Fellowship of the Ring/Summary

Summary

Book 1

Chapter 1: A Long-Expected Party

• Shire
• Bilbo's 111th birthday party
• Gandalf arrives
• Party preparations
• Bilbo says farewell
• Gandalf meets Bilbo back at Bag End
• Discussion about Bilbo's plans
• Bilbo tries to leave with the ring
• Bilbo departs
• Frodo arrives
• Gandalf doesn't say much about the ring
• People coming to get things from Bag End
• Gandalf and Frodo have a discussion in the evening
• True story of how Bilbo obtained the ring
• Gandalf begins to wonder about the ring
• Tells Frodo not to use it
• Gandalf departs, Frodo does not see him again for a long time

Quotes: Fellowship of the Ring/Quotes#Chapter 1

Chapter 2: The Shadow of the Past

• Shire
• This chapter covers a lot of time between the birthday party and the beginning of Frodo's quest
• Rumors of strange things, strangers passing through the Shire, elves going west
• Gandalf does not appear for several years
• Sam introduced as Frodo's gardner
• Gandalf first appears 3 years after the birthday party
• Shows up frequently for 1-2 years
• Disappears for nine years
• Gandalf appears one day
• Gandalf tells Frodo about the rings of power
• Mortals do not die/do not grow/merely continues
• The ring will change shape/size
• Gandalf recounts the White Council discussing how to drive Sauron from Mirkwood (just before the Battle of Five Armies)
• Bilbo lying about the ring to claim it (parallels Smeagol behavior)
• Gandalf raises prospect of Sauron invading the Shire
• Ring is thrown into the fire, ancient Elvish characters but language of Mordor
• Gandalf reveals that it is the One Ring
• Sauron discovered the ring was not lost, gathering strength in Mordor, looking for the ring
• Some history on the ring
• Isildur (Elendil's son) cut the One Ring from Sauron's hand
• Sauron retreated, eventually fled to Mirkwood
• Isildur attacked by Orcs, ring fell into the Great River
• Deagol/Smeagol story
• Smeagol wanders, begins obsessing, stealing, takes name Gollum
• Retreated into the Misty Mountains, Sauron knew nothing of the ring
• Similarities between river folk (Smeagol) and hobbits (love of riddles)
• Gollumn growing to hate the dark, hate the light, hate the ring
• Ring of power looks after itself
• Gandalf reveals he has talked with Gollum, found him, interrogated him
• Precious (peculiar way of talking)
• Gollum had discovered where Bilbo came from (Shire)
• Gollum did not go to the Shire, but tried to
• Mirkwood Wood-elves helped track Gollum
• Gollum's trail went cold, Gandalf let him go and let him be
• Trail was cold after he took it up again on Bilbo's 111th birthday
• Gandalf got help from Aragorn
• Tracked Gollum down entire length of Wilderland
• Gandalf discovers Gollum went to Mordor
• Gollum lurked around Morodr, was finally caught and interrogated
• Sauron learned that the One Ring was found again
• He heard "hobbits" and "Shire"
• Pity and mercy, deserving death/life
• Frodo asks why the Ring hasn't been destroyed
• Gandalf instructs him to throw it in the fire, Frodo is reluctant
• Must be destroyed in the Cracks of Doom in the depths of Orodruin, the Fire-mountain
• Frodo offers the ring to Gandalf
• Realizes he must leave the Shire
• Frodo torn between the call to adventure and the desire to stay in the Shire
• Mr. Underhill
• Sam eavesdropping
• Gandalf orders Sam to go with Frodo

Quotes: Fellowship of the Ring/Quotes#Chapter 2

Chapter 3: Three is Company

• Gandalf encourages Frodo to leave Bag End and leave the Shire
• Frodo reluctant to leave, but makes his mind up to leave on his 50th birthday (17 years after Bilbo's 111th birthday)
• Gandalf recommends Frodo go to Rivendell
• Frodo sells Bag End to the Sackville-Bagginses
• Gandalf stays in the Shire for two months (May and June)
• Gandalf then leaves to get news
• He promises to come back for the farewell birthday party
• Frodo does not hear from Gandalf
• Merry and Fatty go to the house in Crickhollow
• Stranger (dark rider) talking to Gaffer (Sam's father)
• Frodo, Pippin, and Sam leave Bag End
• After lunch, a black rider comes along the road
• Sniffs around
• Frodo has desire to use ring
• Black rider leaves
• They continue on
• As they are preparing to sleep for the night, another Black Rider comes along the road
• Gets off horse, begins crawling toward them
• Distracted by Elves (in the Woody End, from beyond the Tower Hills)
• Gildor Inglorion (House of Finrod)
• Hobbits mention black riders, Elves escort them
• March to woods on the hills above Woodhall* Sam sleeps curled up at Frodo's feet
• Frodo and Gildor have one on one time, talking about goings on outside the Shire
• Gildor knows Frodo is leaving the Shire, and is pursued by the Enemy
• Gildor learns that Gandalf has told Frodo nothing about the Black Riders, so he doesn't tell Frodo anything either

Quotes: Fellowship of the Ring/Quotes#Chapter 3

Chapter 4: A Shortcut to Mushrooms

• Sam agrees to go with Frodo, leave the Shire
• They agree to head for Bucklebury Ferry
• The group sets off through a shortcut through the forest
• They spot a black rider across a bank
• Continue on for several hours
• Hear screeching of black riders
• Farmer Maggot's farm
• Pippin good friends with Maggot, Frodo scared of his dogs
• Attacked by his dogs
• He invites them in
• Tells them about dark rider asking about Baggins
• He agrees to help them get to Bucklebury Ferry
• They leave after supper
• Carriage gets stopped, it's Merry
• Maggot drops them off at the Ferry

Quotes: Fellowship of the Ring/Quotes#Chapter 4

Chapter 5: A Conspiracy Unmasked

• The four hobbits reach the other side of the river
• They look back and see someone that looks like a dark bundle crawling or searching on the ground
• Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin stop in to see Fatty at Crickhollow before departing
• They have a bath and dinner
• Frodo tells them he has to leave the Shire
• Merry and Pippin agree to join
• Merry reveals he knew about the ring
• Frodo makes plans to stay the night and leave the next day
• Going through the Old Forest

Quotes: Fellowship of the Ring/Quotes#Chapter 5

Chapter 6: The Old Forest

• Four hobbits set out with five ponies
• Merry leads the way through the forest
• Bonfire Glade
• They reach a hill and can see East Road and the Barrow-downs
• River Withywindle
• Merry explores
• Everyone feels sleepy
• Merry and Pippin caught inside a tree
• They start a fire, put it out
• Tom Bombadil
• They follow him to his house

Quotes: Fellowship of the Ring/Quotes#Chapter 6

Chapter 7: In the House of Tom Bombadil

• Goldberry, Tom's daughter
• Hobbits wash and refresh
• They go to sleep
• Each dreams of a bad situation, wakes up, feels relaxed, goes back to sleep
• The next morning Tom tells them about the lore of the Old Forest
• He tells them about the Barrow-downs
• Goldberry's washing day - she comes in later and says "the rain has ended"
• They stay for supper
• Goldberry sings them songs
• Tom asks to see the ring
• He puts it on, and is immune to its power
• During the ensuing conversation, Frodo slips on the ring
• Tom can still see him
• He advises them on which direction to go
• They go to bead

Quotes: Fellowship of the Ring/Quotes#Chapter 7

Chapter 8: Fog on the Barrow-Downs

• Breakfast and farewell to Tom
• Farewell to Goldberry
• Heading for the Barrow-Downs
• Stop for lunch
• Frodo gets lost
• Gets caught in a barrow
• They call on Tom to save them
• He leaves them without clothes
• Tom comes back with their ponies
• Everyone has spare change of clothes
• He escorts them to the edge of his land
• Tom tells them to go to The Prancing Pony
• Tells them about Barliman Butterbur
• The hobbits set out for the Prancing Pony

Quotes: Fellowship of the Ring/Quotes#Chapter 8

Chapter 9: At the Sign of the Prancing Pony

• Background of Bree
• They enter through the city gate
• Strange folk about
• Go to the Pony, ask Butterbur for a room and a place to store their ponies
• Served dinner, asked if they will join the company after dinner
• Everyone but Pippin goes to the bar after
• They spot Strider, ask Butterbur about him
• Strider introduces himself to Frodo, says his friends should not talk so much
• Pippin telling a story of Bilbo's farewell party
• Frodo jumps on the table and sings
• Frodo drinks, sings another verse, leaps in the air, falls, ring falls on his finger
• Confronted by Strider after
• He says he will mee Frodo in his room
• Frodo plays it off, but several people take note
• Butterbur says he has something to tell Frdo

Quotes: Fellowship of the Ring/Quotes#Chapter 9

Chapter 10: Strider

• Hobbits head back to the room
• Strider is waiting there for them
• Makes a deal to give Frodo information in return for letting him go with
• He reveals that he is a friend of Gandalf, that he is looking for Frodo, and that he knows about the black riders
• Butterbur comes in and gives Frodo a letter from Gandalf
• Letter is three months old
• Butterbur warns them of the black riders
• The letter warns Frodo to leave right away, and to look for Strider
• Strider proposes they head for Weathertop
• All worried that Gandalf has not turned up
• Merry sees black riders
• Passes out asleep, found by Nob
• Strider tells them not to go back to their room
• Hobbits drop off to sleep

Quotes: Fellowship of the Ring/Quotes#Chapter 10

Chapter 11: A Knife in the Dark

• Black riders come to house in Crickhollow
• Fatty flees, warns others
• Brandybucks blow the horn-call of Buckland
• Black riders ride off
• They see the room torn to shreds the next morning
• They find their ponies have been let loose
• Butterbur sends someone out to find a pony (Bill)
• Three days, leave Bree and come to Chetwood
• Leave the road, travel across flat country
• Crossing a bog filled with midges
• Two more days of travel
• A light in the eastern sky that flashes and fades many times (like lightning leaping up from the hilltops)
• Fifth day, they leave the marshes and reach Weathertop
• Head toward the Old Road
• Strider suggests avoiding direct route to Weathertop, going around, seeing what they can see
• Foreshadowing: Frodo says he is getting so thin he might become a wraith, Strider chastises him
• Ranger waystation with firewood, boot tracks
• Sheletered hollow where Sam and Pippin wait, the others go up to the crown of the hill
• Scratches on a rock - a stroke, a dot, and three more strokes
• Maybe a sign left by galndalf (three days ago)
• A fortnight's journey to Rivendell
• Frodo looks back on the road, sees two black specks, then sees three more
• They return to Sam and Pippin
• They light a fire and prepare a light meal
• Aragorn tells them the tale of Tinúviel
• Moon begins to rise
• They all see something, a large stone or jutting rock, moving in the moonlight
• Two or three moving shapes beyond the hilltops
• Four tall figures appear standing on the slope
• Hissing, venemous breath
• Frodo feels desire to put the ring on his finger
• He puts on the ring
• The black riders become terribly clear, five tall figures, robes and silver crowns and swords
• The largest (the Witch King) springs forward, stabs Frodo

Quotes: Fellowship of the Ring/Quotes#Chapter 11

Chapter 12: Flight to the Ford

• Frodo comes to, they explain what happened
• Frodo growing cold
• Aragorn carries some Athelas, crushed leaves of a healing plant
• They can hear the black riders calling to one another
• Four days pass
• After five days, they have to go back to the road
• Follows the Loudwater, the Bruinen of Rivendell
• They head for the Last Bridge
• Aragorn checks the bridge, finds a pale green beryl elf-stone
• They cross the bridge and leave the road
• After two days it becomes wet
• Frodo riding the pony, others walking
• They come upon three trolls turned to stone (callback to Bilbo's adventures)
• (Movies: Bilbo's birthday party, telling the hobbit children the story of the stone trolls)
• They meet up with Glorfindel
• They reach the Ford of Rivendell
• Black riders come upon them just as they reach the Ford
• Glorfindel takes Frodo, speaks to the horse in elf-tongue to outrun the black riders
• Confrontation at the river crossing
• Roaring and rushing, white fingers of the river, angry foam
• Frodo passes out

Quotes: Fellowship of the Ring/Quotes#Chapter 12

Book 2

Chapter 1: Many Meetings

• Frodo wakes up in Rivendell in the House of Elrond
• Gandalf greets him
• Gandalf explains that he was delayed
• Frodo tells Gandalf about the black riders pursuing them
• Gandalf tells Frodo about Aragorn's heritage ("Rangers are the last remnant of the great people)
• Frodo missing three days
• Morgul knife, healed by Elrond
• Gandalf explains the black riders' horses, bred in Mordor
• Orcs, trolls, wargs, warewolves
• Glorfindel appeared as a white figure while Frodo was wearing the ring
• One of the mighty of the Firstborn
• Gandalf explains that the river was under command of Elrond, with touches from him
• Sam comes in, then Pippin
• Everyone summoned to the hall for a meal before the meeting
• Elrond at head of table, with Gandalf and Glorfindel on either side of him
• Arwen in middle of table
• Three hobbits at a side table
• Gloin the dwarf sitting next to Frodo, they bond over Frodo's adventures, one of the companions of Thorin Oakenshield
• Gloin fills Frodo in on the doings of the dwarf kingdon, of the battle of the five armies, the disappearance of Balin and Ori and Oin
• The meal ends
• They all go to the Hall of Fire
• Frodo and Bilbo reunion
• Fills in Frodo, Gandalf has been visiting him in Rivendell
• Stayed in Rivendell, Gandalf told him not to meddle
• Bilbo asks about the ring, Frodo pulls it out
• A shadow falls between them, he sees Bilbo as a wrinkled creature with a hungry face and bony groping hands
• The music stops, a silence falls, Bilbo apologizes
• Strider shows up, Bilbo calls him Dúnadan
• He and Bilbo go off to finish a song
• Long interlude with the song, Bilbo talking about the song
• Bedtime, council in the morning

Quotes: Fellowship of the Ring/Quotes#Chapter 1 2

Chapter 2: The Council of Elrond

• Frodo, Sam, and Gandalf are joined by Bilbo
• Elron, Glorfindel, Gloin, Strider, Elrond, Frodo son of Drogo
• Gimli, Erestor, Galdor (Grey Havens), Legolas, messenger of Thranduil, king of Mirkwood Elves, father of Legolas
• Boromir
• Gloin voices his concerns, mentions Moria and Khazad-dum
• 30 years since he heard from Dain, Ori, Oinand, who went south
• Messenger from Mordor came to Dain, offering rings for friendship, insquiring about hobbits
• 3 rings of old will be returned if they find the hobbit
• Came twice, will come a third time
• Warning given to Bilbo
• Elrond gives back story on Sauron and Rings of Power, their forging in the Second Age
• Elven-smiths of Eregion, friendship with Moria
• Celebrimor hid three Elven rings
• Numenor, return of Kings of Men to Middle Earth out of the depths of the sea
• ELendil the Tall, Isildur
• The Last Alliance
• The real age of Elrond
• Isildur failing to destroy the ring in Orodruin's fire
• The decline of Gondor
• Minas Anor to Minas Tirith, Osgiliath
• Boromir speaks, gives more background on Gondor
• Questions Aragorn
• Elrond comes to his defense: "He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn"
• Gandalf instructs Frodo to bring out the ring
• The Sword of Elendil
• Aragorn tries to justify himself to Boromir
• Boromir responds by saying Gondor defends everybody's lands
• Boromir questions whether the ring is really the one ring
• Bilbo's tale
• Frodo's tale
• Galdor saks for proof that it is the one ring, asks what happened to Saruman
• Gandalf's story (his delay)
• Callback to the Necromancer in Dol Guldur, discovering it was Sauron
• Council drives Sauron from Mirkwood
• Sauron thinks the ring has fallen into the Sea
• Gandalf desires to know how the ring came to Gollum
• He wonders about whether the hobbit's ring is the one ring, but can't say anything to anyone
• 17 years pass, Gandalf becomes aware of spies gathered around the Shire
• Gandalf finally opened up to Aragorn
• Aragorn saw it fit that Isildur's heir should labor to repair Isildur's fault, accompanied Gandalf to look for Gollum
• Gandalf and Aragorn explored the entire length of hte Wilderland, down to the Mountains of Shadow and the fences of Mordor
• Gandalf thought of one other test: the one ring was unadorned, unlike the nine, the seven, and the three
• The marks were unknown, only Isildur had held it
• Gandalf gave up the chase and went to Gondor, searched among scrolls and books, Denethor unhappy/reluctant
• Mentions that Saruman had studied the scrolls and books a long time too
• Gandalf finds a script only read by himself and Saruman, written by Isildur
• Isildur did not march straight away from the war in Mordor, first he went to Minas Anor and dwelt with his nephew, who was set up as the ruler of the South, planted the last sapling of the white tree, wrote the scroll
• He describes the ring - hot, but cools fast, shrank, red writing that disappears, elven-script writing out something in the tongue of the Black Land
• Mentions "precious"
• Gandalf leaves Minas Tirith and Denethor, heads north, messages out of Lorien that Aragorn had captured Gollum
• Aragorn had come upon tracks beside a muddy pool, leading away from Mordor, along the skirts of the Dead Marshes
• He bit Aragorn, Aragorn captured him, Gollum refused to talk, Aragorn marched Gollum back toward Mirkwood
• Aragorn gave Gollum to the Elves, as per an earlier agreement
• Gandalf arrived and interrogated Gollum
• Gollum's ring came out of the Great River, he had possessed it long, it gave him long life
• Elvish characters for writing in Black Tongue
• Gandalf recites it out loud, change in voice, menacing and powerful and harsh, shadow passes over
• Translation of inscription: "One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the Darkness bind them."
• Boromir asks what came of Gollum
• Legolas brings bad news: Gollum escaped
• It happened through "over-kindliness"
• Gandalf asked the Elves to be hopeful that Gollum could be cured
• Led Gollum through woods, high tree standing alone that he liked to climb, one day he refused to climb down, guards tried to wait him out, Orcs attacked that evening, Gollum disappeared during the attack
• The attack was purposeful, Gollum is cunning, many spies of the Enemy
• They followed the Orcs' trail, it headed to Dol Guldur

Quotes: Fellowship of the Ring/Quotes#Chapter 2 2

Chapter 3

The Ring Goes South

Quotes: Fellowship of the Ring/Quotes#Chapter 3 2

Chapter 4

A Journey in the Dark

Quotes: Fellowship of the Ring/Quotes#Chapter 4 2

Chapter 5

The Bridge of Khazad-Dum

Quotes: Fellowship of the Ring/Quotes#Chapter 5 2

Chapter 6

Lothlorien

Quotes: Fellowship of the Ring/Quotes#Chapter 6 2

Chapter 7

The Mirror of Galadriel

Quotes: Fellowship of the Ring/Quotes#Chapter 7 2

Chapter 8

Farewell to Lorien

Quotes: Fellowship of the Ring/Quotes#Chapter 8 2

Chapter 9

The Great River

Quotes: Fellowship of the Ring/Quotes#Chapter 9 2

Chapter 10

The Breaking of the Fellowship

Quotes: Fellowship of the Ring/Quotes#Chapter 10 2