B
Information about symbols used in The Lord of the Rings starting with the letter B.
Bell
Bells are seen commonly not only in the story, but everywhere in our lives. A bell symbolises peace and freedom, which is why they are commonly rung at churches, and other such places or events celebrating victory and the like. Bells also help us keep time, and recently, one man has said he has not been afflicted with a single illness since he began ringing his bell.
The symbolism of bells throughout Tolkien's story is quite obvious at the end, when Sauron is defeated and Aragorn becomes king.
Butterfly
In Japan, butterflies are seen as the personification of a person's soul, living, dying, or dead. For example, a butterfly entering your guest room and perching behind the bamboo screen means your loved one is coming to see you. Large numbers of butterflies are seen as bad omens, however. While Taira no Masakado was preparing his revolt, a massive swarm of butterflies in Kyoto frightened people, believing it to be an apparation of coming evil.
The Russian word for butterflies means "little soul". In Greek, it means "soul". Some of the Naga people of Manipur trace their ancestry from a butterfly.
In China, two butterflies flying together symbolises a loving couple. A Chinese version of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" is titled "Butterfly Lovers".
In other myths, a butterfly symbolizes rebirth after being inside a cocoon.
Butterflies are commonly used around Arwen for her symbol. I find this to be quite fitting. She loves Aragorn, tracing back to the Chinese myth. The fact that she is almost exactly like Lúthien Tinúviel, her ancestor, also works in with the rebirth symbolism.
