Difference between revisions of "The Lord of the Rings"

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(Book I)
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==== Book II ====
 
==== Book II ====
The group have made it to Rivendell, where the Council of Elrond decides over further action. The Ring shall be destroyed, which can only be done in [[Mount Doom]] in Sauron's land [[Mordor]] where it was forged. A group of companions are chosen to accompany Frodo on his quest, forming the Fellowship of the Ring: the hobbits Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin, the Wizard [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]], [[Gimli]] the Dwarf, [[Legolas]] the Elf, and the Men [[Boromir]] of [[Gondor]] and [[Aragorn|Aragorn of the Dúnedain]]. The Fellowship journeys south, and after failing to cross the [[Misty Mountains]], goes under them through the Dwarven [[Khazad-dûm|Mines of Moria]]. There they are attacked by Orcs and lose their leader Gandalf to the [[Balrog]]. The Fellowship rest in the Elven realm [[Lothlórien]], and continue by boat down the river [[Anduin]]. At the Falls of Rauros they rest again, and Boromir tries unsuccessfully to take the Ring from Frodo. While the Fellowship searches for him, Frodo secretly leaves them behind to continue his quest all by himself, but Sam catches up with him and joins him on his way to Mordor.
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The group have made it to Rivendell, where the Council of Elrond decides over further action. The Ring shall be destroyed, which can only be done in [[Mount Doom]] in Sauron's land [[Mordor]] where it was forged. A group of companions are chosen to accompany Frodo on his quest, forming the Fellowship of the Ring: the hobbits Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin, the Wizard [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]], [[Gimli son of Glóin|Gimli]] the Dwarf, [[Legolas]] the Elf, and the Men [[Boromir]] of [[Gondor]] and [[Aragorn|Aragorn of the Dúnedain]]. The Fellowship journeys south, and after failing to cross the [[Misty Mountains]], goes under them through the Dwarven [[Khazad-dûm|Mines of Moria]]. There they are attacked by Orcs and lose their leader Gandalf to the [[Balrog]]. The Fellowship rest in the Elven realm [[Lothlórien]], and continue by boat down the river [[Anduin]]. At the Falls of Rauros they rest again, and Boromir tries unsuccessfully to take the Ring from Frodo. While the Fellowship searches for him, Frodo secretly leaves them behind to continue his quest all by himself, but Sam catches up with him and joins him on his way to Mordor.
  
 
=== The Two Towers ===
 
=== The Two Towers ===

Revision as of 12:03, September 19, 2008

The covers for the three volumes of The Lord of the Rings, designed by Tolkien.[Citation Needed]

The Lord of the Rings is a fantasy book written by J.R.R. Tolkien. It was published in three parts in the years 1954 and 1955. The Lord of the Rings is considered one of the most influential works on the fantasy genre in modern times. It is the best-selling work of fantasy literature of the twentieth century.

The story of The Lord of the Rings is about the war of the peoples of Middle-earth against a dark lord, the eponymic "Lord of the Rings". At the same time a small group of people are sent to destroy a magic Ring which would return power to their enemy, but the only way to destroy the Ring lies deep into enemy territory.

Creation

Writing

After the success of his earlier book The Hobbit, Tolkien's publishers persuaded him to write a sequel. He began writing in December of 1937, but the first drafts were still far away from the later version. After writing and re-writing the beginning several times, Tolkien realized the role of the One Ring and the quest it entailed in the spring of 1938, while writing the discussion between Gildor Inglorion and the later Frodo Baggins. This was the point upon which the backstory and central quest that would be The Lord of the Rings came together in his mind. It was also the point that he firmly set the book's plot into his already existing Middle-earth legendarium. Whereas the The Hobbit had before been separate from his Middle-earth mythology, while still borrowing ideas, names, and persons from it, Tolkien now consciously moved it and its sequel into the Middle-earth setting. This resulted in the changes in tone, and in the meaning of formerly unimportant things as the 'magic ring' and the Necromancer, who both literally gained importance in the sequel. While the The Hobbit was written as a story intended for his children, The Lord of the Rings due to the realization of the later plot, soon became an epic tale of much greater proportions, both in plot and in length.

The earlier drafts and versions of The Lord of the Rings were published posthumously by his son Christopher Tolkien in The History of The Lord of the Rings (1988-1992), which are volumes VI–IX of The History of Middle-earth.

In the story of the Middle-earth legendarium, The Hobbit as Bilbo's story of his journey and the finding of the Ring, and The Lord of the Rings as Frodo's later additions from the War of the Ring form the Red Book of Westmarch.

Publication

Although often wrongly thought to be a trilogy, The Lord of the Rings was conceived by the author as a single work. Its internal structure divides it into six 'books', named Book I-VI, according to the plot, and has added several appendices and an index. Because of the amount of paper needed and to reduce financial risk, it was released by the publisher Allen & Unwin in three volumes, each containing two Books:

  1. The Fellowship of the Ring
  2. The Two Towers
  3. The Return of the King

This resulted in the common error of calling The Lord of the Rings a trilogy, a term which Tolkien rejected, just as he disliked the book being published in separate volumes.

The Lord of the Rings was published in hardbound in 1954 and 1955, but was known only to a small audience of aficionados until 1965. At that time, J. R. R. Tolkien himself was known primarily to scholars for his work on Beowulf. This changed when an American paperback publisher released a "pirated" paperback edition, paying Tolkien nothing, in the belief that Tolkien's copyright in the U. S. was defective because of a technicality. Tolkien reached a legal settlement with this publisher, and another publisher released an authorized edition for which Tolkien was paid royalties. The book was an instant success, particularly among college students.

Story

Background story

In the Second Age the Dark Lord Sauron created the One Ring to help him conquer the peoples of Middle-earth. The Elves and Men of Middle-earth, led by High King Gil-galad of the Noldor and King Elendil of the Dúnedain, formed the Last Alliance of Elves and Men to fight him. Sauron was defeated and the Ring cut from his hand, and the War of the Last Alliance ended, beginning the Third Age.

The story takes place at a time when the Elves, immortal and fairest of all beings in the world, are leaving the war-weary world to sail to the blessed realm of Valinor. With the departure of the Elves, the Age of Men has come. But the Dark Lord Sauron, not truly killed at the end of the last Age, has been regaining power over the millenia since his defeat. Instrumental in his survival was the One Ring, which had kept him alive, and for which he now searches. This Ring, which had been lost for millenia, fell by chance into the hands of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, the story of which is told in The Hobbit. At the beginning of The Lord of the Rings, sixty years have passed since Bilbo found the One Ring.

The Fellowship of the Ring

Book I

The Hobbit Bilbo Baggins celebrates his 111th birthday, after which he leaves the Shire to travel once more, leaving his home Bag End and his magic ring to his heir Frodo.

In T.A. 3018, Frodo is visited by his old friend, the Wizard Gandalf, who tells him of the Ring's history and gives him the task of taking the Ring to the Elven refuge Rivendell. Frodo leaves the Shire joined by his friends Sam Gamgee, Merry Brandybuck, and Pippin Took, all the while pursued by the mysterious otherworldly Black Riders, servants of Sauron. After an adventurous time they arrive in Bree, where they meet the human Ranger Strider. With his help they manage the make the last stretch of the way to the Ford of Bruinen at Rivendell.

Book II

The group have made it to Rivendell, where the Council of Elrond decides over further action. The Ring shall be destroyed, which can only be done in Mount Doom in Sauron's land Mordor where it was forged. A group of companions are chosen to accompany Frodo on his quest, forming the Fellowship of the Ring: the hobbits Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin, the Wizard Gandalf the Grey, Gimli the Dwarf, Legolas the Elf, and the Men Boromir of Gondor and Aragorn of the Dúnedain. The Fellowship journeys south, and after failing to cross the Misty Mountains, goes under them through the Dwarven Mines of Moria. There they are attacked by Orcs and lose their leader Gandalf to the Balrog. The Fellowship rest in the Elven realm Lothlórien, and continue by boat down the river Anduin. At the Falls of Rauros they rest again, and Boromir tries unsuccessfully to take the Ring from Frodo. While the Fellowship searches for him, Frodo secretly leaves them behind to continue his quest all by himself, but Sam catches up with him and joins him on his way to Mordor.

The Two Towers

Book III

Boromir is mortally wounded defending Merry and Pippin from Orcs. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli decide to follow the Orcs into Rohan to rescue the kidnapped hobbits. Merry and Pippin manage to escape Saruman's Orcs at Fangorn Forest, where they meet Treebeard the Ent. The tree-like Ents hold council, and decide to attack Saruman at Isengard. In Fangorn Forest Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli meet the returned Gandalf the White, who takes them to the capital Edoras, where they join King Théoden of Rohan in the fight against Saruman. The forces of Rohan prevail against Saruman's armies in the Battle of the Hornburg. Afterwards they go to Isengard to confront Saruman, whom is cast out of the Order by Gandalf. Pippin picks up the palantír, and alerts Sauron to their presence. Gandalf and Pippin set of for Gondor.

Book IV

Back in the Emyn Muil, Frodo and Sam journey east towards Mordor, trailed by Gollum. They capture him and he promises to lead them on their way. They travel though the Dead Marshes to the Black Gate, where Gollum leads them south. In Ithilien they are captured by Faramir of Gondor, but he releases them after hearing about their quest. Gollum leads them to and abandons them at the Pass of Cirith Ungol, where they are attacked by the giant spider Shelob. Assuming Frodo dead, Sam takes the Ring to finish the quest on his own. Frodo's body is taken by a patrol of Orcs, who reveal that Frodo is only paralyzed. Sam, who has secretly followed them, tries to rescue Frodo, but is late and locked out of the Tower of Cirith Ungol.

The Return of the King

Book V

Gandalf and Pippin arrive in the city of Minas Tirith, where they meet Steward Denethor II of Gondor, and Pippin enters his service. Aragorn and his companions are joined by a group of Rangers from Rivendell. They go through the Paths of the Dead and Aragorn summons the Dead Men of Dunharrow to his aid, and then rides east. King Théoden is summoned to Gondor, and the Rohirrim and Merry ride to Minas Tirith. Minas Tirith is besieged by the Sauron's armies. The following Battle of the Pelennor Fields is won with the help of the Rohirrim and the arrival of Aragorn with reinforcements from the southern regions of Gondor. Théoden is killed, but Éowyn and Merry slay the Witch-king of Angmar. Aragorn leads the combined forces of the West against Sauron in a move to distract him from Frodo, resulting in the Battle of the Black Gate.

Book VI

Sam rescues Frodo and returns the Ring to him. They continue the trek across Mordor. At Mount Doom they are attacked by Gollum. Frodo succumbs to the power of the Ring, claims it as his own and puts it on. Gollum fights him, biting off his finger and taking the Ring, but slips and falls into the Cracks of Doom, destroying the Ring. Sauron is defeated and his power crumbles. The Battle of the Black Gate is won, and Gandalf sends the Eagles to rescue Frodo and Sam. Aragorn becomes King of Arnor and Gondor. Everyone returns homeward, and the hobbits return to the Shire. The land has been taken over by Saruman and his men, but after the Scouring of the Shire led by the returned hobbits, Saruman is killed and the hobbits can begin reordering their land. After a few years Frodo, who has been greatly hurt and burdenend though his quest and the Ring, traveled to the Grey Havens. There he bids his hobbit-friends good-bye, and leaves together with Bilbo, Gandalf, Elrond and Galadriel for the Undying Lands in the West, ending the Third Age of Middle-earth. Sam, Merry and Pippin return to the Shire and their homes.

Appendices

The Lord of the Rings is followed by six appendices, which give more background and detail on the history, peoples, languages, and various other topics of Middle-earth.

  • Appendix A Annals of the Kings and Rulers: contains further information on the history of Númenor, Arnor and Gondor, and of the Rohirrim and Durin's Folk.
  • Appendix B The Tale of Years (Chronology of the Westlands): contains the timeline and chronicles of the Ages.
  • Appendix D Calendars: the different calendar systems.
  • Appendix E Writing and Spelling: on the pronounciation and the scripts.
  • Appendix F: overview of the languages, and notes on the fictional "translation" of the book from the Westron language.

Reception

J. R. R. Tolkien was a Roman Catholic, and many readers see Christian undertones in The Lord of the Rings. [1] Tolkien himself discounts the belief that he wrote the book as a direct Christian allegory--or any other sort of allegory, which he went on record as "cordially disliking", and preferring "applicability"--in contrast with the overt and acknowledged allegories in the works of Tolkien's friend, C. S. Lewis.[2]

Adaptions

The Lord of the Rings has been adapted full or in part in a variety of media. Among these are films, stage plays and a musical.

The Lord of the Rings film trilogy

The Lord of the Rings film trilogy were three films based on the book, directed by Peter Jackson and produced by New Line Cinema. The film titles were derived from the three volumes: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003).

All were directed by Peter Jackson.[3] The films were filmed in New Zealand. The films were released annually in cinemas from December 2001 to 2003. DVD releases of the cinema version and Special Extended Editions have also been released for each film. Each set includes four discs, two of bonus material.

References

  1. "Much as it is possible to identify allegories of the Second World war into The Lord of the Rings, it is possible to identify any number of Christian allegories as well" in Smith, J. and Matthews, J.C. The Lord of the Rings:the Films, the books, the radio series (Virgin Books 2004), p.116.
  2. The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien, #129
  3. The Fellowship of the Ring, Directed by Peter Jackson, Produced by Barrie M. Osborne, Peter Jackson 2001.

See also