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4.48 AVERAGE
4.48 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I’m gonna miss Sam now that I’ve finally finished this series. Sam and Frodo should’ve ended up together
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For the sake of this review, I will break it up into two parts following book 5 and 6 (the first and second half of ROTK respectively).
Book 5
Tolkien begins this book by toggling between the different ways in which Pippin and Merry are experiencing the war of the ring. Although separated, they find themselves in very similar situations both being risen to a high station by their respective leaders. Pippin who was taken by Gandalf to Minas Tirith offered himself into the service of Lord Denethor, steward of Gondor who is a cold and proud man with little care for Pippin. Meanwhile in Rohan, Merry offers his services to King Theoden who is portrayed as a kindly and universally beloved king. It was fascinating see how they experience their situation given both are isolated from any of their kin, far from home and in a situation that they are completely unprepared for. In this last sense they have a lot in common with common man allowing the reader to imagine how they would react if thrust into a similar situation. What follows is an exposition of Pippins undying optimism in the face of adversity and the unknown contrasted with the despair Merry feels at the idea of not being of any use in amongst the Roharrim who are ostensibly a warrior race. He pities his friends Frodo and Sam away in Mordor on a perilous mission, not knowing whether they are still alive and for Pippin, his closest friend, he worries, knowing that the host of Mordor is headed his way. His sense of hopelessness is only worsened by his kindly lord who bids he stay behind so as not to be killed in battle as he is only a small hobbit as he dearly wants to contribute like his friends are. Pippin, meanwhile, is caught up in the excitement and is making friends when not waiting on Denethor whom he finds to be quite intimidating. I think these two stories perfectly illustrate the way so many people must have felt during the wars through which Tolkien lived, a mingled sense of duty and adventure that culminated in an overwhelming loss of life.
Book 6
This book is essentially devoted to wrapping up the trilogy. It begins by focusing on Frodo and Sam’s final march into Mordor and focuses on the realisation and acceptance that there is a very slim chance of success, and even if they do succeed in destroying the ring, they are not likely to survive. Frodo had accepted this for some time but when Sam, ever the optimist, casts away his beloved cooking gear knowing there won’t be a way back, you can’t help but admire his determination to go on in the face of certain death. This section really grapples with nihilism and finding the strength to go on despite the existential threat of death we all must face.
The final chapters were some of the most interesting. The four Hobbits return to The Shire as heroes and kings men only to find it ruined by the remaining force of Saruman and their people living in fear of being informed on by the new regime of “gatherers and sharers” who have made food scarce respond to any sort of descent with a lengthy prison sentence. Despite Tolkien’s own denial that these books are an allegory for any events that took place in the 20th century, it seems here that The Shire has come under a petty communist dictatorship, as did so many European nations in the fallout of the second world war.
Final Thoughts on The Trilogy
I found Fellowship to be the most enjoyable of the three books as here we’re introduced to how rich in lore Tolkien’s universe has become since The Hobbit. Much like the Fellowship, I thoroughly enjoyed the chapters set in Lothlorien, I like that Tolkien played with the idea that in parts of the world time could move at a different pace, or at least be perceived differently. Link to full review below.
There were certain parts of Towers that were really exciting and almost whimsical certainly the Merry and Pippins meeting with the ends which seemed to evoke a certain pre-Christian, pagan ideas that to defy nature is folly which was ultimately Saruman’s downfall. However, a lot of walking around the plains goes on in the first half (book 4) which does get quite tiresome. It was in this book that I first started to notice that Aragon’s victory’s, the battle of Helm’s Deep especially, are not focused on as much and seem secondary to the somewhat minor goings on of the hobbits. Whether this is because the book is supposedly written from the perspective of Frodo, who had access to Sam, Merry and Pippin when back in the shire writing, or whether it is Tolkien trying to demonstrate that victories don’t lie in solely in the hands of great names, but in the multiple small acts that result in big events. Link to full review below.
As above, I feel Return of the King wraps the story up very nicely, and I’m glad that a whole book was dedicated to this. Once again Aragon’s victories appear small in comparison to those of the Hobbits, especially his march through the paths of the dead which seems almost like a device used to make the reader think Aragon is going to his death, rather than an event of any significance.
It’s not surprising why this trilogy is so popular, after having read it, I feel as though I have read the source material or the first draft even, of every major work of fantasy that has followed it.
Full Reviews of books one and two
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4137319560?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4137319560?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
Book 5
Tolkien begins this book by toggling between the different ways in which Pippin and Merry are experiencing the war of the ring. Although separated, they find themselves in very similar situations both being risen to a high station by their respective leaders. Pippin who was taken by Gandalf to Minas Tirith offered himself into the service of Lord Denethor, steward of Gondor who is a cold and proud man with little care for Pippin. Meanwhile in Rohan, Merry offers his services to King Theoden who is portrayed as a kindly and universally beloved king. It was fascinating see how they experience their situation given both are isolated from any of their kin, far from home and in a situation that they are completely unprepared for. In this last sense they have a lot in common with common man allowing the reader to imagine how they would react if thrust into a similar situation. What follows is an exposition of Pippins undying optimism in the face of adversity and the unknown contrasted with the despair Merry feels at the idea of not being of any use in amongst the Roharrim who are ostensibly a warrior race. He pities his friends Frodo and Sam away in Mordor on a perilous mission, not knowing whether they are still alive and for Pippin, his closest friend, he worries, knowing that the host of Mordor is headed his way. His sense of hopelessness is only worsened by his kindly lord who bids he stay behind so as not to be killed in battle as he is only a small hobbit as he dearly wants to contribute like his friends are. Pippin, meanwhile, is caught up in the excitement and is making friends when not waiting on Denethor whom he finds to be quite intimidating. I think these two stories perfectly illustrate the way so many people must have felt during the wars through which Tolkien lived, a mingled sense of duty and adventure that culminated in an overwhelming loss of life.
Book 6
This book is essentially devoted to wrapping up the trilogy. It begins by focusing on Frodo and Sam’s final march into Mordor and focuses on the realisation and acceptance that there is a very slim chance of success, and even if they do succeed in destroying the ring, they are not likely to survive. Frodo had accepted this for some time but when Sam, ever the optimist, casts away his beloved cooking gear knowing there won’t be a way back, you can’t help but admire his determination to go on in the face of certain death. This section really grapples with nihilism and finding the strength to go on despite the existential threat of death we all must face.
The final chapters were some of the most interesting. The four Hobbits return to The Shire as heroes and kings men only to find it ruined by the remaining force of Saruman and their people living in fear of being informed on by the new regime of “gatherers and sharers” who have made food scarce respond to any sort of descent with a lengthy prison sentence. Despite Tolkien’s own denial that these books are an allegory for any events that took place in the 20th century, it seems here that The Shire has come under a petty communist dictatorship, as did so many European nations in the fallout of the second world war.
Final Thoughts on The Trilogy
I found Fellowship to be the most enjoyable of the three books as here we’re introduced to how rich in lore Tolkien’s universe has become since The Hobbit. Much like the Fellowship, I thoroughly enjoyed the chapters set in Lothlorien, I like that Tolkien played with the idea that in parts of the world time could move at a different pace, or at least be perceived differently. Link to full review below.
There were certain parts of Towers that were really exciting and almost whimsical certainly the Merry and Pippins meeting with the ends which seemed to evoke a certain pre-Christian, pagan ideas that to defy nature is folly which was ultimately Saruman’s downfall. However, a lot of walking around the plains goes on in the first half (book 4) which does get quite tiresome. It was in this book that I first started to notice that Aragon’s victory’s, the battle of Helm’s Deep especially, are not focused on as much and seem secondary to the somewhat minor goings on of the hobbits. Whether this is because the book is supposedly written from the perspective of Frodo, who had access to Sam, Merry and Pippin when back in the shire writing, or whether it is Tolkien trying to demonstrate that victories don’t lie in solely in the hands of great names, but in the multiple small acts that result in big events. Link to full review below.
As above, I feel Return of the King wraps the story up very nicely, and I’m glad that a whole book was dedicated to this. Once again Aragon’s victories appear small in comparison to those of the Hobbits, especially his march through the paths of the dead which seems almost like a device used to make the reader think Aragon is going to his death, rather than an event of any significance.
It’s not surprising why this trilogy is so popular, after having read it, I feel as though I have read the source material or the first draft even, of every major work of fantasy that has followed it.
Full Reviews of books one and two
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4137319560?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4137319560?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“But you will be healed. You were meant to be solid and whole, and you will be.”
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced