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, finding him
Precious
Mirkwood elves helped track Gollum

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