Divination in The Lord of the Rings

Divination, the attempt to foretell future events, appears in J. R. R. Tolkien's epic fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings mainly in the form of the use of a Palantír or of the Mirror of Galadriel. In the novel, Tolkien appears skeptical of the value of divination, seeing the process as dangerous and likely to lead to mistaken actions. The Dark Lord Sauron and Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, are both deceived through the Palantír. Galadriel is circumspect about the use of her Mirror, warning the Hobbits Frodo and Sam that while it can be useful, it is a dangerous guide to action. This is in sharp contrast to Macbeth's actions in Shakespeare's play, where the witches that he consults tell the truth, and what they predict comes about, but not in the form that Macbeth had imagined, with disastrous results.

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