Magic ring is an article of jewlery that appears frequently in fantasy and fairytale. Jewellery (spelled jewelry in American English) consists of ornamental devices worn by persons, typically made with gems and precious metals. ...

Types of Magic Rings

Generally, only two types of magical rings are known from fiction: arm bands and finger rings.

Magical rings can become magical in their stories for a variety of reasons, or the storyteller can give no reason at all. Different rings can do different magical things: depending on the purposes of the story teller a magical ring can either have a limited or general function.

Some rings are ordinary rings that have become magical because they have been enchanted by a magician or touched by a god. Other rings are magical because of the material they are made of; often a ring is a mere carrier for a jewel, which itself is the source of the magic. Other rings are magical because they are inhabited by a spirit. The English word spirit comes from the Latin spiritus, meaning breath. ...

Function in the Story

Like other magical objects in stories, magic rings serve to excuse some impossible event, which the story teller wishes to place in the plot. Normally magic rings either are used as a way to begin a plot or to end it. // Plot in literature, theater, movies According to Aristotles Poetics, a plot in literature is the arrangement of incidents that (ideally) each follow plausibly from the other. ...

In modern fantasy, roughly half the time a magic ring occurs it is used by the author as a means for the ordinary protagonist to enter the fairytale world. Roughly the other half of modern fiction, magic rings are used as a "deus ex machina," or a plot-cheat, for the author to solve an apparently impossible complication in the plot and end the story. Fantasy is a genre of art, literature, film, television, and music that uses magic and other supernatural forms as a primary element of either plot, theme, setting, or all three. ... The protagonist is the central figure of a story, and is often referred to as a storys main character. ... A fairy tale is a story, either told to children or as if told to children, concerning the adventures of mythical characters such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, giants, and others. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... // Plot in literature, theater, movies According to Aristotles Poetics, a plot in literature is the arrangement of incidents that (ideally) each follow plausibly from the other. ...

A more recommendable example of use of a magic ring in fiction is in the Volsunga Saga, where the magic ring that eventually rests on Sigurd's arm is not actually used to do anything, and it's possible use is never explained. The ring's function in the plot is only to the focus of most story's characters' desire, and their greed for the ring moves the plot along. The Ramsund carving in Sweden depicts 1) how Sigurd is sitting naked in front of the fire preparing the dragon heart, from Fafnir, for his foster-father Regin, who is Fafnirs brother. ... In Norse mythology, Sigurd (also Siegfried) was a legendary hero, as well as the central character in the Volsunga saga, Nibelungenlied and Richard Wagners opera, Siegfried, which see for more details. ...

Magic Rings in Mythology and Folklore

The earliest known magical ring in fiction or myth is very likely the arm band named Draupnir. It belonged to the Norse god Odin. It seems to have been a religious symbol which represented increasing wealth. Draupnir is a golden arm ring possessed by Odin, the ruling god of Norse mythology. ... Norse gods Divided between the Æsir and the Vanir, and sometimes including Jotun, the dividing line between these groups is less than clear. ... This article needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ... Religious symbolism is the term used to describe the use of symbols (archetypes, acts, artwork, events, or natural phenomenae) by a religion for various purposes. ...

A ring similar to Odin's ring, which also comes from Norse mythology, was another arm band; this one called Andvarinaut. The ring Andvarinaut is the Ring of the Niebelungens from The Volsunga Saga and The Niebelungenlied, which eventually becomes the property of the hero Siegfried or Sigurd. This article needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ... Norse or Scandinavian mythology refers to the pre-Christian religion, beliefs and legends of the Scandinavian people, including those who settled on Iceland, where the written sources for Norse mythology were assembled. ... In Norse mythology, Andvarinaut was a magical ring, first owned by Andvari. ... In Norse mythology, Andvarinaut was a magical ring, first owned by Andvari. ... First page from Manuscript C of the Nibelungenlied (ca. ... The Ramsund carving in Sweden depicts 1) how Sigurd is sitting naked in front of the fire preparing the dragon heart, from Fafnir, for his foster-father Regin, who is Fafnirs brother. ... The Nibelungenlied is an epic poem in Middle High German that takes Burgundian kings as its subject matter. ... In Norse mythology, Sigurd (also Siegfried) was a legendary hero, as well as the central character in the Volsunga saga, Nibelungenlied and Richard Wagners opera, Siegfried, which see for more details. ...

Medieval storytellers report that the wizard Merlin was the victim of a magical finger ring given to him by the young enchantress named Nimue, which caused him to fall in love with and submit to her. The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ... Merlin Ambrosius (Welsh: Myrddin Emrys; also known as Myrddin Wyllt (Merlin the wild), Merlin Caledonensis (Scottish Merlin), Merlinus, and Merlyn) is the personage best known as the mighty wizard featured in accounts of Arthur of Britain starting with Geoffrey of Monmouths Historia Regum Britanniae. ... In Arthurian legend, The Lady of the Lake gave King Arthur the sword known as Excalibur. ...

Other than these, magical rings are unknown in any other western or middle eastern mythology, but they occur frequently in modern fantasy and fairytales. ...

Magic Rings in Fairytales and Modern Fantasy

The following is a partial list of modern fairytales and fantasy novels in which a magic ring is a central or essentail plot element. (Note that magic rings occur in a myriad of fantasy stories as incidental objects or background items; those are not listed here.)

• The oldest "modern" fairy tale to use a magic ring is the story of Aladdin: not only is there a djinn in the magic lamp, there is also a less powerful djinn residing in a finger ring handed to Aladdin by the magician pretending to be Aladdin's uncle. The story teller uses the djinn in the ring as a helper for Aladdin to recover the magic lamp after it is stolen from him.

• The composer Richard Wagner wrote a series of three operas titled Der Ring des Nibelungen which present his version of the story in The Nibelungenlied and The Volsunga Saga. They are more often called The Wagner Ring Cycle in English.

• Four magical finger rings are present, although concealed, in J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy series Lord of the Rings, which borrows from from Germanic and Norse mythology for themes, creatures, and names.

• Author Andre Norton wrote several fantasy novels in which magic, and occasionally magic rings, play a part. One of her science fiction novels The Zero Stone has a magic ring that is central to the plot.

• Author H. Warner Munn wrote an award winning fantasy novel titled Merlin's Ring.

• Author Stephen R. Donaldson wrote a long series of fantasy novels about a magic ring owned by a fictional Thomas Covenant.

Aladdin in the Magic Garden, an illustration by Max Liebert from Ludwig Fuldas Aladdin und die Wunderlampe Aladdin (a corruption of the Arabic name Alauddin/ʿAlāʾu d-Dīn, Arabic: علاء الدين, Chinese: 阿拉丁) is one of the tales from 1001 Nights and one of the most famous in Western culture. ... Genie is the anglicized word for the Arabic jinni. In Semitic mythology and Islamic religion, a jinni (also djinni or djini) is a member of the jinn (or djinn), a race of spirits. ... Genie is the anglicized word for the Arabic jinni. In Semitic mythology and Islamic religion, a jinni (also djinni or djini) is a member of the jinn (or djinn), a race of spirits. ... Aladdin in the Magic Garden, an illustration by Max Liebert from Ludwig Fuldas Aladdin und die Wunderlampe Aladdin (a corruption of the Arabic name Alauddin/ʿAlāʾu d-Dīn, Arabic: علاء الدين, Chinese: 阿拉丁) is one of the tales from 1001 Nights and one of the most famous in Western culture. ... Aladdin in the Magic Garden, an illustration by Max Liebert from Ludwig Fuldas Aladdin und die Wunderlampe Aladdin (a corruption of the Arabic name Alauddin/ʿAlāʾu d-Dīn, Arabic: علاء الدين, Chinese: 阿拉丁) is one of the tales from 1001 Nights and one of the most famous in Western culture. ... Genie is the anglicized word for the Arabic jinni. In Semitic mythology and Islamic religion, a jinni (also djinni or djini) is a member of the jinn (or djinn), a race of spirits. ... Aladdin in the Magic Garden, an illustration by Max Liebert from Ludwig Fuldas Aladdin und die Wunderlampe Aladdin (a corruption of the Arabic name Alauddin/ʿAlāʾu d-Dīn, Arabic: علاء الدين, Chinese: 阿拉丁) is one of the tales from 1001 Nights and one of the most famous in Western culture. ... Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813 in Leipzig – February 13, 1883 in Venice) was an influential German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his groundbreaking symphonic-operas (or music dramas). His compositions are notable for their continuous contrapuntal texture, rich harmonies and orchestration, and elaborate... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Valkyrie Warrior Maiden by artist Arthur Rackham (1912) Der Ring des Nibelungen translated commonly into English as The Ring of the Nibelung or The Nibelungs Ring, is a series of four epic operas. ... First page from Manuscript C of the Nibelungenlied (ca. ... The Ramsund carving in Sweden depicts 1) how Sigurd is sitting naked in front of the fire preparing the dragon heart, from Fafnir, for his foster-father Regin, who is Fafnirs brother. ... Valkyrie Warrior Maiden by artist Arthur Rackham (1912) Der Ring des Nibelungen translated commonly into English as The Ring of the Nibelung or The Nibelungs Ring, is a series of four epic operas. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... J. R. R. Tolkien in 1972, in his study at Merton Street (from by H. Carpenter) John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (January 3, 1892 – September 2, 1973) is best known as the author of The Hobbit and its sequel The Lord of the Rings. ... Dust jacket of the 1968 UK edition The Lord of the Rings is an epic fantasy story by J. R. R. Tolkien, a sequel to his earlier work, The Hobbit. ... Norse or Scandinavian mythology refers to the pre-Christian religion, beliefs and legends of the Scandinavian people, including those who settled on Iceland, where the written sources for Norse mythology were assembled. ... Science fiction and fantasy author Andre Alice Norton (February 17, 1912 – March 17, 2005) was born Alice Mary Norton in Cleveland, Ohio. ... Harold Warner Munn (November 5, 1903-January 1981) was an American writer of fantasy, horror and poetry. ... Stephen Reeder Donaldson (born May 13, 1947) is an American fantasy and science fiction novelist. ... The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever is a fantasy epic by Stephen R. Donaldson. ...

See Also

• Andvarinaut
• Der Ring des Nibelungen
• Draupnir
• magic (paranormal)
• magical object
• Nibelungenlied
• Volsunga Saga