The Lord of the Rings is an epic high fantasy novel written by philologist and Oxford University professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit (1937), but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in stages between 1937 and 1949, much of it during World War II. Although generally known to readers as a trilogy, the work was initially intended by Tolkien to be one volume of a two-volume set along with The Silmarillion ; however, the publisher decided to omit the second volume and instead published The Lord of the Rings in 1954-55 as three books rather than one, for economic reasons. It has since been reprinted numerous times and translated into many languages, becoming one of the most popular and influential works in 20th-century literature.
The title of the book refers to the story's main antagonist, the Dark Lord Sauron, who had in an earlier age created the One Ring to rule the other Rings of Power, as the ultimate weapon in his campaign to conquer and rule all of Middle-earth. From quiet beginnings in the Shire, a hobbit land not unlike the English countryside, the story ranges across Middle-earth following the course of the War of the Ring through the eyes of its characters, most notably the hobbits, Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee (Sam), Meriadoc Brandybuck (Merry) and Peregrin Took (Pippin).
Along with some of Tolkien's other works, The Lord of the Rings has been subjected to extensive analysis of its themes and origins. Although a major work in itself, the story was only the last movement of a larger work Tolkien had worked on since 1917, in a process he described as mythopoeia . Influences on this earlier work, and on the story of The Lord of the Rings , include philology, mythology, religion and the author's distaste for the effects of industrialization, as well as earlier fantasy works and Tolkien's experiences in World War I. The Lord of the Rings in its turn is considered to have had a great effect on modern fantasy; the impact of Tolkien's works is such that the use of the words "Tolkienian" and "Tolkienesque" has been recorded in the Oxford English Dictionary .
The enduring popularity of The Lord of the Rings has led to numerous references in popular culture, the founding of many societies by fans of Tolkien's works, and the publication of many books about Tolkien and his works. The Lord of the Rings has inspired, and continues to inspire, artwork, music, films and television, video games, and subsequent literature. Award-winning adaptations of The Lord of the Rings have been made for radio, theatre, and film.
Synopsis
The story takes place in the context of historical events in Middle-earth. In those histories, prior to the start of the novel and not known to the main characters, the Dark Lord Sauron forges the Ruling Ring in Mount Doom in his land of Mordor. After defeating Sauron in battle, the man Isildur cuts off Sauron's ring and claims it for himself. Isildur is later killed by Orcs, and the Ring is lost in the river Anduin. Over two thousand years later, the Hobbit Déagol finds the ring while fishing with his cousin Sméagol (usually called Gollum). Gollum then kills Déagol for the Ring and keeps it for nearly five hundred years before losing it, whereupon Bilbo Baggins finds it. Meanwhile Sauron, who is not really dead, reoccupies Mordor. Gollum sets out in search of the Ring, but is captured near Mordor and interrogated by Sauron, who learns of its finding by Bilbo. Gollum is set loose to continue hunting but is caught by Aragorn, Isildur's heir, and imprisoned by the Elves in Mirkwood. Meanwhile, Sauron sends forth his fearsome servants, the Ringwraiths, to seize the Ring which Sauron needs to regain his full power.
The novel begins in the Shire, as Frodo Baggins inherits the Ring from Bilbo; both are unaware of its origins. Gandalf the Grey, a wizard, learns of the Ring's history and advises Frodo to take the Ring away from the Shire. Frodo leaves, taking his gardener and friend, Samwise ("Sam") Gamgee, and two cousins, Meriadoc ("Merry") Brandybuck and Peregrin ("Pippin") Took, to help him. They encounter the Ringwraiths whilst still in the Shire, but shake off the pursuit by cutting through the Old Forest, where they are aided by the enigmatic and powerful character Tom Bombadil. After passing the Barrow-downs with Tom's help, they stop for a night in the town of Bree. There they meet Aragorn who calls himself "Strider" and joins them as guide and protector. They leave Bree after narrowly escaping an attack by the Ringwraiths. On the journey to Rivendell, Frodo is wounded on Weathertop by the Ringwraiths, who continue in close pursuit. At the Ford of Bruinen, Frodo and the others are rescued, as flood waters controlled by Elrond, master of Rivendell, rise up and overwhelm the Ringwraiths, sweeping them away.
Frodo recovers under the care of Elrond. The Council of Elrond reveals much significant history about Sauron and the Ring, as well as the news that Gollum has escaped from Mirkwood and Sauron has corrupted the wizard Saruman. The Council decides that the threat of Sauron is too great and that the best course of action is to destroy the Ring. This can be done only by returning it to the Cracks of Doom in Mordor, where it was forged. Frodo volunteers to take the Ring, and a "Fellowship of the Ring" is chosen to accompany him. The Fellowship is composed of nine members, to set out against the nine Ringwraiths. Along with Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin go Aragorn, Gandalf, Gimli the Dwarf, Legolas the Elf-prince of the woodland realm of Mirkwood, and the man Boromir, son of the Steward Denethor from the realm of Gondor.
The company is forced to travel through the Mines of Moria, where they are attacked by Orcs. Gandalf fights a Balrog and he and the creature fall into a deep chasm, allowing the others to escape. The remaining members of the Fellowship, now led by Aragorn, take refuge in the Elven forest of Lothlórien where they meet the Lady Galadriel who discusses the Quest with Frodo. With boats and gifts from Galadriel, the company then travel down the great River Anduin to the hill of Amon Hen. There Boromir succumbs to the lure of the Ring and attempts to take it from Frodo, who breaks from the Fellowship and continues the trek to Mordor accompanied only by Sam.
Orcs sent by Sauron and his ally Saruman attack, killing Boromir and kidnapping Merry and Pippin. Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas pursue the Orcs into the kingdom of Rohan. Merry and Pippin escape when the Orcs are slain by the Rohirrim and find themselves in Fangorn forest where they befriend the tree-like Ents, led by Treebeard. In Fangorn forest, Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas encounter Gandalf, who has been resurrected after his battle with the Balrog and is now the significantly more powerful "Gandalf the White". Gandalf travels with them to rouse Théoden, King of Rohan, and the Rohirrim to take a stand against Saruman's armies. Théoden initially decides to fight Saruman's forces at the fords of the river Isen, but upon hearing that those who defended that area have retreated to the fortress of Helm's Deep, he decides to make his stand there. Gandalf rides off to gather more soldiers while Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli travel with Théoden and his nephew Éomer. After a night of siege at Helm's Deep, Gandalf arrives with the Lord Erkenbrand and reinforcements. Then the Rohirrim mount a final charge and drive the Orcs into a forest of Huorns raised by the Ents, where they are never seen again.
Meanwhile, the Ents destroy Saruman's remaining forces in Isengard. Gandalf, Théoden and the others arrive at Isengard to confront Saruman. Saruman refuses to see the error of his ways, however, and Gandalf strips him of his rank and most of his powers, and the Ents imprison him within his tower at Orthanc. Merry and Pippin rejoin the others and Pippin looks into a palantír , a seeing-stone that Sauron had used to communicate with Saruman, unknowingly leading Sauron to think that Saruman has captured the Ring-bearer. Gandalf takes Pippin to Gondor to remove him from the temptation of the palantír .
Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam capture Gollum, who has been following them since their journey through Moria, and force him to guide them to Mordor. They travel a long and hard road, briefly hindered and then aided by Boromir's brother, Faramir. Gollum betrays Frodo by leading him to the great spider Shelob in the tunnels of Cirith Ungol. Frodo is left unconscious by Shelob's bite, but Sam fights her off using Frodo's sword Sting and the vial of light from Ëarendil's star — one of the Lady Galadriel's gifts. Sam, believing Frodo dead, takes the Ring, and Frodo is carried to the tower of Cirith Ungol by Orcs.
Sauron begins his military assault upon Gondor, with the Witch-king of Angmar, greatest of the nine Ringwraiths, commanding Sauron's armies in the battle. Gandalf arrives at the City of Minas Tirith in Gondor with Pippin, to alert the Steward of the impending attack. Pippin becomes one of the Guards of the Citadel of Minas Tirith, while Merry, who has remained in Rohan, becomes esquire to its King. While returning to Rohan from Isengard Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli meet up with the Dúnedain and the sons of Elrond. Together they take the Paths of the Dead where Aragorn raises an undead army of oath-breakers. These help him to defeat the armies of the Corsairs of Umbar in southern Gondor, enabling the region's forces to sail to the aid of Minas Tirith in its Siege.
Denethor, Ruling Steward of Gondor, believing both his sons are dead and under the influence of Sauron through another
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