The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (1954)

By John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892–1973)

The Fellowship of the Ring (1954) is the first of three volumes of the epic novel The Lord of the
Rings by the English author John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. (J. R. R. Tolkien) It is followed by The Two
Towers and The Return of the King. this trilogy well after the "world" of Middle Earth had been
created. Several of the characters presented in this novel were first presented in The Hobbit (1937)
and The Silmarillion (1977), Tolkien's major mythological masterpiece, also presents an extensive
history and language system that was already in place.

About Author:
J.R.R. Tolkien, in full John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, (born January 3, 1892, Bloemfontein, South
Africa—died September 2, 1973, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England. In 1900 his mother converted
to Roman Catholicism, a faith her son also practiced devoutly. he attended King Edward’s School in
Birmingham and Exeter College, Oxford (B.A., 1915; M.A., 1919). During World War I he saw
action in the Somme. For most of his adult life, he taught English language and literature,
specializing in Old and Middle English, at the Universities of Leeds (1920–25) and Oxford (1925–
59).

Tolkien had completed a translation of Beowulf in 1926, and it was posthumously published, along
with classroom lectures he had given on the subject, some of his notes, and an original short story
inspired by the legend, as Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary (2014). He also published an
edition of the Ancrene Wisse (1962). Tolkien amused himself by writing and reading fantasy tales,
often dark and sorrowful and influenced by a love of myths and legends.

The Lord of the Rings, a modern version of the heroic epic. (Tolkien’s work is much closer to
medieval romances such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and, to an even greater degree, to
Germanic epics such as Beowulf.) Also can observe influence of World War-II in his work. the
book became popular with the student and counterculture movement of the late 1960s, who were
attracted most likely by Tolkien’s aversion to capitalism and his environmental views, and who
began sporting pins reading “Frodo Lives” and “Go-Go-Gandalf.”
Tolkien uses this introduction to establish the feeling of rich historical detail that grounds the
novel's fantastic elements in a sense of realism. The detailed maps, as well as the literary convention
of editing and translating a previous historical record, help the reader suspend disbelief and accept
the stranger parts of the story. The Prologue explains hobbits and some significant elements of their
culture and history. Hobbits are small creatures — about three feet tall — able to move quietly and
quickly. Although they tend to avoid "Big Folk," they are more closely related to Men than they are
to Elves or Dwarves. Hobbits mainly live in the Shire, a small and isolated country. They tend
toward fat, because they like a quiet, well-ordered life of farming, laughter, and frequent meals, but
nevertheless they are remarkably sturdy. They prefer to live in holes (very comfortably, with
wooden floors and lots of windows).
Characters List:

Hobbits:

1. Bilbo Baggins: The hero of an earlier novel, The Hobbit, Bilbo is the uncle of Frodo. He gives
Frodo the One Ring that causes all of this trouble.

2. Frodo Baggins: Frodo is the major character of the novel and this mainly because he has
inherited the One Ring from his uncle, Bilbo Baggins. Frodo is a hobbit and as a timid and
domestic personality, he is really ill-suited for the difficult journey ahead. He has quite an
appetite for food and drink and song, and for most of The Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo relies
upon the help of his friends, Gandalf and Tom Bombadil.

3. Sam Gamgee: Sam proves to be Frodo's closest friend, accompanying him on his quest and
refusing to leave his side even when all of the others have left him. Also a gardener.

4. Merry & Pippin: Two young, funny hobbits join Frodo.

The Fellowship of Ring:

1. Strider / Aragorn: Aragorn is the heir of Isildur and he belongs to the race of the men of
Numenor. He helps to keep the group in order, after Gandalf dies. He meets the hobbits in a pub and
with Gandalf's approval, he looks after the group and helps to protect them.

2. Boromir: A man from Minas Tirith, city of Gondor in the south. His excessively martial spirit
drives him to attack Frodo, in an attempt to wrest the Ring from him. He repents afterwards, but the
Fellowship has been broken.

3. Legolas: An elf from Mirkwood, he is masterful with a bow. He is a member of the Fellowship
and when the group is attacked by an immense shadowy figure, he successfully shoots it down.

4. Gimli: A Dwarf, the son of Gloin (one of Bilbo's associates in The Hobbit) who is a member of
the Fellowship.
5. Gandalf: Of the five great wizards in Middle Earth, there is only one wizard who is greater than
Gandalf. This is Saruman, who unfortunately turned to the evil side. In his spare time, Gandalf
makes fireworks for the hobbits but he reveals his powers as a true wizard. He helps the company
and leads them through the caves of Moria, but he is brought down and dies in the bottomless
chasm.

Plus four hobbits = 9 members in fellowship.

Minor Characters:

1. Saruman: a mighty wizard and the instructor of Gandalf. Unfortunately, Saruman has joined
the evil forces, hoping to use the ring to increase his power.

2. Sauron: Sauron never makes an appearance in the novel but his power is certainly felt. He is
known as the Dark Lord and he is the major villain in the novel. Morgoth was the first Great
Enemy and Sauron has replaced him, reviving the ancient evil capital of Mordor. Now, he seeks
the One Ring so that he can consolidate his power and rule over all.

3. Gollum: one of the villains of the novel. Gollum is a hideous creature who appeared in The
Hobbit (Bilbo steals the ring from him). In this novel, Gollum spies on the fellowship and alerts
Sauron's forces as to the group's whereabouts.

4. Elrond Halfelven: The Master of Rivendell, the Last Homely House. He has medicinal powers
and he is able to heal Frodo after he is attacked and wounded in the shoulder. He also plays a
key advisory role at the Council of Elrond. He is descended from a man and an elf--thus,
"halfelven." He had the choice to be mortal or immortal and chose the latter. As a consequence,
he must leave Middle Earth when the time comes (most likely at the end of the War of the
Ring).

5. Galadriel: a queen of the elves who live in Lothlorien. Her mirror enables Frodo to see the evil
eye of Sauron. Galadriel owns one of the Rings, but she is willing to give up her magical
powers if this is necessary for Sauron to be defeated.

6. Mr. Butterbur: The owner of the Prancing Pony, in Bree.

Summary:

The Fellowship of the Ring is the first book in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The opening chapters
of the novel introduce readers to the society and habits of hobbits in general and the peculiar
Baggins family in particular. Bilbo's lavish birthday party establishes the simple pleasures of
hobbit-life, which center around the celebration of living with excellent food, fine drink, the giving
of presents, and delight in toys and fireworks. This story is set in the world of Tolkien's invention,
known as Middle Earth. A spectre of evil is looming over Middle Earth as the Dark Lord, Sauron,
seeks to consolidate his already immense power, by reclaiming the One Ring that he has lost. Most
of his power is held in this ring. With this power, he can enslave Middle Earth and unleash an
incredible evil with little opposition. In the story of The Hobbit, a hobbit called Bilbo Baggins has
stolen the ring from a hideous creature called Gollum.(Later, discovered that used to be Hobbit
named Sméagol). Somehow, this ring ends up with Frodo Baggins, Bilbo's nephew and all of a
sudden, Frodo is at the centre of this epic drama involving the ring that he knows very little about.

The wizard, Gandalf, warns Frodo that he should leave the shire and keep the ring out of Sauron's
hands. They meet a fellow named Tom Bombadil who helps them get out of trouble when they are
faced with the Nine Black Riders. Later, they meet Strider/Aragorn and they continue safely to the
country of the elves. Frodo recuperates from a wound and he is healed by Elrond. At the Council of
Elrond it is decided that the ring must be destroyed at the Cracks of Doom (where it was created).
This is many miles away, deep inside the evil lands of Mordor. The Fellowship of the ring is
established, including nine individuals in all.

Gandalf meets his end on the Bridge of Khazad-dum, attempting to defend the company from the
evil Balrog. The group must continue without him, heading south, into Lorien, a forest of elves.
Here, the Lady Galadriel offers comfort and security for a time. Frodo grows in knowledge and
maturity and he becomes more resolved to fulfil his mission. His resolve is further tested when
Boromir tries to steal the ring from him. In the end, Frodo knows that he must fulfil his duty but he
does not want to endanger his friends any further, nor does he want to solicit their opinions for he
knows that they will change his mind. In the end, Frodo continues alone - though Sam soon finds
him and refuses to do anything other than accompany him, heading towards the evil land of Mordor.