Lord of the Rings - English Icon

[Lalwendë]

I don't think they are defining 'icon' so rigidly. They are looking for things which simply resonate with English identity. If cultural items such as Alice in Wonderland, Pride and Prejudice and the King James Bible have already been included, then why not Lord of the Rings?

Some of my strongest English Icons would be pieces of music, e.g. The Lark Ascending, Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, Jerusalem and Jupiter from the Planet Suite. None of these could be said to be 'visual' in any way, but when I hear them I immediately think of England. One of these was not composed by an Englishman, but nevertheless it is thoroughly English. Likewise LOTR may resonate with people from other countries in their own way, and they may not see it as specifically English, but I see the whole work, not just the Hobbits and The Shire, as English.