“The Fellowship of the Ring” by J.R.R. Tolkein
(Part One of Three in “The Lord of the Rings)
Mariner Press, New York, 1994 (originally published in 1954), 398 pages. Grades 10 and higher.
High fantasy is a form of literature in which a young and sometimes naïve character is set on the difficult task of stopping evil and achieving good. Due to their inexperience, the main character is usually assisted by noble people knowledgeable in how to oppose the impending malevolence. But even with this assistance, the central figure must plumb the depths of his heart and soul to resolve the problem.
Frequently, fantasy writers create new worlds in their novels. This gives high fantasy a compelling stage to discuss current issues and hold readers attention. “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien is one of the greatest fantasy trilogies in literature. “The Fellowship of the Ring” is the first book in the series.
Frodo Baggins is a hobbit living in Bag End in the Shire. Similar to most hobbits, he likes to take it easy and eat two or three breakfasts each day. Years earlier, his uncle Bilbo Baggins went on a long and dangerous journey and returned with great wealth and a mysterious ring. Bilbo had met an evil creature named Gollum and tricked him out of the ring. Now an old hobbit, Bilbo plans to leave Bag End and gives Frodo the ring.
After he leaves, Frodo is visited by a wizard named Gandalf. He learns that whoever possesses the ring has enormous power but that this power turns the ring holder down the path of evil and destruction. Frodo is told the ring was created by the evil Lord Sauron and that he is searching the entire world for the ring. When he finds the ring, Sauron will use it to create an evil world dominated by his poisoned will.
Gandalf tells Frodo that he must go on a dangerous journey to the malicious world created by Sauron to destroy the ring. Frodo feels overwhelmed by the task. But at Gandalf’s urging, he leaves the Shire with three other hobbits. They soon meet a mysterious outdoorsman named Strider.
Not able to yet understand the gravity of the situation, the hobbits make silly comments at a tavern and are attacked by black riders serving Lord Sauron. Saved by Strider, they flee through the mountains with the riders doggedly pursuing them. Barely making it to safety in the kingdom of Rivendell, Frodo now is told the full measure of his mission. It is a journey that will take him to the ends of the earth and he will learn what happens when goodness confronts evil.
How does he learn this? Who is Legolas the Elf? What are the Mines of Moria? What does Galadriel, the beautiful Lady of Lorien, teach Frodo about the power of the ring? And finally, how does Frodo learn that you must confront and reject evil. To find out the answers to these questions, go to the library and read “The Fellowship of the Ring” by J.R.R. Tolkien.
In the late 1960s, “The Lord of the Rings” achieved immense popularity. J.R.R. Tolkien was a professor of literature at Oxford University and the success of “The Lord of the Rings” made him world-famous. Though others had written high fantasy before Tolkien, the massive success of his writing made him the virtual father of high fantasy. Though he died in 1973, his influence is such that that “The Lord of the Rings” is the literary benchmark for high fantasy.
I hope you take the opportunity to read "The Fellowship of the Rings" and the subsequent books in the trilogy. You just can’t beat them by Gollum. Enjoy!
