The Return of the King is the third and final novel in J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, following The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers. The book is set in Middle-Earth, a fictional world created by Tolkien, and follows the quest of a hobbit named Frodo and his companions as they continue their journey to destroy the One Ring, a powerful artifact created by the dark lord Sauron to enslave all of Middle-Earth.
BOOK INFO
version: CLASSIC, EBOOK, AUDIOBOOK
number of pages: 320
literary movement: MODERNISM
literary genre: FANTASY
1st edition: 1955
years of writing: 1951 - 1955
SUMMARY
The novel opens with the armies of Sauron converging on the city of Minas Tirith in Gondor, one of the last remaining strongholds of resistance against the Dark Lord. Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam continue their journey towards Mount Doom, the only place where the One Ring can be destroyed. Along the way, they encounter various obstacles, including the treacherous Gollum, who is obsessed with the Ring and will stop at nothing to get it back.
As the story unfolds, the characters experience moments of great courage and triumph, as well as moments of heartache and despair. Aragorn, the rightful heir to the throne of Gondor, must lead his army in a final battle against the forces of Sauron, while Frodo and Sam face the ultimate test of their courage and resolve as they confront the fiery depths of Mount Doom.
The Return of the King is widely regarded as one of the greatest works of fiction in the English language, and has been widely praised for its vivid depiction of Middle-Earth, its complex and well-developed characters, and its powerful themes of friendship, bravery, and the struggle between good and evil. The book was awarded the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1955, and was one of the first fantasy novels to be widely recognized as a literary classic.
BOOK IS THE THIRD PART OF A TRILOGY:
THE LORD OF THE RINGS
MAIN CHARACTERS
Frodo Baggins
A hobbit who is entrusted with the task of destroying the One Ring.
Samwise Gamgee
Frodo’s loyal friend and servant who accompanies him on his journey.
Aragorn
A human who is a rightful heir to the throne of Gondor.
Legolas
An Elven archer and member of the Fellowship of the Ring.
Gimli
A dwarf and also a member of the Fellowship of the Ring.
Gandalf
A wise wizard and leader of the Fellowship of the Ring.
Merry and Pippin
Hobbits and members of the Fellowship of the Ring.
Théoden
King of Rohan and ally of the Fellowship of the Ring.
Denethor
The steward of Gondor, father of Faramir and Boromir.
Faramir
Boromir’s younger brother and captain of Gondor’s army.
In this hour, I do not believe that any darkness will endure.
FARAMIR
TOP 10 POINTS
- The Return of the King is the third and final book in J. R. R. Tolkien’s classic high-fantasy trilogy, The Lord of the Rings.
- The book follows the journey of hobbit Frodo Baggins and his companions as they try to destroy the One Ring and defeat the evil Sauron.
- The story takes place in the imaginary world of Middle-Earth, where characters from different species, such as hobbits, elves, dwarves, and men, come together to fight against Sauron’s forces.
- In The Return of the King, the Fellowship of the Ring is split into two separate storylines, with Frodo and Samwise Gamgee on their quest to destroy the Ring and the rest of the characters preparing for the Battle of Minas Tirith.
- The Battle of Minas Tirith is the climax of the book and a massive war between Sauron’s army and the forces of Gondor and Rohan.
- The book also features the journey of Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli as they lead the army of the Dead to the battle and fulfill their part in the defeat of Sauron.
- The Return of the King also includes the resolution of various subplots and character arcs, including the romance between Arwen and Aragorn, the fall of Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, and the growth of hobbit characters Merry and Pippin.
- The book ends with the destruction of the One Ring, the defeat of Sauron, and the restoration of peace in Middle-Earth.
- The Return of the King was first published on October 20, 1955, and has since become a literary classic, widely recognized as one of the greatest works of high-fantasy.
- The book has received numerous awards and accolades, including the International Fantasy Award and the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel. It has also been adapted into numerous films, video games, and other media.
Overall, The Return of the King is an epic conclusion to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and remains a beloved and widely read work of fantasy literature to this day. Whether you are a fan of fantasy literature or simply looking for an exciting and memorable adventure, this book is sure to captivate and entertain you from start to finish.
BOOK AWARDS
The International Fantasy Award
The Hugo Award for Best Novel
MOVIE ADAPTATION
The Lord of the Rings is a film trilogy consisting of three epic fantasy adventure films based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. The films were directed by Peter Jackson and released between 2001 and 2003.
The films were critical and commercial successes, winning multiple Academy Awards and grossing over $2.9 billion worldwide. They are considered some of the most influential and beloved films of all time, and have had a significant impact on the fantasy genre in popular culture.
The cast includes actors such as Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins, Ian McKellen as the wizard Gandalf, Viggo Mortensen as the human Aragorn, Orlando Bloom as the elf Legolas, and Sean Astin as Frodo’s loyal friend, Samwise Gamgee. The films feature stunning visual effects, elaborate sets and costumes, and a sweeping score composed by Howard Shore.
ABOUT WRITER
J.R.R. Tolkien, full name John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, was an English writer, poet, and academic who is best known for his fantasy novels The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. He was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa on January 3, 1892, but moved to Birmingham, England with his family when he was three years old. His father, Arthur Tolkien, was an English bank manager and his mother, Mabel Tolkien, was a talented artist and musician.
