31 Lord of the Rings Memes That Were Forged in the Fires of Mount Doom

Just imagine for a second that you're J.R.R. Tolkien's publisher. The guy walks into your office one day with The Hobbit—a delightful, 304-page children's book about a small, fuzzy-footed creature who goes on a whimsical adventure, fights a dragon, and learns some life lessons along the way. It's a hit! Kids love it, parents love it, bookstores can't keep it on the shelves. Naturally, you ask him to write another one—something light, fun, and easy to sell.

Seventeen years later, Tolkien comes back, drops a 1147-page trilogy on your desk, and says, "Here you go." You flip through it—large-scale battles, corrupt dynasties, cursed rings, tragic heroes, and a desperate journey where the main character slowly loses all hope and happiness. Uh… what? You were thinking maybe Bilbo fights another goblin or something, and instead, you get the most intricate fantasy epic ever written.

And that's how we got The Lord of the Rings, the greatest accidental sequel of all time. Whether you're a die-hard Tolkien fan or just in it for the memes, these 31 Lord of the Rings memes perfectly capture the absurdity, brilliance, and lasting legacy of Middle-earth.