How can I even begin? How can I begin to tell you about this book for which I have the utmost respect; this book which is the equivalent to me of any holy book; this book which has so changed my life? Where do I begin to tell you of what an epic it is, of how I revere it, of how many times I have pored over its pages and longed to be a part of that beautiful world that Tolkien described? How can I begin to tell you that no matter how many reviews you read of this book, you will never truly understand why it is so incredible, until you yourself sit down and read it?
Such is my love for The Lord of the Rings, and for every word that has flown from Tolkien’s pen on this subject. Ever since I joined Mouth Shut, I had wanted to write a review on this book which means so much to me – but I didn’t have the courage to. Any review I write about The Lord of the Rings, I told myself, will have to be absolutely true to the books and to what I feel about them. There are so many things about The Lord of the Rings to write about – be patient, and I will tell you.
Let me stop the sentimental stuff now, and get on with it.
First of all, some acronyms that I might use (fairly obvious to some, not so obvious to others):
LOTR = Lord of the Rings
FOTR = Fellowship of the Rings
TTT= The Two Towers
ROTK = Return of the King
Structure
The Lord of the Rings is one novel. Tolkien had always intended it to be one novel, but his publishers split it into three separate books. In his words, “The Lord of the Rings is often erroneously called a trilogy, when it is in fact a single novel, consisting of six books plus appendices, sometimes published in three volumes.”
The three ‘volumes’ are the ones mentioned above – The Fellowship of the Rings, The Two Towers, and the Return of the King. Each ‘volume’ is split into three ‘books’.
I have the Houghton Mifflin Company version of the novel – just one long book instead of 3 separate ones – at it is exactly 1137 pages long, appendices included, maps and other details excluded.
Introduction
The Lord of the Rings is the narration of a quest. It takes place in a fantastical world, Middle-Earth, which contains fantastical creatures, namely Elves, Dwarves, Wizards, Hobbits, Ents, Men, and so on. Much of Tolkien’s writing is based on the real world – and much of it is not. He has created entire languages (Quenya, Sindarin, Dwarfish, and so on) and entire worlds. His style can be summarized in one word: detailed. It’s as though he has created a world of his own – with living, breathing characters, beautiful, flowing language, and a passion that just reaches out to you and sucks you in. You can’t help but be overwhelmed. I know I was.
Plot
The Lord of the Rings is the tale of Frodo Baggins, a simple hobbit, who inadvertently comes in possession of ‘The One Ring’ – a ring that is much desired by Sauron, the Dark Lord. If Sauron finds the Ring, he will rule Middle-Earth and destroy everything that was once beautiful. In order to prevent Sauron from getting the Ring, Frodo Baggins must take the Ring to the Mountain of Doom, where he must cast the ring into its fires. The problem – Mount Doom is in Mordor, where the Dark Lord resides. Basically, Frodo has to walk into the spider’s web to save Middle-Earth and restore its glory.
The Fellowship of the Rings - the first volume, talks of Frodo’s inheritance of the Ring, the background of the Ring and its impact on Middle-Earth, and narrates Frodo’s journey to Rivendell, the Last Homely House. In Rivendell, the elders appoint a Fellowship – a group of Nine citizens of Middle-Earth, who will accompany Frodo to Mordor to destroy the Ring. Fate, however, intervenes, and their paths meander – by the end of the first volume, the Fellowship is broken.
The Two Towers - the second volume, is the narration of the defeat of Saruman (another antagonist). It also continues the journey of Frodo and Sam (his companion) to Mordor. I cannot go into great detail, as it would be both redundant and time-consuming, but if you want an extremely detailed review, read Esgallindeion’s review at https://mouthshut.com/readreview/35847-1.html. He has done a much better job than I will do – in excruciating detail, at that.
The Return of the King - the final volume, is the narration of the outcome of the quest – of the results, the battle, the misery, and the bittersweet victory. It ties up all loose ends and puts our mind to rest – my favourite volume of them all. The most profound moment of the book, in my opinion, comes at the end – when the White Ship sails to the Grey Havens. The chapter brought tears to my eyes – you cannot help but connect with the characters as the book proceeds – and when they all sail away, and a sad sweetness remains, you cannot help but cry.
Thoughts
Finally, a section where I don’t have to continue fulfilling the requirements of a review.
I think it’s fairly obvious by now that I really, really love The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien is a genius – he has created a world that I have totally fallen in love with. Every time I read paragraphs like these, I cannot help but wish that I was in Middle-Earth, living in Lothlórien, just breathing Middle-Earth:
“High amid the branches of a towering tree that stood in the center of all there gleamed a white flet. At the feet of the trees, and all about the green hillsides the grass was studded with small golden flowers shaped like stars. Among them, nodding on slender stalks, were other flowers, white and palest green: they glimmered as a mist amid the rich hue of the grass. Over all the sky was blue, and the sun of afternoon glowed upon the hill and cast long green shadows beneath the trees.”
Of course, Middle-Earth is obviously not all beautiful. In fact, the novel portrays misery, greed, jealousy, spite, hatred, loyalty, happiness, sadness, sweetness, love, peace, strife, and all a manner of other themes – and very effectively. I don’t wish to analyze the novel as such – this is not the place to do so, and it rather ruins the entire effect of it, but even if you’re not a sucker for fantasy, this novel will still appeal to you in countless other ways.
Do not look to this novel to inform you or educate you – it does that, but that is not truly its purpose. Instead, the book is supposed to be enjoyed, it is supposed to inspire you and make you think, and make you be mesmerized by its beauty and allure.
Do not read this book if you’re the type of person who peeks at the ending of a mystery novel – you will likely not have the patience for The Lord of the Rings. It is an immensely complex book – and a stranger to it will be lost in the myriad names, places, and allusions that this book contains. Take for example, Aragorn. He is also known as Elessar, Estel, Strider, Thorongil, Wingfoot, and numerous other names. Every place has an alternate name – in Elvish, Dwarfish, the Black Tongue, and so on (for example: Rivendell is also Imladris, The Last Homely House, etc.). The book is complex – there is no denying it. It needs patience and appreciation – give it a fair chance.
Continued in comments.
