The Fellowship of the Ring Book 1: Chapter 3-4 Summary/Review

Summary

Chapter 3

2 months later, Gandalf returns and informs Frodo to go to the House of Elfrond. Frodo Baggins slowly prepares to leave his home Bag End. He sells it to a family relative who has been wanting his hole for many years. He has some family helping him pack and he also hosted a small party to celebrate his shared birthday with Bilbo on September 22nd.  Frodo and his two companions, Sam and Pippin, begins to leave to the woods. Frodo overhears a conversation between a mysterious figure and Sam's father. The stranger wants Bilbo Baggins, but Sam's father told them that Bilbo has already

Dark Riders

left. Frodo and his friends quickly leave. On the second day, Frodo sensed danger and he told Sam and Pippin to climb up into the trees. A tall figure in a black cloak that conceals his face, riding on a black horse, approaches. Frodo also has a sudden desire to put the ring on. The figure leaves and Sam informs Frodo that the figure is the same figure who questioned his father last night. The hobbits moved on cautiously and they once again hide from the dark figure. The dark figure immediately leaves after it hears elves approaching and singing. Frodo knows how to speak the elves language, and the elves told him that the Black Riders are servants of the Enemy and must be avoided.

Chapter 4

Farmer Maggot

The hobbits wake up and the elves have disappeared, but they sent word to allies about the hobbit's journey. The hobbits slowly continues on through the dense underbrush. They eventually walk into the fields of Farmer Maggot. Frodo is scared because Maggot once caught Frodo stealing his mushrooms. However, Maggot warmly greets them and helps protect them from the Dark Riders. Maggot also offers to carry them in his covered wagon  to the Brandywine River ferry. When they got there, their friend, Meriadoc Brandybuck, gets ready to take them across the river over to Buckland.

Review

Like many epics, The Lord of the Rings is a huge quest and the chapters so far were just the starting line. Tolkien's experience with reading several fiction books helps allow him to firmly ground his main characters. For example, The Sword in the Stone by T.H. White begin with Sir Ector and his two sons: Kay who is biological child, and Art (Wart/Arthur) who is an adopted orphan. White introduces his characters and gradually tells the story of how Art will pull out the enchanted sword in the stone becoming the legendary King Arthur.  

Tolkien also uses these two chapters to bring a lot of suspense and tension between the Dark Riders and the hobbits. Tolkien also makes it very clear on who is good and who is evil. The dark cloaked Dark Riders has evil written all over them. The elves and their singing immediately appears to be good. Sauron and his One Ring represent the corruption within ourselves and the Elves represent our purity. These two conflicts balance each other out.

The One Ring also seems to be in the middle between good and evil. When the Dark Riders are nearby, Frodo has the sudden desire to put on the ring. This is an impulse of Frodo giving in to the the One Ring's power. Even Gandalf in the previous chapters refuse to wear it because he fears that the ring's seductive power will overwhelm him. In other words, the One Ring is the gap between the powers of good and evil.

The Fellowship of the Ring Book 1: Chapter 1-2 Summary/Review

Summary

Chapter 1

Frodo Baggins

It has been many years since Bilbo's epic journey with the dwarves and a wizard towards the Misty Mountains. Bilbo Baggins is now the most famous hobbit in Hobbiton because of the stories and wealth he brought back. He recieves visits from the elves, dwarves, and his old wizard friend, Gandalf, in his hobbit hole, Bag End. However, Bilbo Baggins, strangely hasn't aged at all after all those years. Bilbo is having his 111th birthday and invited many hobbits as well as his old friend, Gandalf. Bilbo also takes care of his orphaned cousin, Frodo Baggins. In the party, Bilbo announces that he is leaving to explore outside the Shire, and he uses his ring to sneak away back to his home. Gandalf approaches Bilbo and tells him that Bilbo should leave the ring. Bilbo at first is reluctant, even thrashing at Gandalf, but he eventually gives in. Bilbo drops the ring and leaves on a adventure with three dwarf companions. Frodo comes into Bag End and Gandalf tells him that Bilbo left the ring for Frodo. However, Gandalf also warns Frodo to NEVER use the ring and keep it a secret.

Chapter 2

17 years had passed since Gandalf's warning and Frodo Baggins is nearly fifty years old. He hears odd rumors about an ancient evil power growing in the land of Mordor as well as tales about orcs, trolls, and other evil creatures. Gandalf suddenly returns realizing that the ring Bilbo left behind for Frodo is more powerful than he thought. The ring is one of the Rings of Power created by Elven-smiths ages ago. He tells Frodo about it and proves it by throwing the ring into the fire. When he retrieves the ring from the flames, it is cooled to the touch. Then letters of Mordor appear on the ring. It reads...

The One Ring

"One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them."

Gandalf informs Frodo that the ring once belongs to the Dark Lord, Sauron. The ring grants Sauron an immense amount of power as well as control over the other Great Rings. Long ago, 3 rings were made by the elves, 7 from the dwarves, and 9 from humans. Sauron used the ring and nearly conquered all of Middle Earth. He was stopped when his finger wearing the ring was chopped off by the son of a Westernesse king, Isildur. Isildur took the ring for himself but was later killed by the Orcs. The One Ring was lost in the Great River where it wouldn't be found until many year later by a young boy from a Hobbit-like race named Déagol. Sméagol was next to Déagol wanted the ring as a birthday present.

 When Déagol refused, Sméagol killed him. Sméagol discovered that the ring grants the wearer invisibility and he was later shunned by his family for the thievery and spying he did. Sméagol became a miserable creature. That creature is the same creature as Gollum and the ring wouldn't be stolen again until a young Bilbo Baggins arrived. Gandalf knows all of this because after Bilbo's birthday, he went to find Gollum. His only mistake was letting Gollum go who ran toward Sauron. Sauron is now aware about his One Ring is in the Shire, particularly to the name Baggins, and he will do anything to retrieve his ring back.

Review

I really enjoyed how Tolkien explained the mystery behind the ring that Bilbo found. The fact that the One Ring also has the power to control the other Great Rings is mind blowing. Tolkien also introduces a new conflict, Sauron, who owns the ring that Bilbo left behind. This ring in The Hobbit may look like any other magic ring, but it is actually an evil artifact. The ring makes us curious and wonder what exactly is this ring and what kind of role will it play throughout the story. We also can wonder if the ring effects will also affect Frodo Baggins throughout the story. The ring also has a lot of power. We know this because of its ability to control other rings which can explain why Isildur, Gollum, and Bilbo had a hard time giving it up. What is really surprising is that Bilbo's will was strong enough to abandon the ring. This proves that some people are able to overcome the ring's powers.

Introducing "The Lord of the Rings" and The Fellowship of the Ring: Prologue Summary/Review

Introduction

After Tolkien wrote The Hobbit, his publishers asked him to create a sequel. This sequel is The Lord of the Rings. The novel itself was written so  that it was separated into 3 sections. They are The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. Lord of the Rings continues after 100 years from Bilbo's return from his epic journey to the Misty Mountains. This novel has been highly approved by many readers and was the greatest book in poll run by major British booksellers in 1997. This book's medieval places its characters and its readers on a collision course with modern moral dilemmas of knowledge and power.

Prologue

Summary

The novel reintroduces the hobbits and how they love the countryside. The hobbits are beings who are short, curly-haired, and have hair on their feet. Hobbits are also known to have a light feet and are able to sneak into places really quietly. The prologue also reveals how much has changed in Middle-Earth and the Third Age is no more. Hobbits have also remained entirely on the margins of historical events that have occurred since their migration. The prologue reintroduces Bilbo Baggins who is well-known throughout the world and is now an old hobbit. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who went on a journey with several dwarves and a wizard to the Misty Mountains. During the journey, he encounter a being who calls himself Gollum. Gollum is obsessed with a ring which Bilbo steals and accidentally discovers that wearing the ring grants its user to become invisible. After the journey, Bilbo wrote his stories, but Gandalf was skeptical about Bilbo's ring. He later questions Bilbo who reveals the truth.

Review

Hobbits have not changed since The Hobbit, they still don't wear shoes because of their rough skin on their feet and they enjoy the pleasures of living in their hobbit holes. I also spot that the confrontation between Bilo and Gollum as well as the the mysterious invisibility ring will play a central role throughout The Lord of the Rings. Bilbo believes in simple deeds and he isn't used to verbal complexity that will determined his life. Miraculously, Bilbo was able to escape his doom by asking a straightforward riddle "What have I got in my pocket?" which stumps Gollum because it was so simple. It is a riddle after all and Gollum was not able to solve it. This eventually ends to Bilbo's success. Overall, I am excited on what will happen in The Lord of the Rings and how everything will turn out.

The Hobbit Chapter 19 Summary/Review

The Last Stage

Summary

Bilbo returns with his share of treasure

Bilbo and Gandalf are riding on their ponies back toward Bilbo's homeland. Bilbo can still hear the wood-elves singing and several wood-elves revealed themselves and led them to the house of Elfrond.  From there, Gandalf shared stories to the elves and his old friend Elfrond about their epic adventure through the Misty Mountains. Bilbo remained quiet and learned that the reason Gandalf left the company was to attend a meeting with the other white wizards. He helped participate with the good wizards on driving out the Necromancer from his dark hold in Mirkwood. Gandalf tells Elfrond that the dark magic user will not be around anymore and that peace will be restored. Bilbo and Gandalf spends the night in Elfrond's and they later departed saying goodbye to Elfrond. They dug up several more gold and other treasures that the trolls hid when the company first passed through here. They filled their bags with gold and walked the whole way back. Bilbo has changed a lot especially

when he stopped and sang about his journey with the dwarves and Gandalf.

"Gandalf looked at him. “My dear Bilbo!” he said. “Something is the matter with you! You are not the hobbit that you were.”

Gandalf tells Bilbo that he is no longer the hobbit Bilbo once was. The journey changed Bilbo from the hobbit who loved the comfort of home to the the more experience hobbit that slay Giant-Spiders and experienced a huge battle. Gandalf and Bilbo sees hobbits in the middle of holding an auction on the presumably believed deceased Bilbo. Bilbo had to spend a lot to regain his furniture. Bilbo also lost his reputation because the adventure changed him. The elves, wizards, and dwarves who came to visit Bilbo respected him, but the his neighboring hobbits didn't except his relatives from the Took side. One day, Gandalf and Balin came to visit Bilbo. Bilbo openly invited them in and they share stories. Bard has refunded Lake Town and the friendship between humans, dwarves, and elves is still strong as ever.

Bilbo's stuff is being auctioned

Review

Bilbo has changed a lot from the journey. Before, he loved the comfort of his home and would stay in there. The journey to the Misty Mountains with the dwarves allowed Bilbo to overcome that personality. This personality was replaced with a more adventurous and courage. Bilbo also played a key role throughout the book. If Bilbo had not agreed to join with the dwarves, the dwarves would have died throughout the journey, Smaug would never have been killed, the treasure would never be reclaimed, the goblins will still be roaming in the Misty Mountains, and the renew alliance between dwarves, humans, and elves will never happen. Even Gandalf was surprised because he never foreseen the importance of Bilbo's role in the journey. 

I think that this change can somewhat reflect Tolkien's experience after the Great War. As I have repeated many times, Tolkien was part of the British army during World War I. And like most veterans of the war, Tolkien lifestyle was completely changed. He must have known that the war changed him. So he incorporated the same change on Bilbo's experience of his adventure.

I think that his mother's Took side allowed Bilbo to continue on and not give up through out the journey. The Tooks were known for the only hobbit family who loved adventures and had some desires to seek them. Bilbo Baggins is a Took and a Baggins, but his personality was forever changed into a Took's. This will also explain why the other hobbits (except the Tooks) never believe in Bilbo because they were too comfortable in their homes and didn't really want to go out. Bilbo's journey with the dwarves has finally came to an end.

Overall, The Hobbit is a great book to read. I give it a 10/10 and hope that people who haven't read this book actually try it out.

Battle of Five Armies Review

Review

Bilbo's little betrayal shows the uniqueness of the story compare to other mythological and legend literature. In most epic literature, loyalty to the leader are one of the paramount virtues, but Bilbo is different. Bilbo makes a independent moral choice because he believes of a greater outcome rather than Thorin's ideals.

A lot of things happen during the Battle of Five Armies. A couple major characters from the company died against the forces of evil. In this case, the evil forces are the goblins and the Wargs. I think that Tolkien created this major battle to reflect World War I. World War I was a war between six major European powers who separate into 2 alliances. The Triple Entente (Britain, France, and Russia) and The Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy). For Tolkien, he uses the dragons, goblins, and other creatures from European mythology to reflect how many people sees them as the evil creatures in stories. He shows that the humans, elves, and dwarves have to unite together to protect each other which also recalls how the three were peaceful neighbors who worked together and helped each other.

During the Battle of Five Armies, the eagles enter the battlefield. The eagle could also reflect the US entering the Great War because in The Hobbit, the eagles arrived into the battlefield when the forces of good were struggling against the forces of evil. The eagles also represent the one great and pure race who wouldn't fight for gold, but the goblin's involvement brings out their cry for good. They came down the mountaintops in large numbers and helped change the tide of the battle. The Battle of Five Armies also shows the power of nature. Even though evil can be powerful, the essential nature of the world is good.

Thorin's dying breath was to show his regrets for greed corrupting him and that he now recognizes the value of race like the hobbits (more particularly towards Bilbo) which he had contempt in the beginning of the book.

 "If more of us values food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." 

This quote from Thorin talks about that there should be more people like Bilbo who had these qualities in the beginning of the book. The Battle of Five Armies was a huge and epic battle that helped reunite the neighboring forces of good. This battle also showed some understanding of the importance of other races which Thorin was able to recognize and respect before he died. Overall, I really thought that The Battle of Five Armies was an epic battle that allowed races to coexist with one another.

The Hobbit: Battle of Five Armies

Chapter 17 and 18

Bard reveals the Arkenstone

The story continues the following morning with Bard and two other men tries to form a peace agreement with Thorin. Thorin refuses to share his treasure so Bard reveals the Arkenstone, a gem that Thorin has been seeking for awhile. Thorin rages on Bilbo who reveals that he founded the Akenstone and never told Thorin. Thorin is about to turn violent on Bilbo until Gandalf reveals himself and stops Thorin.

"“You! You!” cried Thorin, turning upon him and grasping him with both hands. “You miserable hobbit! You undersized—burglar!” he shouted at a loss for words, and he shook poor Bilbo like a rabbit." (page 276; paragraph 9)

Gandalf allows Bilbo to explain himself about the burglar contract which only specify that he could take whatever her wants as payment. This forces Thorin to agree and bitterly give 1/14 of the treasure to the humans and elves. However, Thorin secretly hopes that his dwarf army led by Dain will be able to come and take the stone by force before the arrangement begins.

The dwarf army arrives in large numbers and they threaten the elves and humans. Before both sides could wage a war, a dark force looms toward them and Gandalf announces that Bolg of the North has come. Bolg of the North leads an army of Wargs and goblins hoping to take the treasure in the mountain. The humans, elves, and dwarves joined forces to fight off against the Wargs and goblins.
This battle is called the Battle of Five Armies. Both sides fight fiercely against each other.

The Battle of Five Armies

"It was a terrible battle. The most dreadful of all Bilbo’s experiences, and the one which at the time he hated most...." (page 283; paragraph 3)

The elves and dwarves are able to make the goblins flee, but the Wargs keeps forcing them to fall back. Thorin and his small group of dwarves fight alongside the humans with lots of courage and bravery. The enemy slowly gains land and Bilbo is forced to retreat to the mountain. Believing that they will lose, Bilbo feels terrible for his dwarf friends who will eventually be overwhelmed and slaughtered. However, when all hope was just about to be lost, Bilbo spots the Great Eagles joining the fight. Bilbo keeps on yelling "The Eagles" and later loses consciousness after a stone hit his head.

"“The Eagles! the Eagles!” Bilbo cried, dancing and waving his arms. If the elves could not see him they could hear him. Soon they too took up the cry, and it echoed across the valley..."
(page 287; paragraph 1)


Bilbo regains consciousness and sees that they have won the battle. A man tries to search for Bilbo and Bilbo had to take off his ring to reveal himself that he is still alive. Bilbo returns back to a delighted Gandalf who thought Bilbo's luck had run out. Bilbo is sent to a mortally wounded Thorin. Thorin asks Bilbo to forgive him for his harsh actions and wishes him well as he dies.

"“Farewell, good thief,” he said. “I go now to the halls of waiting to sit beside my fathers, until the world is renewed. Since I leave now all gold and silver, and go where it is of little worth, I wish to part in friendship from you, and I would take back my words and deeds at the Gate.”"
(page 290; paragraph 1)

Bilbo cries after the loss of his friend and king under the mountain. He later learns the the Great Eagles arrives to help out after the eagles saw suspicious goblin activity in the mountains prior the battle. The great Eagle of Misty Mountain rallies a large number of eagles to aid the humans, dwarves, and elves. However, they were still outnumbered, until Beorn charges in out of nowwhere. Together, they managed to chain the tide of the battle into their favor. Beorn arrives and carries Thorin's body and they buries him deep beneath the mountain.  Bard also places the Arkenstone onto Thorin's chest.

Thorin's deathbed with the Arkenstone

The dwarf, Dain, becomes the new king of the dwarves. Of the twelve dwarves who journey with Thorin, only ten remained.  Bilbo learns that Kili and Fili died by Thorin's side defending him for Thorin is their mother's elder brother. The others were fighting alongside Dain. One fourteenth of the treasure was split towards the elves and the humans. Bard uses the gold to rebuild the destroyed Lake Town. Bilbo was rewarded with two small chests. One is filled with silver and the other is filled with gold. Bilbo then departs and says goodbye to his dwarf friends. The group of friends told each other to visit anytime they want.

"“Farewell, Balin!” he said; “and farewell, Dwalin; and farewell Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur! May your beards never grow thin!” And turning towards the Mountain he added: “Farewell Thorin Oakenshield!And Fili and Kili! May your memory never fade!”....“Goodbye and good luck, wherever you fare!” said Balin at last...." (page 293-294; paragraph 1-2)

Bilbo and Gandalf takes the long way back. They stopped by Beorn's cottage to rest. Eventually, they head back towards Bilbo's homeland.

The Hobbit: Chapter 15-16 Summary/Review

Summary

Chapter 15

The thrush returns to the company and has a raven translate telling the dwarves that Smaug is dead. The dwarves were overjoyed, but it was short-lived when the thrush informs them that an army of elves and humans are marching toward their location. They all want to have a share of the treasure especially the struggling Lake Town townspeople. Thorin is greedy and believes that the treasure is his inheritance. Bard and some elvin representative asks Thorin to be generous enough to share the treasure since Thorin and his dwarves took hospitality in Lake Town. Thorin strictly refused, but Bard gives Thorin time to reconsider.

“You put your worst cause last and in the chief place,” Thorin answered. “To the treasure of my people no man has a claim, because Smaug who stole it from us also robbed him of life or home..... nothing will we give, not even a loaf’s worth, under threat of force. While an armed host lies before our doors, we look on you as foes and thieves." (Page 265-266; Paragraph 4)


After they left, Thorin told his dwarves that they will fight for their treasure and make sure no one gets it. Bombor, Fili, and Kili are the only dwarves that do not believe Thorin's idea.

Chapter 16

Bilbo hands the Arkenston to Bard and Elven Leaders

Thorin continues to search for the missing Arkenstone not knowing that Bilbo has it. The other dwarves worries about the army of humans and elves camped outside their doorstep. Bilbo believes that he must take it himself to prevent a war. Bilbo sneaks out using his ring and hands the Arkenstone to Bard and the Elven leaders. He tells them to use the Arkenstone as a peace offering so both sides don't start a war with each other. Amazed by Bilbo's courage and bravery, Bard takes the Arkenstone, and asks Bilbo if he would like to stay with them. Bilbo refuses and returns to the mountain. Bilbo meets Gandalf who is proud of Bilbo's actions. Bilbo, believing he did the best thing for both sides, walks back into the mountain.

Review

Tolkien showed the power of greed is destructive and can corrupt one's mind. Thorin's lust for the treasure and the Arkenstone proves this. Thorin turned on the people of Lake Town and the elves who helped him and his dwarves throughout their journey. Instead of paying them back with some treasure to help rebuild the destruction of Lake Town, Thorin told the once friends to scram. In Middle-Earth, humans, dwarves, and elves should stay allies because they are considered the "good guys". I think that Bilbo's act of wanting peace reflect to Tolkien wishing that World War I could end. Tolkien served in the British military and he wished that it would end.

Chapter 17 represents that the greatest thing to prevent war is peace. Although Bilbo is friends with the dwarves, he believes that the only way to prevent a war is for both sides to have a peace agreement. I have to agree to this myself because it is unwise to betray an ally or allies who had already helped you so much. Overall, I believe that Bilbo did the right thing.