Hope and Hopelessness

[Lostgaeriel]

As Thenamir noted -

Theoden is a good example. Until Gandalf came along he was weak and ineffective because Wormtongue had sowed the seeds of hopelessness and despair for so long. Once Gandalf came along (wearing Narya, the ring of fire, given to him by Cirdan that he might rekindle hope in the hearts of Middle Earth) Theoden regains hope and is transformed into the warrior king he was meant to be.

Tolkien uses the word 'hope' in the Burial Song of Theoden:

Out of doubt, out of dark, to the day's rising
he rode singing in the sun, sword unsheathing.
Hope he rekindled, and in hope ended;
over death, over dread, over doom lifed
out of loss, out of life, unto long glory.

Not only is Theoden transformed into the warrior king, but his new-found hope rekindles hope in the Rohirrim. The attitudes and moods of our leaders influence the actions of our societies.