The Fellowship of the Ring: The Lord of the Rings

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The Fellowship of the Ring is the first of three parts in The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. It is followed by The Two Towers and The Return of the King. The book is about power and greed, innocence and enlightenment. Ultimately, it describes a battle of good against evil, of kindness and trust against suspicion, and of fellowship against the desire for individual power. This is also a story about war, no doubt drawn from Tolkien’s own experience in World War I.

The Lord of the Rings is considered the grandfather of fantasy, has influenced almost every single form of fantasy media there is, and is widely considered not just one of the greatest fantasy novels of all time but also possibly one of the greatest novels in any genre. The Fellowship of the Ring is the first part of the novel. It begins readers’ journey with The Lord of the Rings and introduces them to The Hobbits, Frodo Baggins, Gandalf the Grey, and many more of the companions who will accompany Frodo on his journey.

Without too many spoilers, Frodo is told that he must take the one ring to Mordor and destroy it because some very evil people are looking for it and it will give them immense power. Frodo and his companions then set out on an epic journey that saw them come across plenty of dangers, new cultures, incredible worlds, and fascinating people. The general plot of the Lord of the Rings series is one of the most well-known in pop culture.

However, this first book focuses a lot on introductions to new cultures and races. Hobbits don’t ever leave The Shire, they’re content in their own little world and so never see the need to leave their little hamlet. So when Frodo and his companions leave The Shire and delve out into this world, many of the things they come across they’ve only heard of in legends before.

The manuscript of the Lord of the Rings series turned out to be large. The publisher decided to divide the book into three parts: The Fellowship of the Ring (1954), The Two Towers (1954), and The Return of the King (1955). The book series was so popular that the Tolkien “boom” overwhelmed the United States, and the books were flying off bookstore shelves.

Related Post: The Two Towers: The Lord of the Rings

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them...

“This task was appointed to you. And if you do not find a way, no one will.” — Galadriel, The Fellowship of the Ring

In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit.

In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

The Fellowship of the Ring: Summary

The Fellowship of the Ring is the first part of J.R.R. Tolkien’s grand epic, The Lord of the Rings.

The story begins with “The Fellowship of the Ring,” in which the placid Shire is upended by the finding of the One Ring, a potent artifact. The dark lord Sauron devised this ring, which has great power and corrupts all who wear it. A young hobbit named Frodo Baggins is given the dangerous job of destroying the Ring in the Mount Doom fires where it was created. Frodo embarks on a perilous voyage to Mordor with the help of a diverse party that includes Aragorn the ranger, Gandalf the wizard, Legolas the elf, Gimli the dwarf, and other gallant comrades.

Long ago Sauron – the Lord of the Rings (The Dark Lord) – lost the One Ring which contains much of his power. Sauron desires to reclaim the Ring and use it to enslave all of Middle-earth. Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit, accidentally found the ring. He took it from Gollum, a deformed creature, and brought it home. All Bilbo knows about the ring is that, wearing it, he becomes invisible. He is unaware that it is the One Ring, and Sauron has been searching for it.

After his 111th birthday, Bilbo Baggins decides to go on a trip, leaving home and the ring for his cousin Frodo. Gandalf the Grey, a great wizard and friend of Bilbo and Frodo, suspects that the ring is indeed the One Ring of Legend. Some time later, he visits Frodo and tells him to take the ring away from hobbits land—Shire—because Sauron’s power is growing once again.

Frodo leaves home with three friends: hobbits Sam, Merry, and Pippin. Along the way, the hobbits are pursued by the Black Riders, servants of Sauron. Frodo and his friends get lost in the Old Forest. They are rescued by Tom Bombadil – the oldest creature on earth. Frodo’s group get to the town of Bree. In the inn, Gandolf left the letter for them with the advice to head for Rivendell, a realm of the elves. In the inn, the hobbits meet Aragorn, a Ranger. Those who do not know Aragorn’s true name call him Strider.

In the evening, while singing a song, Frodo accidentally slips the Ring onto his finger and vanishes, posing a threat to the group’s security. Aragorn saves hobbits’ lives for the first of many times. The group, together with Aragorn, leaves Bree.
On their way, they are attacked by the Black Riders. Frodo is wounded during the battle. The group reaches Rivendell. Elrond, the master of Rivendell, heals Frodo. The council to discuss the problem of the ring is held in Rivendell. Frodo learns the full history of the Ring.

He realizes his obligation is to take the ring to the only place it can be destroyed: the place where it was forged. It is in the very heart of Sauron’s realm of Mordor. It will be a long and nearly impossible journey. The team to help Frodo in his mission was built. It includes Frodo himself, his friends Sam, Merry and Pippin, Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas, an Elf, Gimli, a
dwarf, and a Man from the south named Boromir. The Fellowship heads south, but because of the various obstacles, changes the way and travels through the underground realm of dwarves. Gandolf protecting the company from a terrible
demon falls into the chasm.

Frodo and his friends arrive in the forest of the Galadrim elves. They meet the Lady Galadriel, who tests their hearts and gives them gifts to help on their quest. The fellowship leaves the forest of the elves and travels down the Great River by boat. Reaching the Falls of Rauros, they must decide whether to head toward Mordor on the east or toward the safety of the city of Minas Tirith on the west.

Boromir, overcome by the Ring’s power and desiring the Ring for himself, confronts Frodo. Frodo fends off Boromir. It becomes clear to him that he should go to Mordor to fulfill his obligation. Realizing all the dangers to his friends, Frodo decides to travel alone. But his plan to leave secretly fails. Sam manages that and goes together with Frodo.

Long ago, Sauron, the Lord of the Rings (the Dark Lord), lost the One Ring, which contains much of his power. Sauron desires to reclaim the Ring and use it to enslave all of Middle-earth. Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit, accidentally found the ring. He took it from Gollum, a deformed creature, and brought it home. All Bilbo knows about the ring is that, wearing it, he becomes invisible. He is unaware that it is the One Ring, and Sauron has been searching for it.

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