwarf named
Gimli, and a Man from the south named Boromir. The Fellowship heads south and
attempts to pass over the Misty Mountains via the pass of Caradhras. Their way is
blocked by snow and rock slides, and they are forced to divert their path through the
Mines of Moria—the ancient, underground realm of the Dwarves. During the
journey through Moria, Gandalf falls into the chasm of Khazad-dûm while
protecting the Company from a Balrog, a terrible demon. The rest of the party
continues on to Lórien, the forest of the Galadrim Elves, where the Lady Galadriel
tests their hearts and gives them gifts to help them on the quest. Frodo, spellbound
by Galadriel’s power and wisdom, offers her the Ring. She refuses, however, saying
that, despite her intentions, the Ring would corrupt her; ultimately, she would only
replace Sauron. Leaving Lórien, the Fellowship travels by boat down the Great
River, Anduin. At night, they spot Gollum—a deformed creature that had once
owned the Ring but then lost it to Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit—following them.
When they reach the Falls of Rauros, the Fellowship must decide whether to head
toward Mordor on the east or toward the safety of the city of Minas Tirith to the
west. Boromir, overcome by the Ring’s power and desiring the Ring for himself,
confronts Frodo. Frodo fends off Boromir and decides that he must go on to Mordor
rather than to the safety of Minas Tirith. However, Frodo cannot bear the thought of
imperiling his friends on the dangerous journey or allowing the Ring to corrupt
them, so he attempts to leave secretly and continue the quest alone. Frodo does not,
however, manage to elude Sam, so the two of them set out together for Mordor.
 CHAPTER III
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

A. Research Design

Symbolism can be tricky because, sometimes, as the saying goes: "A cigar is just a
cigar." Other time, a journey represents something beyond the trip itself. For
example, Huck Finn's trip was more about his development as a person than his trip
down the river.

B. Source of Data

Since JRR Tolkien published his mighty head-trip epic in the 1950s, its influence
has got everywhere in popular culture: in games, the fantasy genre, and for a while
of course in music. Peter Jackson's reverent screen version of Tolkien's first volume,
The Fellowship of the Ring resembles from certain angles nothing so much as a
178-minute electric mandolin solo.

It is the master's own delirious Wagnerian-Arthurian marathon, beginning here with

the winsome young hobbit Frodo Baggins protecting the ring from the dark Lord of
Mordor (pronounced with a preposterous Olde Welshe type rolling "r"), which has
become the imitated classic. But only now, after nearly 50 years, has the first
substantial movie version arrived, made possible by advances in CGI and a new
taste, arguably, for politically inflected escapism and good-versus-evil battle
fantasy.
C. Technic of Collecting Data

The techniques in collecting data that the writer use are reading, comprehending the
novel “The Lord of The Ring” and try to analyze the novel, in the end the writer
will find of semiotic meaning of "ring” in novel.

D. Technic of Analyzing

For this research, first the writer classifies the relation of sign to representament, to
object and to interpretant based on the novels, and find out the interpretation of the
signs by using Barthes’s semiotic theory. Then, the classified data will be analyzed
through descriptive analyzed technique.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Anoymous, Oxford Learner’s Pocket Dictionary, Oxford, Oxford University Press,

1995.

Ismawarni, “A Semiotic Analysis on Short Message Service”, Thesis, (Jakarta: The

Library of State Islamic University of Jakarta, 2006)

Tolkien, J.R.R. The Fellowship of the Ring, New York: Houghton Mifflin
Company, 1988.