The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Lesson Plan

What is the significance of oaths and oath-taking in The Lord of the Rings?

In The Lord of the Rings, vows and promises are a part of what binds the story's various protagonists together. We see this not only in the vows tying Merry and Pippin to Théoden and Denethor, but in the brief alliance between Aragorn and the members of the Army of the Dead, as well. Indeed, the power of the latter's oaths is such that they are susceptible to be cursed by Isildur just for betraying them. The interaction between Aragorn and the Oathbreakers is one of the most powerful examples of the sacred significance of promises in Tolkien's created world.

Consider what Legolas says to...