FELLOWSHIP STUDY GUIDE ~ 1

  
 

J. R. R. TOLKIEN: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
being the first part of THE LORD OF THE RINGS

  
 

English 104 - Introduction to Literature: Fiction, Fall 2003 (rev.)
Cora Agatucci, Humanities Dept., Central Oregon Community College

 

Page numbers given below refer to this edition of the text:
Tolkien, J. R. R.  The Fellowship of the Ring, being the first part of The Lord of the Rings. 
[Rev.] 2nd ed. [Originally published 1965/1966.]  Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1994.

Short Cuts: Epigraph & Setting | Prologue | Book One | Sources | Maps
Go to Fellowship Study Guide ~ 2

TITLE & Other Introductory Matter--e.g. Epigraph [see Charters, p. 1046], Dedication, Prologue, Preface--offer important clues to a work's central messages or themes, as well as other key aspects (e.g. Point of View / Narrator, Character, Symbol).  Examples:

TITLE:  The Fellowship of the Ring, being the first part of the Lord of the Rings
DRAMATIC QUESTIONS RAISED:

EPIGRAPH (p. v - see also Book One, Ch. II, p. 49)

Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
  Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
  One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
    One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
    One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.

[How] Does the epigraph help explain the title of the novel--e.g. "the Rings" and "the Ring"?
How many "Rings" are there and what do they do?  Who are these groups & their domains that have these rings?-- "Elven-kings under the sky," "Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone," "Mortal Men doomed to die," and "the Dark Lord" of Mordor, a land of Shadows.  How did they come by these rings?  What powers do these rings have?  NOTE WELL:  Tolkien provides Maps of Middle-Earth!! 

Tone of epigraph-poem seems formal, prophetic and ominous - especially because of what is given...

Proportion, Repetition, & Emphasis:
More than half (5) of the 8 lines concern the "Dark Lord" of Mordor and the "One Ring" (ll. 4-8);
One line is repeated twice--"In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie" (ll. 5 & 8);
One phrase is repeated three times--"One Ring" (ll. 6-7);
The "One Ring" of the "Dark Lord"  seems to have special powers over the other rings: i.e. to "rule," "find," "bring" and "bind" them.  What do these powers mean and why are they significant?

ALLUSIONs [see Charters, p. 1044] or references to external "outside" sources (esp. other literary works) extend / deepen the meaning of the primary literary or film text by inviting readers / viewers (who are familiar with these external sources, or could learn about them through research) to consider correspondences between the main text and the "outside" source alluded to.

Internal Allusions [Cora's concept]: always be alert for direct (& indirect) references to the title, epigraph, etc., that occur within a primary literary / film text.  Note & examine the context and passage in which such internal allusions occur, and consider how they comment on or help explain the title, epigraph, etc.

SETTING:  MIDDLE-EARTH, a great continent the Western lands of which the geography and history are chronicled in great detail, is the setting of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.  In the north of western Middle-earth lies the SHIRE, the land of the Hobbits, an agricultural region divided into four farthings--North, South, East, and West.  One of its chief products is Pipe-weed or Halfling's Leaf (tobacco), grown in the warmer Southfarthing. 
Fisher, Mark.  The Encyclopedia of Arda: An Interactive Guide to the Works of J. R. R. Tolkien.  1997-2000.  URL: http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/
[Note: "Arda was the name given by the Elves to their World and all it contained...."] 
The Encyclopedia of Arda--"a tribute to and a celebration of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien"--is a searchable "illustrated hypertext encyclopedia of Tolkien's realms and peoples" of Middle-earth.

PROLOGUE: Concerning Hobbits, and other matters (pp. 1 - 15)

Prologue:
1. Concerning Hobbits  (pp.1-7): a chief source of this information is The Hobbit; or, There and Back Again, written by Bilbo Baggins, comprising the early chapters of the Red Book of Westmarch (1)  According to Fisher's Encyclopedia of Arda,  Hobbits [i.e. hole-dwellers] are "A mortal race almost certainly related to Men, though their origins are unknown. Their most distinguishing feature was their short stature; even the tallest Hobbits rarely exceeded four feet in height."

2.  Concerning Pipe-weed (7-9): AKA: "Halfling's Leaf (tobacco), the best strain of which is grown in the Shire's Southfarthing.

3.  Of the Ordering of the Shire (9-10)

4. Of the Finding of the Ring (pp.11-13): a plot summary of The Hobbit, explaining how Bilbo Baggins came by the ring from its former bearer Gollum.

NOTE ON THE SHIRE RECORDS (13-15): a textual history of Red Book of Westmarch, as well as other sources of Hobbit, Shire & Middle-earth history.  The Red Book, originating in Bilbo Baggins' diary and commentaries, with later additions by his nephew Frodo Baggins, is identified as a key source of the [hi]stories told in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

MAP: "A PART of the SHIRE" (p. 18)

BOOK ONE Chapters I - XII (pp. 19 - 209)

Book One, Ch. I & II (pp. 21-62)

[Ch. 1] I.  A LONG-EXPECTED PARTY (pp. 21-40)

Time Frame:  60 years have passed since Bilbo Baggins returned from his adventure recounted in The Hobbit, thought Bilbo has seems to have aged very little.  The month is September and Bilbo prepares to celebrate his 111th birthday at the "Long Expected Party," as well as the birthday of his nephew and heir, Frodo Baggins, who will achieve adulthood (in Hobbit reckoning) at the age of 33.  Frodo lives with his uncle Bilbo at Bag End in the Shire.  Bilbo uses the Ring to disappear, making a dramatic exit from the birthday party celebrations.  Before leaving the Shire forever, Bilbo is persuaded by Gandalf, the wizard, to leave the Ring to Frodo. Significantly, Bilbo is the first ring-bearer to give up the ring willingly--even if reluctantly --and Gandalf refuses to take the Ring (pp. 33-34).
Song:  "The Road goes ever on and on . . . " (p. 35)
Frodo comes in after Bilbo has gone.  Much to the distress of the Sackville-Bagginses, Frodo inherits Bag End--and the Ring also comes to him.  Gandalf visits to say a last word: he warns Frodo never to use the ring, and to  "...keep it safe, and keep it secret" (p. 40). Then Gandalf leaves abruptly and for mysterious reasons, not to return to the Shire for a long time.

[Ch. 2] II. THE SHADOW OF THE PAST (pp. 41-63)

Bilbo "Mad" Baggins' disappearance at the Party causes much talk in the Shire for a long time afterwards,  Frodo carries on Bilbo's reputation for "oddity," giving a birthday party in

Bilbo's honor every year afterwards, and often wandering all over the Shire by himself or with his close friends Peregrin "Pippin" Took and Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck (p. 41). Meanwhile, "rumours of strange things happening in the world" circulated, such as Elves passing westward whispers about the Enemy in the Land of Mordor, and Gandalf had not visited in a long time (p. 42).
Time Frame - some 17 years later: Frodo Baggins is now approaching his 50th birthday when Gandalf, looking "older and more careworn," visits him again (pp 44-45).  Gandalf recounts the history of the One Ring in Frodo's possession--the greatest of the Rings of Power made long ago by Sauron, the Dark Lord of Mordor (pp. 45-55).  Gandalf describes the Ring's evil effects on its bearers--i.e. Gollum and Bilbo--and his reluctance to tell his suspicions about Bilbo's ring to Saruman the White, who grew in "pride" as he studied ring-lore (p. 46-47).

Gandalf conducts a last test which proves that  Bilbo's ring is the One Ring (pp. 48-49, 55). Gandalf explains to Frodo why the Ring was not destroyed, telling Isildur's story, and how it was found again by Gollum--of a species akin to Hobbits--who kept, then lost "my precious"  to Bilbo (pp. 50-58).  Sauron, growing in power, now urgently seeks to recover the ring after learning who may have it (Baggins) and where it may be (Shire) from capturing and torturing Gollum. 

Theme:  When Frodo says it is a "pity" that Bilbo had not killed Gollum when he had the chance, Gandalf responds: "Pity?  It was Pity that stayed his [Bilbo's] hand.  Pity and Mercy: not to strike without need. . . . Be sure that he took so little hurt from the evil, and escaped in the end, because he began ownership of the Ring so.  With Pity" (p. 58).
When Frodo exclaims that Gollum "deserves death," Gandalf responds:
"Deserve it!  I daresay he does.  Many that live deserve death.  And some that die deserve life.  Can you give it to them?  Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement.  For even the very wise cannot see all ends. . . . Gollum . . . is bound up with the fate of the Ring.  My heart tells me that he has some part to play yet, for good or ill, before the end; and when that comes, the pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many - yours not least" (p. 58).

Gandalf explains that The Ring can only be "unmade" (destroyed) by throwing it into the fires of Mount Doom where it was forged: "the Cracks of Doom in the depths of Orodruin, the Fire-Mountain" in Mordor (pp. 59-60).  Though Frodo wishes to destroy the Ring, he cannot, and when he tried to give it to Gandalf, Gandalf refuses to take it: 
"'No!...with that power I should have power too great and terrible.  And over me the Ring would gain a power still greater and more deadly.'  Hi eyes flashed and his face was lit as by a fire within.  'Do not tempt me!  For I do not wish to become like the Dark Lord himself.    Yet the way of the Ring to my heart is by pity, pity for weakness and the desire of strength to do good.  Do not tempt me!  I dare not take it, not even to keep it safe , unused.  The wish to wield it would be too great for my strength.  I shall have such great need of it.  Great perils lie before me'" (p. 60). 

But Gandalf vows to help Frodo bear the burden of the Ring, "'as long as it is yours to bear.  But we must do something soon.  The Enemy is moving'" (p. 60). 
Frodo accepts his responsibility:  "'...I suppose I must keep the Ring and guard it, at least for the present, whatever it may do to me.'
"'Whatever it may do, it will be slow, slow to evil, if you keep it with that purpose,' said Gandalf" (p. 60).
The Shire is no longer safe and Frodo decides to leave with the Ring, "to save the Shire, if I could," though "...I feel very small, and very uprooted, and...desperate.The Enemy is so strong and terrible'" (p. 61).
Gandalf applauds Frodo's resolve:  "Hobbits really are amazing creatures....You can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a month, and yet after a hundred years they can still surprise you at a pinch.  I hardly expected to get such an answer....but Bilbo made no mistake in choosing his heir, though he little thought how important it would prove'" (p. 61). 
Gandalf advises Frodo to travel under the pseudonym of "Underhill"  and warns of the Enemy's many spies.  They then discover Sam Gamgee, Frodo's faithful gardener,  eavesdropping on their conversation, and Sam (who greatly desires to see Elves) is enlisted in go with Frodo (pp. 62-63).

PLOT [See Charters on Plot, pp. 1003-1006; and relevant "Glossary of Literary Terms," pp. 1044-1053]:

Plot & Story
Action, Coincidence, Episode
Frame Story
 Subplot

1.  Exposition (Charters pp. 104-105)
Conflict & Flashback
See also Character & Setting

2. Rising Action (Charters p. 105)
Complication - see also Exposition: Conflict; & Character: Protagonist & Antagonist
Foreshadowing, Suspense [vs. Surprise], & Dramatic Irony
Pace

3. Climax / Turning Point (Charters p. 105)
Crisis
Climax
Epiphany
Reversal
Anti-Climax

4. Falling Action & Conclusion (Charters p. 105)
Resolution & Denouement

CHARACTER [See Charters: pp. 1006-1008; and relevant "Glossary of Literary Terms," pp. 1044-1053]:

Protagonist & Antagonist
Hero/Heroine (vs. Villain)
Round Character vs. Flat Character
Dynamic Character vs. Static Character
Stock Characters
See also Stereotype, Sentimentality & Pathos
Motivation
Dialogue
See also Irony, Dramatic Irony, & Verbal Irony

SETTING [See Charters: p. 1008]

Atmosphere & Mood
(Film) Mise en Scene
 Description
 See also PLOT: Exposition

THEME [See Charters: pp. 1013-1015]

POINT OF VIEW [See Charters: pp. 1009-1012]
Narration, Narrative, Narrator & Narrator's Persona
Voice
Tone
Frame Story

Book One, Ch. III - XII (pp. 64-209) - Chapter Synopses

[Ch. 3] III. THREE IS COMPANY (pp. 64-83)

Frodo delays until his 50th birthday, then leaves the Shire quietly with Sam Gamgee and Pippin (Peregrin Took), aided by Merry (Meriodoc Brandybuck) who goes ahead to await them at Crickhollow, in Buckland east of the Shire.  Already concerned that Gandalf has not yet returned from gathering news of the outside world, the three Hobbits are pursued by mysterious and terrifying Black Riders.  The three Hobbits meet a group of High Elves, led by Gildor Inglorion, who warns that the Black Riders are Sauron's servants seeking the Ring and advises Frodo to make haste for Rivendell.

[Ch. 4] IV.  A SHORT CUT TO MUSHROOMS (pp. 84-95)

The next day:  Enroute to meet Merry in Buckland, and trying to avoid the Black Riders, the Hobbits take an unpleasant short cut through the woods and arrive at the lands of Farmer Maggot (whose fabled mushrooms many hobbits, including a younger Frodo, have tried to pinch).  Unexpectedly friendly, Farmer Maggot reports that a frightening Black Rider had inquired about a  "Baggins" earlier that day.
That night:  Farmer Maggot helps the Hobbits by driving them to Brandywine Ferry, where Merry anxiously awaits them.

[Ch. 5] V.  A CONSPIRACY UNMASKED (pp. 96-106)

That same night: The Hobbits see a Black Rider when they cross the Brandywine River. In conversation at Crickhollow, Frodo learns that his three friends know about the Ring and his journey, that they are determined to accompany him, and Frodo accepts their help
The next day:  The four Hobbits enter the notoriously dangerous Old Forest, in an effort to evade the Black Riders.

[Ch. 6]: VI. THE OLD FOREST (pp. 107-120)

That day:  Inside the Old Forest, the Hobbits feel a watchful hate--especially at Bonfire Glade, where past Hobbits, long ago, burned many trees. At Withywindle River, the forest's center, the Hobbits leave the path and fall prey to enchantment of the Old Man Willow tree, which tries to drown Frodo and imprisons Merry and Pippin under its roots.  Crying for help, Frodo and Sam meet Tom Bombadil, who sings a magical tune to make the old willow tree free Merry and Pippin.  Tom takes the Hobbits to his home, where he lives with Gold-berry, the River-daughter.

[Ch. 7] VII. IN THE HOUSE OF TOM BOMBADIL (pp. 121-131)

That night: After a wonderful dinner with Tom Bombadil and Gold-berry, the Hobbits have different and strange dreams.
The following day:  The Hobbits learn much from Tom--a Master from the Elder Days, who has inhabited Middle-earth since the Spring of Arda even before the Elves were awakened.  And over Tom, the Ring has no power.  Before the Hobbits leave, Tom sings them a rhyme to call him if they need help.

 [Ch. 8] VIII. FOG ON THE BARROW-DOWNS (pp. 132-145)

The next day:  The Hobbits leave Tom's house and begin crossing the Barrow-downs, the fearful ancient burial grounds of men in hilly country east of the Shire.  After falling into enchanted sleep at the foot of a cold standing stone, they awake in fog at sundown and move on. 
That night: Later, Frodo realizes the others are gone, hears cries for help, and is also captured by a Barrow-wight, one of the evil spirits haunting the Barrow-downs.  Frodo awakes within a barrow grave, sees the others lying unconscious around him and a hand creeping towards them. Frodo strikes at the hand, then sings Tom's rhyme, and Tom Bombadil rescues the Hobbits. Daylight breaks into the barrow.  Tom gives each Hobbit a sword from the barrow treasure and sees them safely out of his lands.  The Hobbits reach Bree that evening.

[Ch. 9] IX.  AT THE SIGN OF THE PRANCING PONY (pp. 146-159)

That evening in Bree:  Amid the diverse company and flowing ale at The Prancing Pony, indiscreet Pippin begins telling too much about Bilbo Baggins' birthday party. As a distraction, Frodo jumps on a table and frolics; but he falls, the Ring slips on his finger, and he disappears. In shock, most guests leave the common room--but not Strider, who has been watching Frodo and insists on a private talk later. Butterbur, the innkeeper, remembers a message for Frodo.

[Ch. 10] X. STRIDER (pp. 160-171)

Later the same evening: The Hobbits distrust Strider, who comes to their rooms, seems to know much about their mission, and offers to be their guide to Rivendell.  Butterbur, the innkeeper, also comes with a months-old letter from Gandalf, advising the Hobbits to accept Strider's help.  Returning from a walk, Merry reports sighting Black Riders, so the Hobbits decide not to sleep in the hobbit-rooms they had rented, but in the inn's parlour after barring its windows and door.

[Ch. 11] XI.  A KNIFE IN THE DARK (pp. 172-191)

The same evening:  The Black Riders have discovered that Frodo is not at Crickhollow, ride quickly to Bree, break into the hobbit rooms of The Prancing Pony, but do not find the Hobbits. 
The next day & night: The Hobbits buy pony and supplies and head for Rivendell led by Strider.  Strider leads them through the wilderness to Weathertop (where they later learn that Gandalf has been three days earlier).  Here they are attacked by the Black Riders.  During the attack, Frodo puts on the ring, which plunges him into the Shadow-world of the Nazgul--the Black Riders.  Frodo is wounded by the fell knife of their leader, and falls into a swoon.

[Ch. 12] XII. FLIGHT TO THE FORD (pp. 192-209)

Strider administers to Frodo's deadly wound, but realizes that only the Rivendell Elves can save Frodo, so the company hurries on.  Strider and the Hobbits cross the river Hoarwell (Mitheithel), on through wilderness and troll-country of Bilbo Baggins' earlier adventure, and back to the Road.  Aware of the company's plight, Rivendell sends the Elf-lord Glorfindel to aid them.  Near the Ford of Bruinen (Loudwater) River, they are ambushed by all nine of the Black Riders.  On Glorfindel's Elven horse, Frodo crosses the river and escapes his demonic pursuers, who are caught and washed away mid-stream by a great magical flood.

MAPS (pp. 399-407)

[Map 1] "THE WEST OF MIDDLE-EARTH": Eriador, Rohan, Gondor, & Mordor
[Map 2] Eriador, including The Shire, Bree, Weathertop (Amon Sol), Last Bridge & Bruinen (Loudwater), Rivendell, Moria Gate & Misty Mountains, Lórien, Anduin (The Great River), & Isengard
[Map 3] Rhovanion (East of Eriador) & Anduin (The Great River): including (to the west) Last Bridge & Bruinen (Loudwater), Rivendell, Moria Gate & Misty Mountains, Lórien; and (to the east) Mirkwood & the Old Ford/Old Forest Road
[Map 4] West Rohan & Gondor (South of Eriador), including Isengard, Fangorn, & Helm's Deep
[Map 5] Rohan, Gondor, & Mordor
 [Map 6 two-page Detail:] Rohan, Gondor & Mordor

SOURCES & Resources

"The Lord of the Rings" Chapter Summaries: "The Fellowship of the Ring"
Tolkien Page: The Lord of the Rings
 URL: http://www-lehre.informatik.uni-osnabrueck.de/~skremer/martyn/index.html
Framed web environment so access:
Tolkien Page: The Lord of the Rings ... by J.R.R. Tolkien, 2000.
...then folow this PATHWAY:  > TOLKIEN > Comprehensive chapter summaries of "The Lord of the Rings"

"The Prophesy": The Complete List of Film Changes Revisited - The Fellowship of the Ring
Comparative summary & analysis of the opening of Peter Jackson's film The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, by "Ancalagon The Black," Tolkien Online, 1999-2002.
URL: http://www.tolkienonline.com/movies/changes_fotr.01.cfm [last accessed August 2002]

The Complete List of Film Changes, by "Ancalagon The Black" (Tolkien Online 1999-2002), describes, evaluates, and documents differences between Jackson's film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings and Tolkien's books.
Index URL: http://www.tolkienonline.com/movies/changes_index.cfm [last accessed Aug. 2002]
Ancalagon's "Film Changes" is an ongoing and exhaustively detailed project --being revised after the release of the first film, and still evolving in anticipation of the release of films 2 and 3 in the trilogy.  An enlightening case study in film adaptation of literature is emerging! [C.A.]
...Original 'Fellowship' List [of changes]:
URL: http://www.tolkienonline.com/movies/changes_fotr.old.cfm
...The Complete List of Film Changes Revisited - The Fellowship of the Ring
contains "The Prophecy" [the only essay so far, as of August 2002]:
URL: http://www.tolkienonline.com/movies/changes_fotr.01.cfm
...General Changes:
URL: http://www.tolkienonline.com/movies/changes_general.cfm

Tolkien Online: The One Ring
 The definitive almost-everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-Tolkien site. [C.A.]
URL: http://www.tolkienonline.com/
Website Review:  Sauter, Michael.  "Tolkien Online."  Bio Scope: Reviews.  Biography 5.12 (Dec. 2001): 38 (1pp).  EBSCOHost Academic Search Elite, Article Number 5541928.
Review excerpt:  A "lavishly over-stuffed Web site, devoted to the teeming fantasy world of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings,"  including the "daily offering of excerpts from Tolkien's literature and letters; the massive archive of news, reviews, articles, and essays; and the ever-growing gallery of strikingly original artwork, by Tolkien and some of his best-known interpreters."

“The Lord of the Rings.”  Magill Book Reviews 1 Aug. 1990.  Rpt. EBSCOHost Academic Search Elite, 2002: Article No. 9008011173.
Abstract:  Article gives plot synopses of all three parts of The Lord of the Rings.
EBSCOHost Abstract:  “This 3-volume epic fantasy tells of the war against Sauron, the evil Lord of the Rings, and in particular of the hobbit Frodo's quest to destroy the Rings of power by throwing it into the fires of Mount Doom.”

Fellowship Study Guide 2. Book Two
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