Revision as of 22:06, 1 May 2020

Notes

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

Summary: Fellowship of the Ring/Summary#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 Gollumn, finding him
Precious
Mirkwood elves helped track Gollum