Lord of the Rings - English Icon

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Brilliant verse, Bethberry!

I think I should propose that Tolkien himself be considered the icon, like Shakespeare or Gillbert and Sullivan.

But perhaps the definition will help me out here.

i·con


1. a. An image; a representation.

b. A representation or picture of a sacred or sanctified Christian personage,
traditionally used and venerated in the Eastern Church.

2. An important and enduring symbol:

3. One who is the object of great attention and devotion; an idol.

4. A picture on a screen that represents a specific file, directory, window, option,
or program.

Ah well! I can see that I am stuck on definition 2 and I think we are aiming more at 1a.

Thinlómien, I am assuming that you are refering to afternoon tea?

I hope that I'm not coming across as wanting to deny LotR as an English icon, just having a brain that is stuck in definition 2 of the word icon, I don't see it as an immediately recognizable symbol though it may well be symbolic of the culture from which it sprang.