Summary
The Fellowship of the Ring is the first volume in J.R.R. Tolkien's epic fantasy trilogy The Lord of the Rings. Originally published in 1954, it introduces readers to the richly imagined world of Middle-earth and sets the stage for an epic quest to destroy the One Ring and defeat the Dark Lord Sauron. The novel follows hobbit Frodo Baggins as he leaves his peaceful home in the Shire and embarks on a perilous journey, joined by a diverse fellowship of humans, elves, dwarves, and his loyal hobbit companions.
Tolkien's masterful worldbuilding and mythological depth have made The Fellowship of the Ring one of the most influential and beloved works of modern fantasy. The novel showcases Tolkien's expertise as a philologist and his passion for Anglo-Saxon literature, weaving together elements of epic poetry, folklore, and invented languages to create a fully realized secondary world. Its themes of courage, friendship, and the corruption of power continue to resonate with readers decades after its publication.
Plot
In The Fellowship of the Ring, the hobbit Frodo Baggins inherits a ring from his uncle Bilbo. The wizard Gandalf discovers this ring is actually the One Ring of the Dark Lord Sauron. Frodo must leave his home in the Shire to keep the ring safe, accompanied by his hobbit friends Sam, Merry and Pippin. They are pursued by mysterious Black Riders as they make their way to the elven refuge of Rivendell.
At Rivendell, a council decides the ring must be destroyed by casting it into the fires of Mount Doom in Mordor. Frodo volunteers to undertake this perilous quest. He is joined by a fellowship of nine: the hobbits, Gandalf, the humans Aragorn and Boromir, the elf Legolas, and the dwarf Gimli. They set out across Middle-earth, attempting to pass over the Misty Mountains but are forced to go through the mines of Moria instead.
In Moria, they battle orcs and a terrifying Balrog demon. Gandalf falls into an abyss while fighting the Balrog, and the rest of the fellowship escapes to the elven forest of Lothlórien. There they are aided by the elf-queen Galadriel, who gives them magical gifts to help on their journey. They travel by boat down the great river Anduin, eventually reaching Amon Hen.
At Amon Hen, the fellowship begins to break apart. Boromir, overcome by the ring's power, tries to take it from Frodo. Frodo decides to continue the quest alone, but Sam insists on accompanying him. The two hobbits set off for Mordor, while the rest of the fellowship is scattered by an attack of Uruk-hai warriors.
Themes
Journey and quest
Power and corruption
Good versus evil
Friendship and loyalty
Duty and responsibility
Loss of innocence
Nature and industrialization
Setting
The story of The Fellowship of the Ring takes place in the fictional world of Middle-earth, a vast continent with diverse landscapes and peoples. The narrative unfolds in the Third Age, thousands of years after the defeat of the dark lord Morgoth, as his servant Sauron rises again to threaten Middle-earth. This era has a medieval fantasy feel, with swords and sorcery existing alongside more homely elements like pipes and ale.
The tale begins in the Shire, a peaceful rural region inhabited by hobbits in the northwest of Middle-earth. From there, the story expands outward to encompass other lands like the Old Forest, the town of Bree, and the Elven sanctuaries of Rivendell and Lothlórien. The characters also traverse wilderness areas including the Misty Mountains and travel along the Great River Anduin.
Key locations in the narrative include Bag End, Frodo's home in the Shire; the Prancing Pony inn in Bree; the ancient watchtower of Weathertop; and the Elven havens of Rivendell and Lothlórien. The story concludes at Amon Hen, a hill by the river Anduin, setting up the next stage of the journey toward the dark land of Mordor. Throughout, Tolkien's rich descriptions bring Middle-earth to life, from the cozy hobbit-holes of the Shire to the majestic forests of the Elves.
Characters
Frodo Baggins: The main protagonist and Ring-bearer. A hobbit who inherits the One Ring from his uncle Bilbo and undertakes the quest to destroy it. Frodo demonstrates great resilience and strength of will in resisting the Ring's corrupting influence. Though often aided by his companions, he bears the ultimate burden of the Ring alone.
Samwise Gamgee: Frodo's loyal gardener and companion on the quest. Sam is steadfastly devoted to Frodo and provides crucial emotional support throughout their journey. His practical skills and unwavering friendship prove invaluable to the success of the mission.
Gandalf: A wise and powerful wizard who guides Frodo and the Fellowship. Gandalf is instrumental in organizing the quest and provides crucial knowledge about the Ring's history. He battles the Balrog in Moria, sacrificing himself to allow the others to escape.
Aragorn: A Ranger of the North and heir to the throne of Gondor. Aragorn joins the Fellowship to protect Frodo and begins to embrace his destiny as a leader of Men. His skills as a warrior and healer prove vital to the group's survival.
Boromir: A noble warrior from Gondor who joins the Fellowship. Though valiant, Boromir struggles with the temptation of the Ring and briefly tries to take it from Frodo. He redeems himself by defending Merry and Pippin from orcs, sacrificing his life in the process.
Legolas: An elf prince from Mirkwood. His keen senses and skill with a bow make him a valuable member of the Fellowship.
Gimli: A dwarf warrior. Initially distrustful of elves, Gimli forms an unlikely friendship with Legolas during their journey.
Merry Brandybuck: One of Frodo's hobbit companions. Merry proves to be resourceful and brave despite his small stature.
Pippin Took: The youngest member of the Fellowship. Though sometimes impulsive, Pippin's cheerful nature helps maintain morale during difficult times.
Elrond: The wise elf-lord of Rivendell. He hosts the Council that decides the fate of the Ring and helps form the Fellowship.
Galadriel: The powerful elf-queen of Lothlórien. She provides aid and counsel to the Fellowship, resisting the temptation to take the Ring for herself.
Tom Bombadil: A mysterious and merry figure who rescues the hobbits in the Old Forest. He appears unaffected by the Ring's power.
Saruman: Once the head of the wizard order, Saruman has been corrupted by his desire for power and now serves Sauron.
Quick facts
Tolkien originally envisioned The Lord of the Rings as a single volume, but his publisher split it into three books due to paper shortages after World War II.
The famous opening line “When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday...” was written by Tolkien's son Christopher, not J.R.R. Tolkien himself.
Tom Bombadil was based on a Dutch doll belonging to Tolkien's children. The character was omitted from Peter Jackson's film adaptation.
It took Tolkien over 12 years to write The Fellowship of the Ring, from 1937 to 1949.
The character of Aragorn was originally conceived as a hobbit named Trotter who wore wooden shoes.
Tolkien created multiple languages for his Middle-earth universe, including Sindarin and Quenya Elvish.
The Shire, home of the hobbits, was inspired by rural England, particularly the area around Sarehole where Tolkien grew up.
Gandalf's name comes from Old Norse and means “wand-elf” or “staff-elf".
The Ringwraiths were partially inspired by the Celtic legend of the Wild Hunt.
Tolkien hand-drew many of the maps of Middle-earth featured in the book.
About the Author
J.R.R. Tolkien was born in 1892 and became one of the most influential fantasy authors of the 20th century. After serving in World War I, he embarked on an academic career as a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University. It was during this time that Tolkien began developing his elaborate mythological world of Middle-earth, which would form the backdrop for his most famous works.
Tolkien's breakthrough as an author came with the 1937 publication of The Hobbit, a children's fantasy novel that introduced readers to the hobbit Bilbo Baggins and the magical world of Middle-earth. The book's success led Tolkien to write its much longer and more complex sequel, The Lord of the Rings, published in three volumes from 1954 to 1955. This epic high fantasy tale of hobbits, elves, dwarves and humans battling the forces of evil became a cultural phenomenon and established many of the tropes of modern fantasy literature.
Tolkien spent decades crafting an intricate mythology and invented languages for Middle-earth. Much of this material was posthumously edited and published by his son Christopher, including The Silmarillion in 1977. Tolkien was also an accomplished philologist and artist, producing numerous illustrations for his stories. His academic work focused on Old and Middle English literature, including a landmark 1936 lecture on Beowulf that transformed the study of the epic poem.
Tolkien's influence on fantasy literature and popular culture has been profound and long-lasting. His works have sold over 150 million copies and been adapted into award-winning films. Tolkien's intricate world-building, mythic themes, and exploration of the nature of good and evil have inspired generations of writers and artists. Tolkien died in 1973.
