“The Two Towers: Part Two of the Lord of the Rings,” by J.R.R. Tolkien
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, New York, 1954, 322 pages, Grades 8 and higher.
High fantasy is a literary genre in which a young protagonist journeys forth on a daring quest to accomplish some necessary deed. It is usually set in a created world that may have unusual characters critical for the success of the venture. The youthful main character is forced to make difficult and dangerous decisions to accomplish the goals of the quest.
While many authors have written fantasy novels, J.R.R. Tolkien has created a towering world of fantasy, courage and adventure in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. “The Two Towers” is the second book in the series and describes the attempts of the hobbits, Frodo Baggins and his faithful servant Sam, to destroy the ring of binding power.
The story begins with a fierce battle between Frodo’s companions and the evil Orcs. Frodo and Sam commandeer a boat and row away from the battle scene. But they are now on their own and begin to face increasing dangers. The hobbits avoid capture by another group of Orcs and escape into forests of Fanghorn. There, they meet a magical tree named Treebard the Ent. Treebard rouses the other trees in the forest and they assist Frodo in battling the forces of the Dark Lord.
The binding ring is so powerful that most people come under its evil spell if they touch it, or put the ring on their finger. Frodo carries the ring around his neck and senses its propensity for evil. As the journey continues, the demented creature Gollum joins the hobbits. Gollum is depraved and desires to possess the ring and use it to his advantage.
The only way to destroy the ring is to hurl it into the Cracks of Doom and let fire destroy it. But the Dark Lord controls the land of Mordor, where Frodo must travel to break the curse of the ring. Not knowing the way, Frodo discovers that Gollum has been to Land of Mordor. Gollum agrees to be the hobbits’ guide to the menacing tower of the Dark Lord.
Both Frodo and Sam know that Gollum is a deceitful liar. But Frodo has little choice since he doesn’t know the way through Mordor. Gollum leads the hobbits through the dangerous land and finally into a tunnel filled with evil. What happens?
Does Gollum double cross Frodo and Sam? Who is in the tunnel? What part does a magical sword and a vial of magic liquid play in the story? How do the hobbits fight against the increasing evil of the Dark Lord? To find out, go to the library and check out this fascinating second volume in the Lord of the Rings series.
J.R.R. Tolkien was a professor of English literature at Oxford University. During World War I, Tolkien was an officer in the British Army. He saw combat on the Western Front and suffered from fevers caused by the wretched conditions of trench warfare. These illnesses caused him to be taken off the front lines, which most likely saved his life, as few English officers survived the brutality of the war.
To get around British military censors, he invented a new language and wrote letters to his wife in this created script. Tolkien stated that World War I did not influence his writing, but many readers feel otherwise. “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” series became internationally famous after World War II. Tolkien’s genius was so great that he is frequently considered the Father of High Fantasy. Do yourself a favor and read the entire series. They may be the greatest fantasy books ever written.
