By using biblical allusions the author/writer is able to make metaphors and allusions to something that everyone knows about practically. Even though the bible isn't prominent to all religions, the people who follow these religions are still knowledgeable/aware of some of the basic ideas/events that take place in the bible, which allows them to understand the things that the author is alluding to without actually belonging to the religion that follow it. Just like Foster says in chapter 6: "a biblical scholar? Well, I'm not. But even I can sometimes recognize a biblical allusion." After that, Foster talks about using a "resonance test" to see whether the statement is alluding to. However, I guarantee you that most people are too lazy or just don't care enough to actually look for things like that and just assume or guess what the reference is from instead of actually looking for it.
Christian symbolism can be obvious and exacting or abstract and formative. I think one of the greatest examples of "in your face" Christian symbolism has to be that of " The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe". The book tells the story of how a group of siblings stumble into a magically conflict between good and evil through a wardrobe. The good being Aslan, and the evil being the White Witch. It is clear from the from the mention of Aslan that he represents a Christ-like figure. He comes after a long time of suffering and sadness to set things right, like a Messiah. He is portrayed as a lion which in its essence is Christ-like because one of Christ's titles is "The Lion of Judah". The most obvious Christ-comparison is truly the sacrifice. Aslan has to be sacrificed in order to save Edmund, black sheep of the family, who has betrayed his family for personal gain. Aslan is taken, shaved, chained,spit on, beat and finally slain however, unbeknownst to the White Witch, he is resurrected due to an important clause in the Deep Magic of Narnia. This is completely the story Jesus Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. He sacrificed himself to save a people that betrayed God.
Harry’s birth was prophesied, and he grew up with everyone expecting him to defeat Voldemort (the devil). He faced many trials that are reminiscent of Christ's suffering: loneliness, mockery, scorn, temptation, physical pain, and a mission to rid the world of evil. In the end, he faced Voldemort, was killed, was miraculously resurrected, and then destroyed Voldemort. This is just like the story of Christ: his birth was prophesied, he grew up with expectations, he was tempted, mocked, beaten, suffered, killed, and resurrected.
Making Harry a Christ figure adds a whole new depth to the story. Rowling drawing on Christianity and giving us the clues to see that the story is paralleling the Bible forces us to realize how significant of a character Harry is. It also foreshadows Harry's role in the story later. If we recognize clues early on in the story that he is a Christ figure, we might be able to predict how the story will end: with him defeating Voldemort and ridding the world of that evil.
Frodo Baggins is a Christ figure as well. He suffered and was in agony for the whole harrowing journey to Mt. Doom. He was tempted several times in the wilderness (like Christ): Boromir tempted him to give him the ring, Lady Galadriel tempted him, and lastly, he was tempted by the ring and by Lord Sauron the closer he got to Mordor. In the end though, the ring, and thus Lord Sauron, is destroyed, and the evil that had plagued Middle Earth was redeemed.
Other Christ figures in LOTR include Gandalf (as a teacher leading his disciples who then died fighting the Balrog [the devil] and then was resurrected as Gandalf the White) and Aragorn (who in the end, is the “returning King” who redeems Gondor and leads them into the next age.
