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Lord of the Rings |
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J. R. R. Tolkien |
It is a bit of a stretch to try and review the whole Lord of the Rings here, and even thought I've read it about ten times. There is just too much going on for me to be able to do a really thorough job. I'll do my best.
Let me first say that Tolkien, an English Language and Literature professor at Oxford, was both a classical scholar, and an expert linguist. The language, writing style, and mythology he created for his books have set the standard for writers ever after.
The Fellowship of the Ring
Frodo has finally come of age, and his Uncle Bilbo Baggins, hero of the Hobbit (another amazing book), has given Frodo the ring that he won from Gollum in that story. It isn't long before the wizard Gandalf the Grey appears and Frodo is swept along into an adventure, which is a very disreputable thing for a hobbit to do. Joined by his friends - Sam, Pippin, and Merry - Frodo flees the comfort of the shire, and begins his epic journey. He is aided by a variety of allies in unexpected places. Without the aid of Gandalf, Frodo and company manage to stay one step ahead of their pursuers as they press on to Rivendell. The Ringwraiths must capture the ring for their master, Sauron. Why does the Dark Lord want the Ring? Because, as Gandalf has discovered, it is the One Ring:
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
At Rivendell the true fellowship of the ring begins. During the Council of Elrond, Elven Lord of Rivendell, it is decided that the only way to prevent the One Ring's corrupting power from falling into the wrong hands, is to destroy it. Gandalf believes that Sauron, whose greed and hatred is unsurpassed, could not imagine anyone resisting the Ring's power and therefore would not foresee an attempt to destroy it. A group of nine, one for each Ringwraith, is assembled: Legolas for the Elves, Gimli for the Dwarves, Boromir and Aragorn for the Men, Gandalf, Pippin, Merry, Sam and the Ringbearer - Frodo. The fellowship leaves Rivendell and beings the perilous journey north, to the Cracks of Doom.
The Two Towers
It is difficult to summarize the books without giving too much away. I'm actually rereading the books as I write. I find something new each time I read them. The Two Towers is often regarded as being slightly inferior to the first and last books, but it has always been my favourite. I like the new characters we meet, and the way Tolkien gathers his story threads together. The anticipation builds with each page because you know that in the final book, there can only be one winner.
The brave fellowship falls upon hard times. Some members of the party are lost, while Pippin and Merry are carried off during an orc attack. The quest seems more impossible than ever, but Frodo and Sam are determined to carry on, alone if necessary. The remnants of the fellowship continue, each group following it's own path. The two young hobbits are rescued from the orcs by an Ent named Treebeard, the oldest living creature in Middle Earth. The Ents are roused to battle against Saruman, the Dark Lord's pawn in the Orthanc. At Helm's Deep, King Théoden, joined by several members of the fellowship, rallies his people against the Orcs. Old friends and old enemies make an appearance in this book.
The Return Of the King:
Under the evil gaze of Mordor's Eye, an army gathers ready to fight Sauron, regardless of the Ringbearer's fate. Aragorn, the uncrowned Heir of Isildur, reveals himself to the Dark Lord and he, and his army, march to the Gates of Mordor in an effort to distract Sauron's attention from Sam and Frodo's quest to destroy the ring.
I don't want my review to be a spoiler for those who haven't read the book, but I will try to say a few more things about some of our favourite heroes and villains. Eowyn, who showed great valour, is destined not to find love with Aragorn, but she is given another chance at happiness, if she takes it. Pippin and Merry both achieve great honour, but at a high cost to themselves and the Kings they pledged their allegiance to. Saruman, though he has had his wizard powers stripped from him, retains his powers of persuasion, and he causes a lot of mischief for the Hobbits in the Shire.
There is so much poetry, music and myth in these three volumes, I can't begin to tell you how great it is. I would have to say it is easily the book of the past Millennium, and I guess that it will continue to overwhelm readers for centuries to come.
There are a million parts of this book that I love, but ever since I heard Tolkien read these words, this passage has become a favourite. Just imagine J.R.R. rolling his R's and reading in his best dramatic fashion.
At that sound the bent shape of the king sprang suddenly erect. Tall and proud he seemed again; and rising in his stirrups he cried in a loud voice, more clear than any ever heard a mortal man achieve before:
- Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden!
- Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter!
- spear shall be shaken. shield be splintered,
- a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises!
- Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!
With that he seized a great horn from Guthláf his banner-bearer, and he blew such a blast upon it that it burst asunder. And straightaway all the horns were lifted up in music, and the blowing of the horns of Rohan in that hour was like a storm upon the plain and a thunder in the mountains.
Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!
Suddenly, the King cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it. After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them. Éomer rode there, the white horsetail on his helm floating in his speed, and the front of the first éored roared like a breaker foaming to the shore, but Théoden could not be overtaken. Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromë the great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. His golden shield was uncovered, and lo! it shone like an image of the Sun, and the grass flame into green about the white feet of his steed. For morning came, morning and a wind from the sea; and the darkness was removed, and the hosts of Mordor wailed, and terror took them, and the fled, and died, and the hoofs of wrath rode over them. And then all the host of Rohan burst into song, and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the City.