Parallels between World of Warcraft and Lord of the Rings

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This article is about parallels between Lord of the Rings and World of Warcraft. For a list of culture references see List of pop culture references in Warcraft.

This list is incomplete and additions would be appreciated..

Contents 1 Important Characters and Groups 1.1 The Lich King 1.2 Varian Wrynn 1.3 Night Elves 2 Places 2.1 Blackrock Mountain 2.2 Angrathar the Wrathgate 2.3 Blackrock Depths 2.4 Burning Steppes & Searing Gorge 3 References

Important Characters and Groups

The Lich King

Parallel: Sauron

Reasons: For starters, the armor is similar between the two, with the Lich King's helmet having spikes on top like those on Sauron's.

For a second reason, the Lich King and his undead minions want to kill all living things not under his power, just as Sauron wants his army to take down all living things not under his power.

Where it breaks down: The similarity of Sauron's image and the Lich King is based on Peter Jackson's representation of Sauron in his movie version of Lord of the Rings.^[1] Tolkien never clearly describes Sauron as a physical being like the Lich King and usually describes him more often as a "lidless eye".^[2]

Varian Wrynn

Parallel: Aragorn

Reasons: Varian was the lost king of Stormwind, being taken captive by the Defias Brotherhood. Aragorn was also the lost king of Gondor, despite being gone for a different reason. Varian and Aragorn in turn have stewards in their place (Bolvar Fordragon and Denethor II respectively). Thirdly Varian and Aragorn both take over main control over the Alliances of the lore, and both hate orcs with all their guts. They also have elf friends, and respect other friendly races.

Where it breaks down: Technically Aragorn is heir to the northern kingdom of Arnor and Denethor II is the steward of the southern kingdom of Gondor.

Night Elves

Parallel: The Elves of Lord of the Rings

Reasons: The night elves are a clean, nature loving race that happily live in trees. The elves of LotR are the same, a magically strong race who are excellent rangers and brilliant weapon smiths and wielders. In addition, their architecture very much resembles the architecture of Rivendell from the films.

Where it breaks down: This is about where the similarity ends. Tolkien's elves are far more peaceful than the the night elves, and usually live in more splendor and opulence than the relative simplicity of the night elves. Physically, they also more closely resemble the high elves.

Places

Blackrock Mountain

Parallel: Mount Doom

Reasons: For starters they both overshadow the areas surrounding them, in LotR it is Mordor , and in WoW, Searing Gorge and Burning Steppes. They both contain giant magma chambers where certain items can only be forged e.g. In Mount Doom it would be ring whilst in BRM it would be Dark Iron.

Where it breaks down: There are no dwarves around Mount Doom.

Angrathar the Wrathgate

Parallel: Black Gate of Mordor

Reasons: In LotR the Black Gate is the only major way of getting into Mordor, and in WoW Angrathar is the only real entrance into Icecrown. They are also both of the same design, made of a black metal with spikes coming out, and a large battle outside them.

Where it breaks down: Mordor is a land of ash and flame whereas Icecrown is cold and icy. Icecrown also has the Ironwall Dam which could be considered another potential major way into Icecrown, but Mordor has no equivalent except the very dissimilar Cirith Ungol.

Blackrock Depths

Parallel Mines of Moria

Reasons: In LotR, The mines of Moria is not just a mine, but also a small underground town where dwarves live. Blackrock Depths is similar, except being bigger. A stunningly close example between the two is the room with pillars in LotR when they enter, and in WoW the Lyceum room before the final boss. The Mines also guarded by theBalrog, and BRD is guarded by many fire elementals and giants similar to Balrog.

Where it breaks down: All the Dwarves in Moria end up being killed and the mines taken over by Orcs.

Burning Steppes & Searing Gorge

Parallel: Mordor

Reasons: The two zones are very similar to Mordor, for starters Mordor, just like the two zones, is a burning hellhole overshadowed by a gigantic volcano. There is also evil orcs in both Mordor and Burning Steppes, who simply want to take things for themselves. Mordor is ruled by Sauron, whilst Burning Steppes and Searing Gorge are ruled in practice by Ragnaros, an elemental lord hellbent on destruction.

Where it breaks down: There are no dwaves in Mordor, and unlike Burning Steppes and Searing Gorge, there is no battle for power in Mordor between Fire Elementals and Black Dragons

References