The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings is an epic high fantasy novel written by the English philologist 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.[1] Although intended as a single-volume work, it was originally published in three volumes in 1954 and 1955, due to post-war paper shortages, and it is in this three-volume form that it is popularly known. It has since been reprinted numerous times and translated into many different languages,[2] 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 that rules 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). The lands of Middle-earth are populated by Men (humans) and other humanoid races (Hobbits, Elves, Dwarves, and Orcs), as well as many other creatures, both real and fantastic (Ents, Wargs, Balrogs, Trolls, etc.).
Along with 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, that he described as a mythopoeia.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5]
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,[6] 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. Adaptations of The Lord of the Rings have been made for radio, theatre, and film.
Synopsis
The Lord of the Rings
Volume I · Volume II · Volume III
The story of the The Lord of the Rings was originally published in three volumes, entitled The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King.

[edit] The Fellowship of the Ring
Main article: The Fellowship of the Ring
The Dark Lord Sauron, forges the "Ruling Ring of Power" in Mordor. In battle it is cut off by Isildur who claims it, but is later killed by Orcs and the Ring falls into the Great River. Gollum murderously obtains The Ring while fishing, and keeps it for a very long time before losing it, when it is found by Bilbo Baggins. Unaware of its origins, Frodo Baggins inherits the ring from Bilbo. Gollum eventually wanders into Mordor while looking for the Ring and is captured and interrogated by Sauron's minions who sends the Ringwraiths to find it.
Gandalf learns some of this history and advises Frodo to take the Ring away. Frodo takes his loyal gardener Samwise "Sam" Gamgee, and two cousins Merry and Pippin to help him. On their dangerous journey, they run into many difficulties and are pursued by the Ringwraiths. Various characters give aid along the way, including guidance from a disguised Aragorn, Isildur's heir and rightful king of Gondor. At Weathertop, Frodo is wounded by the Ringwraiths but eventually the company defeat them at the Ford of Bruinen, aided by Elrond master of Rivendell.
Frodo recovers under the care of Elrond. The Council of Elrond reveals much significant information about Sauron and the Ring, including the corruption of Saruman, and decides that the only course of action is to destroy the Ring in Mordor. Frodo volunteers to take the Ring, and a "Fellowship of the Ring" is chosen to accompany him.
The company is forced to travel through the Mines of Moria where they are attacked by Orcs. Gandalf fights a Balrog and falls into a deep chasm. The others escape and take refuge in Lothlórien. With boats and gifts from the Lady Galadriel, the company then travel down the great River Anduin to the Amon Hen. There, Boromir, heir to the current rulers of Gondor, attempts to take the ring from Frodo who then breaks from the Fellowship and continues the trek to Mordor accompanied only by Sam.

[edit] The Two Towers
Main article: The Two Towers
Boromir is killed and Merry and Pippin are kidnapped by Saruman's Orcs. Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas pursue the Orcs and meet Gandalf, who is now "Gandalf the White". Merry and Pippin escape when the Orcs are slain by the Rohirrim and find themselves in Fangorn where they befriend the tree-like Ents. Gandalf travels with the others to rouse Théoden King of the Rohirrim to take a stand against Saruman's armies at Helm's Deep. At the subsequent Battle of Hornburg, Saruman's armies are defeated.
Merry and Pippin motivate the Ents to destroy the remaining forces at Isengard. Gandalf, Théoden and the others head to Isengard. Saruman refuses to see his error and Gandalf strips Saruman of his rank and most of his power. Pippin looks into a seeing-stone Sauron used to communicate with Saruman — alerting him to the presence of the hobbit. Gandalf takes Pippin to Gondor.
Frodo and Sam capture Gollum and convince him to guide them to Mordor. They travel a long and hard road, briefly aided by Boromir's brother Faramir. Gollum betrays Frodo by leading him to the great spider Shelob in the caves above Minas Morgul. Frodo is left unconscious by Shelob's bite, but Sam fights her off using Sting and the vial of Ëarendil's star — one of Galadriel's gifts. Sam, believing Frodo to be dead, takes the Ring and Frodo is carried to Cirith Ungol by Orcs.
Sauron begins his military assault upon Gondor, with the Witch-king of Angmar, greatest of the Ringwraiths, leading a huge army into battle against Gondor.

[edit] The Return of the King
Main article: The Return of the King
Gandalf arrives at Minas Tirith in Gondor with Pippin to alert the city of the impending attack. Merry joins the army of Rohan. Aragorn, takes the others through the 'Paths of the Dead' and raise an undead army. Gandalf, Aragorn and the rest of the Fellowship then assist in the battles against the armies of Sauron, including the siege of Minas Tirith, Denethor current ruler of Gondor, believing both his sons are dead loses hope and commits suicide. With the timely aid of Rohan's cavalry and Aragorn's legion of undead a significant portion of Sauron's army is defeated. The Witch-king of Angmar is slain by Théoden's niece Éowyn and Merry.
Sauron retains innumerable forces in Mordor, and the main characters head to a climactic battle at the Black Gate, where the alliance of Gondor and Rohan fight desperately against Sauron's armies hoping to gain time for Frodo to destroy the Ring.
Sam rescues Frodo from captivity. They make their way through Mordor and reach Mount Doom. At the edge of the Cracks of Doom, the Ring proves too great for Frodo; and he claims it for himself. Gollum struggles with Frodo for the Ring, biting off Frodo's finger and accidentally falls into the fire. The Ring is destroyed. Sauron is banished from the world, his armies lose all morale, the Ringwraiths disintegrate, the war ends.
Aragorn is crowned king of Gondor and marries Arwen, the daughter of Elrond. Saruman escapes his captivity in Orthanc and enslaves the Shire. The returning Hobbits overthrow him and Sam helps to restore order and beautify the land, using his gifts from Galadriel. Frodo remains wounded in body and spirit and, accompanied by Bilbo and Gandalf, sails west over the Sea to the Undying Lands, where he can find peace. The three other Hobbits return home.