J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

After starting this webpage, I got too busy to continue it. I have all the DVD's (yes, even the extended versions) and I've read all the books, but just can't find the time to do a good comparison. I will at some point, maybe when I retire, but in the meantime I have found some websites that help me get info I need to get through Tolkien's books.

Book 1

  1. Prologue
    1. Tons of stuff here that they couldn't fit into the movie prologue. It was all hobbit info mostly, I didn't actually read it all because it was way too boring and dragged out. I think they did a good job with the movie prologue, which mostly corresponds to chapter 3 in book 1 (see 3. b.).
  2. A Long Expected Party
    1. The movie party was pretty good because in the book there is a lot of BORING family crap! The only two things I'm disappointed about is that Bilbo's farewell speech was much better in the book, but the worst part that they totally ruined in the movie is the fact that Bilbo's 111th birthday is shared with Frodo. Yes, Frodo and Bilbo have the same birthday and Frodo was celebrating his 35th birthday, which is a hobbit's coming of age birthday.
  3. The Shadow of the Past
    1. Big difference, they totally screwed this part up in the movie. True, Gandalph did go off to research the ring because he suspected but wasn't sure. Only in the book, Gandalph was gone for 20 years! Gandalph would come and visit Frodo but wasn't sure or ready to tell Frodo anything until 20 years later on Frodo's 55th birthday, which was a big bash celebrating Bilbo's too.
    2. When Gandalph returned finally to tell Frodo everything, Gandalph gave Frodo a few more details than were told in the movie's prologue. The part that movie unfortunately left out, was how Gollum became Gollum. At first, Gollum was Sméagol, of a clever-handed and quieted-footed little people from the Great River on the edge of Wilderland. Sméagol's 'friend' Déagol, found the ring in the bottom of the river. Sméagol wanted it bad, so bad that he strangled and killed Déagol to steal the ring. Sméagol used the ring to turn invisible and spy on people. He was hated cause he was a jerk so eventually he left with his beloved ring. The ring made him worse, Sméagol began to hate light so he moved into the caves where Bilbo found him and became Gollum for 500 years. Gandalph, in the 20 years after Bilbo left, searched for Gollum, caught him and talked to him at length to get the full story (which wasn't easy). Gandalph found Gollum only with Aragorn's help. Gandalph let Gollum live, of course and leave, until Gollum got caught and gave away the Shire and Baggins info in Mordor. The part in the movie where Gandalph found info about Isildur was true enough but Gandalph had to go all the way to Gondor to get that info.
    3. The Sam in the window scene was pretty accurate. Sam was really working in the garden. Sam was really Frodo's gardener and that wasn't apparent in the movie. Even though Frodo was 55, the ring kept him looking young. Oh and Gandalph planned to meet them earlier so never asked them to meet him at the Prancing Pony.
  4. Three is Company
    1. Major differences here too, mainly that Gandalph told Frodo to leave, but told him he could take his time. After Bilbo's disappearance, Frodo didn't want to cause anymore trouble for the Bagginses. Frodo procrastinated majorly. Frodo sold Bagend to some relatives that were snobs and both he and Bilbo disliked them. Frodo took his furniture to Buckland, where he was pretending to move. On their way to Buckland, it was Sam, Pippin and Frodo traveling to meet Merry who was already there. Sam, Pippin and Merry knew that Frodo was planning a trip and were going to help, nothing like the movie. The trip to the ferry took days and days.
    2. So the black riders weren't as close as the movie led us to believe, but by the time the three set off, hence the title of this chapter, the black riders were already looking for Shire and Baggins. As a matter of fact, as Frodo was preparing to leave, one was asking for him and Frodo overhead but ignored him. Along the way they did run into riders too as in the movie but not like the mushroom scence (see title of next chapter).
    3. Big thing in the book that the movie left out was that Sam had this thing about elves. Sam was really looking forward to seeing elves and on their way to Buckland and the ferry they met an elf, Gildor. Gildor travelled with them for awhile.
  5. A Short Cut to Mushrooms
    1. Big difference when they get to farmer Maggot's land. In the movie, Merry and Pippin were stealing his veggies. In the book, they did that as kids, but now Pippin thinks highly of Maggot. As a matter of fact, the three stayed with Maggot and dined the evening they got there. The mushroom thing was that Frodo had stolen the farmer's mushrooms as a kid and was really scared by his huge guard dogs. This still had Frodo scared.
    2. They hook up with Merry by the end of this chapter.
  6. A Conspiracy Unmasked
    1. They get on the ferry without the black riders! Frodo finds out that Merry knew about the ring. The conspiracy is that he knew and kept it to himself.
  7. The Old Forest
    1. A lot, most everything, was left out of the movie as the hobbits traveled to Bree (to the Prancing Pony). This trip also took days and days. In the 'Old Forest' they ran into a tree that attacked them. A willow-tree caught Merry and it was old Tom Bombadil who saved him. Oh and they got ponies to ride so they did not walk to Bree. They got little, hobbit-size ponies.
  8. In the House of Tom Bombadil
    1. Tom was nowhere in the movie, too bad.
  9. Fog on the Barrow-Downs
    1. In this chapter the hobbits were almost killed by wights, Barrow-wights to be exact. They were all caught and knocked out and caged until Tom saved them.
  10. At the Sign of the Prancing Pony
    1. This part of the movie was a little accurate. It didn't happen anywhere like the movie but the same sorts of things happened. Frodo did slip and put his ring on (it didn't fall on his finger).
  11. Strider
    1. They totally met Strider similarly to the way they did in the movie. The whole Mr. Underhill thing was true. While at the Prancing Pony they got a letter from Gandalph telling them to trust Strider and to move quickly if he, Gandalph, wasn't there.
    2. All their horses were stolen and they had to buy one, the last one in all of Bree, from a bad guy. That was how they got only one horse and had to walk to Weathertop Hill. They would've had to walk anyway cause they stayed off the road, but they needed one to carry their provisions.
    3. The horse's name was Bill and Sam cared for him and grew attached to him.
  12. A Knife in the Dark
    1. The way to Weathertop Hill was long and treacherous and tiring and took many days. The fight on the hill was a bit off in the movie. Strider never left them, he was there when the five ring wraiths attacked. And the four hobbits had swords from the beginning, Strider wasn't the one who gave it to them. Sam, Pippin and Merry did not make a fire that the ring wraiths used to find them, the ring wraiths hate all fire and light. Frodo was tempted to use the ring and used it, which helped the ring wraiths find him. Frodo did fall and the ring wraith did stab him with the melting blade in the shoulder. It was trying to stab him in the heart but Frodo squirmed and it missed.
  13. Flight to the Ford
    1. They did have to leave after Frodo was stabbed, but Frodo was placed on their horse while the rest of the party carried all the stuff. Next screw up was that while they were at the place where Bilbo's trolls were turned to stone, Arwen never snuck up on Strider! And it wasn't even Arwen who was looking for them! It was some dude named Glorfindel. They let Frodo ride Glorfindel's awesome horse while they all walked on foot (with less stuff cause the other horse could carry stuff again).
    2. When the ring wraiths found them and caught up with them, the five, they let the horse, ALONE, take Frodo off to the Rivendell river. Frodo didn't was tempted to stay because of the effect of the ring and the wound, but the horse was too awesome. Glorfindel's white horse easily outran the five, but the other four were cutting him off. He barely made it across the river and it was Frodo who was brave enough to stand up the ring wraiths. As the ring wraiths rode onto the river, the scene in the movie was finally accurate. Elrond created that flood to stop the ring wraiths.

Book 2

  1. Many Meetings
    1. In Rivendell, the movie did a pretty good job. I mean there were a lot more details in the book of course and we can't expect them to all get into the movie because they only had three hours. Bilbo did turn freakish when he saw the ring again, only it happened quite differently in the book.
    2. Here they met Arwen, Elrond's daughter.
  2. The Council of Elrond
    1. We learn here that Sauron himself is visiting the dwarves trying to force them to tell them of the hobbit who stole the 'least of rings' (Bilbo). Sauron promised them that he'd give them back three of the rings that the dwarves originally got. The dwarves have been putting him off, saying neither yea nor nay, cause they don't want to piss him off. He's come twice and says the third will be the last. In the movie they made it seem as though the humans were the only ones standing up to Sauron's forces but the dwarves are in trouble too. Although the movie was correct in the way Boromir spoke of how Gondor is standing up to the evil or Mordor.
    2. There was no mention that Frodo's wound will be with him forever. It was kind of implied when Aragorn showed the hilt of the knife to Glorfindel.
    3. This too is different, Aragorn and Boromir didn't share that scence with the broken sword (Narsil) of Isildur's father, Elendil. Aragorn carries the broken sword! He carries it all the time. As a matter of fact, while Boromir was telling his story, it was Aragorn himself who showed Boromir the broken sword and it was Elrond who introduced him (NOT Legolas). What Legolas did tell at the council was that Gollum escaped (the elves kept him).
    4. The story of what happened to Gandalph when he visited Saruman was told here in this chapter. The great movie fight between the wizards did not happen in the book. But the way it happened in the movie is pretty close to the book. A character, Radagast, was left out of the movie though. It was due to Radagast that the great eagle flew to Isengard and found Gandalph and carried him to safety. The movie bit with the moth is false.
    5. Oh and Gimli never tried to destroy the ring with his ax. Bilbo was the one who almost volunteered to take the ring to Mt Doom before Frodo finally did. Also, only Sam snuck into the council to go along with Frodo. And by the end of this chapter, and the end of the council, no one else agreed to go with Frodo (so that cool scene where Elrond declares the fellowship of the ring never happened).
    6. The scene between Arwen and Aragorn never happened in the book. There are allusions to their love but nothing concrete.
  3. The Ring Goes South
    1. They remain in Rivendell for a long time, two months, while elves and Aragorn scout the land and search for the black riders. Elrond was the one who finally chose Gandalph, Legolas and Gimli (plus Aragorn and Boromir because they needed to travel in that same direction to get to Minas Tirith) to accompany Sam and Frodo. Pippin and Merry begged to go too and Elrond almost didn't agree because he wanted them to return to the shire and tell them what happened, but he finally agreed to let them go. Before they left, the sword of Elendil was reforged and Aragorn renamed it Andúril.
    2. Bilbo did give Frodo sting, the sword, and the mail, Dwarf mithril.
    3. The movie got the order wrong. Gandalph took the front with Aragorn because Aragorn knew the land even in the dark, Legolas brought up the rear because of his keen eyesight.
    4. The crows scene was true, but they kept coming back. The Boromir scene where he held Frodo's ring didn't happen in the book. It was true that Gandalph made the decision to travel over the mountain, although he had Aragorn's advice as well. The mountain scence was true, they were buried in snow and had to go back down. Boromir and Aragorn dug with they down while Legolas ran on top of the snow! Boromir and Aragorn then carried the hobbits down. It was awesome in the book only Saruman played no part in it in the book, it was the evil mountain itself cause it hates dwarves and elves. The part where Frodo decided to go through Moria wasn't in the book either.
  4. A Journey in the Dark
    1. Aragorn was against even mentioning Moria, but after the mountain (Caradhras) defeated them, they had no choice. Even Frodo didn't choose it, he did agree that they must go on cause giving up was an option. The conversation with Boromir where he is against Moria and offers other choices, which Gandalph shows as not as good did happen in the book, but it happened after the mountain not before. Aragorn took the blame for the mountain pass being a bad idea so he agrees to try Morie although he doesn't want to. Boromir and Legolas voted no, but wanted to hear from Frodo who hadn't voted yet. Then at night, wolves attacked them. Would've been a cool scene in the movie. So they were forced to go to Moria cause the wolves were still around and they weren't just hunting for food.
    2. The finding of the gates of Moria and releasing of the horse was almost as in the book. The horse was not Aragorn's and it did not know it's way back home but Gandalph laid hands on the horse and muttered a spell to keep it safe and to return to Rivendell or where ever it wants. Gandalph had to do that because Sam didn't want to part with the horse.
    3. When they found the secret door, it was Gandalph, with Merry's help, who discovered the riddle, NOT Frodo. Also, the tentacled creature that attacked Frodo in the movie was also accurate. Pippin did mess up with the well by dropping a stone. It was nothing like the movie.
    4. They did find Balin's tomb as in the movie, but Gimli did not freak out in the book.
  5. The Bridge of Khazad-dum
    1. Gandalph did read the book that told of the dwarves fate, but thought it important enough to have Gimli carry it to have later for his people.
    2. The orcs did attack them then, but quite differently in the book. For one, there was fear of a troll but no troll actually attacked. Gandalph did face the dark demon a bit earlier as they ran away toward the bridge. And Frodo never showed his armor even though they were all amazed he survived the spear thrust (of an ORC).
    3. The bridge scene was different as well. They never did that falling bridge thing. The last bridge thing where Gandalph falls in though, was pretty true to the book.
  6. Lothlórien
    1. They wept at Gandalph's death and were rushed by Aragorn. It is in this chapter, after they left the mines of Moria for several miles and Aragorn tended Sam's cut and wanted to see how hurt Frodo was that he say the mithril and everyone got to see it as well.
    2. The scene where the Lothlórien elves came upon them was also quite different in the book, but at least it happened. The elves did not like Gimli cause they didn't like dwarves. Orcs were in the forest looking for them. It was a close call but the elves didn't let the hundred or so orcs leave alive. After a while, as they made their way deeper toward Galadriel, they wanted to blindfold Gimli but he refused to suffer such embarrassment. He claimed he was honorable, so Aragorn had the idea that all nine should be blindfolded if any so as to single out anyone. They did it that way.
  7. The Mirror of Galadriel
    1. When they met the lady Galadriel, the lord Celeborn was much more prominent in the book (he spoke quite a bit).
    2. Galadriel did speak to them all through telepathy in the book too.
    3. The bit with the mirror wasn't just with Frodo, Sam was there too and he looked in the basin first. Sam saw some stuff with Frodo and his home being destroyed and his dad homeless. Frodo saw scences with Gandalph or Saruman, Bilbo and an ocean scence and the EYE. Nothing like in the movie.
    4. Galadriel showed Frodo her ring, one of the elf three. She also said that if Frodo fails, all will be lost but if Frodo succeeds the elves will lose their power and slowly cease. This was kind of mentioned somewhere in the movie, the time of men is coming. Still, the part in the movie where Frodo offers her the ring and she passes the test is true to the book. Only, the movie part where Galadriel makes Frodo realize that he should travel alone did not happen in the book. They spent many days recovering in Lothlórien.
  1. Farewell to Lórien
    1. As they left, they did get boats, but they also got these cool cakes that strengthen and keep you going. They also got these cool elven cloaks that were like chameleon cloth. Haldir, the elf that first caught them before entering Lórien, led them down to the river, some ten miles, so the movie version was off a bit, but at least Celeborn and Galadriel were there to see them off, only partly as in the movie. They came in a swan boat of their own to travel a ways with them and give them advice as the journey ahead. The swan boat was in the movie at least. Galadriel had her harp and sang them a song. They traveled for a while with the fellowship and ate with them. Before finally leaving the fellowship, Galadriel gave them all gifts, awesome elven gifts. Gimli was smitten with Galadriel as can be seen in the extended version DVD. Gimli asked for a lock of her hair and got it. Legolas got a great bow and a quiver of arrows. Aragorn got a sheath for his cool sword to keep it from breaking. He also got a green gem from his ancestors. The rest got cool belts and stuff. Frodo’s gift was the crystal vial as in the movie.
  2. The Great River
    1. For a stretch of the trip along the river, the land was barren before they reached the hilly, stony region of the movie. They didn't show that in the movie. Here we begin to see some signs that Boromir is bewitched by the ring. It's subtle in the book.
    2. They get the idea that Gollum is following them. Aragorn knew and Gollum tried to attack them one night.
    3. Orcs did attack them, only while they were still paddling by night. An eagle hunting forced them to begin traveling by night. Legolas' arrow caught the eagle the night the orcs attacked and it went down. And nowhere was there any mention of the scenes where Saruman makes the Uruk-hai, the orc, goblins that attacked the party before Frodo left with Sam.
    4. Boromir wants them all to go to Minas Tirith first. There, Aragorn can help by restoring the rightful heir and helping with the wars of Gondor. But Aragorn knows that it is up to the ring-bearer if that is to happen and it is asking much. Frodo has not spoken what he wants, but if he goes to Minas Tirith, he can have an army of men to help him. That may not be the best course. Still, there is no mention of Frodo needing to go alone so the ring won't tempt the others at this point. The elvish boats were really cool! Light, yet strong, with spells so that they wouldn't sink.
    5. The statues of the kings were in the book too. It took ten days on the river.
  3. The Breaking of the Fellowship
    1. They make it to Parth Galen much as in the movie. Only in the book, Path Galen was where they had to decide where to go: on with Frodo to Mt. Doom or to Minas Tirith with Boromir.
    2. Frodo was to choose, so he asked to be alone for an hour.  That is how he ended up alone with Boromir sneaking up on him. The attack was pretty accurate in the movie, except that Boromir never actually got his hands on Frodo before Frodo put the ring on. With the ring on, it became clear to Frodo that he must travel alone. He used the ring once more to leave them.
    3. Boromir in the book returns to the rest of them as they waited on the shore. They did notice Boromir gone but too late. Boromir only said that he tried to convince Frodo to go to Minas Tirith and that he grew angry and made Frodo leave. He told them Frodo vanished by using the ring.
    4. They went looking for Frodo. Sam took off and Aragorn followed him and they searched together. Only Sam could barely keep up with him. As Aragorn lost Sam, it occurred to Sam that Frodo might head for the boats. That's when Sam found Frodo leaving as in the movie. Even Sam sinking was in the book. As they reached the other end of the river, this book ends. Aragorn didn't know what Frodo was planning as they did in the movie.
Book 3: The Two Towers

1. The Departure of Boromir
a. This part of the movie actually happens in the next book. I’m glad they decided to end the movie the way they did. In the book, Boromir leaves Aragorn wondering if Sam and Frodo are okay because he just said that the orcs took the halflings. Aragorn did send Boromir with Merry and Pippin so he thinks it’s them that got taken. When they see the boat missing, they piece together what Frodo did.
b. The fighting that takes place before they find Boromir was not in the book and Aragorn didn’t fight that Uruk-hai in the book. The Uruk-hai aren’t even mentioned until Chapter 3 of this book.
c. The boat burial of Boromir is true and the decision of Aragorn to follow the orcs to save Merry and Pippin as well.
2. The Riders of Rohan
a. The book goes into much detail about the heroes’ chase of the Uruk-Hai to rescue their comrades. We see how hard it is for them to keep up and even to stay on their trail! It’s not that easy even for a high level ranger. Aragorn is most correct but even Legolas does not agree with him on everything. Gimli trusts Aragorn and in the end, so does Legolas. The reason they were able to run so much was partly thanks to the Lembas, which renewed their strength. The movie shortens this very much and puts Gimli in a light that the book does not. Gimli’s character is comical in the movie in the way that he cannot keep up with Legolas and Aragorn, but in the book it’s not so hard for him.
b. In the book, the heroes know the riders are coming for some while. They wait for them and are hidden in plain sight! (Not behind some rocks as in the movie.) The reason the riders didn’t see them is because of the elven cloaks, they hid them very well!
c. The way the rides closed in on them in the movie was much like the book described it, only the conversation was a bit different in the book. Legolas’ bow scene where Aragorn stopped them all from killing each other was accurate though. Aragorn, when finally revealing himself (for he said he was Strider at first) showed and named his blade as well, Anduril, and gave many of his names including heir of Isildur. While Aragorn did this, he seemed larger than life and very much a king!
d. Eomer and his men knew nothing of Hobbits. It was Gandalf’s name that was not welcome in Rohan. Gandalf had been accused of stealing Shadowfax from King Theoden (this was never mentioned in the movie).
e. In the movie, the heroes were warned to watch out for an old, bent man in a great cloak with a staff because it was Saruman, but in the book they saw such a specter one night as they rested. It really spooked Gimli and this creature left no tracks. Oh and he scared the horses away (they left that out of the movie).
3. The Uruk-Hai
a. This chapter shows what happened to Merry and Pippin when they were taken away by the Uruk-Hai. The movie did a pretty good job of showing how the Uruk-Hai of the white hand (Saruman’s) and the Orcs of Lugbúrz (I think they are hill orcs who work for Saruman or for Sauron himself – they weren’t very loyal to Saruman’s wishes that the hobbits be brought to him unspoiled. They really played on this in the movie).
b. In the book, Pippin was worried that with so many orc prints and no hobbit prints, because they were carried, Aragorn would have a hard time staying on their trail. The orcs were very fast. In the movie, Pippin just throws his brooch, but in the book, Pippin tries to escape while not being watched. He runs off and in the commotion makes prints and tosses his brooch. Also in the book, the orcs kept giving them a dark, orc liquor that kept them alive and alert (since they weren’t supposed to hurt them). That was left out of the movie.
c. Since, of course, the book was much more detailed, we see how it was Pippin and Merry who turned the orcs and the Uruk-Hai even more against each other. They convinced a leader of the orcs that they would give him what the Uruk-Hai wanted. All he had to do was untie their legs. That orc leader dragged them away when the riders of Rohan attacked. He was going to kill them when he was killed by a rider just as in the movie. It was the elven cloaks that kept the riders from seeing them. The movie was pretty accurate showing how they got away, cut their bonds off their hands, and headed for the Fangorn forest only the battle seemed to have lasted a bit longer in the book. And an orc did not chase them into the forest as the movie showed. That never happened. The riders did burn the orcs as in the movie.
4. Treebeard
a. In the book, the hobbits ran to a stream, ate some lembas bread and put some distance between the battle and themselves. They were on a rock when Treebeard found them, they didn’t stumble onto Treebeard as in the movie. The movie also did not do justice to the Ents. Ents aren’t trees that decide to move every now and then. Ents are humanoid creatures that are tall like trolls. They have tree-like characteristics. They have smooth, brown skin and what seems like clothes of green and gray bark. His beard was branch-like, but that is very different from being actual branches! The Ents were tree herders, as mentioned in the movie, but the way they portrayed the ents was much like what the trees they herd should have looked like! Also, in the book Treebeard made a lot of hrum, hroom noises which they totally left out in the movie.
b. Much more detail in the book as Treebeard took the hobbits very far to his home. They stayed there overnight and drank ent water (this ent water actually made the Hobbits grow a bit!). On the way to Treebeard’s, they talked much and told Treebeard much bringing him up to speed. They never met Gandalf as in the movie! We also learn, as hinted in the movie, that ents do not like haste. Treebeard is the oldest ent and ents are among the oldest creatures of middle earth and they do nothing quickly.
c. They leave Treebeard’s as he calls the Ent Moot. They decide the first time to help and attack Isengard for all that Saruman did. The movie didn’t even come close. Pippin and Merry didn’t have to convince the ents to act! All the things they told Treebeard did help though because there was much the ents didn’t know. Another thing the movie was frivolous with was the quest. Everyone in the movie was quick to tell of the ring and the quest to destroy it in Mt. Doom. In the book, no one dared speak of it. To let that info fall into enemy was to give them what they needed to win! If Sauron knew the plan, he’d have doubled the guards at Mt. Doom and caught Frodo and Sam for sure.
5. The White Rider
a. This chapter begins with the continued hunt for signs of the hobbits after the riders destroyed all the orcs and Uruk-Hai. The movie was very good about how Aragorn pieced together how the hobbits might have escaped. Legolas said that other different conclusions could be drawn from the signs, but Aragorn was right on the money. The heroes were also wary of old men with staves.
b. The movie was kind of close as to the feeling when they meet up with Gandalf, but in the book it was much scarier. They saw an old man in a great cloak with a staff from far away. And it was Gimli who warned them to act quickly, before the wizard could speak and put a spell on them. The old, bent man approached very quickly and none of the heroes could do anything to stop him!
c. In the book, he asked them questions as if he didn’t know them, or knew them and was toying with them. He would not give his name. In the movie, they portrayed it as though he didn’t know his name because of what he went through (as if he had to remember his old self), and that was so in the book. The heroes tried in vain to defend themselves against who they were sure was Saruman, but couldn’t do anything against him. It was Aragorn who finally recognized their old friend only now he was Gandalf the White!
d. Gandalf tells the heroes much that couldn’t be done in the movie. He tells them of the Nazgul and how they ride winged steeds now. Legolas had shot one down earlier and knows now that it was only the steed he killed and not the rider.
e. When Gandalf told the story of how he survived it was just as in the movie. The movie did that part justice. The only difference was that in the book, Gandalf ended up in Lothlorien with the lady Galadriel and it was she who sent him to look for the heroes.
f. In the book, it was when Shadowfax returned to Gandalf, the white rider, that the other two horses came back. All four of them rode to Rohan, to Meduseld, to King Theoden. In the book, Gimli rode with Gandalf this time.
6. The King of the Golden Hall
a. As they rode up to Meduseld, the Golden Hall in Edoras, they were met with suspicion and Aragorn had to explain that Eomer loaned them the horses they were riding. This is when we learn that Eomer was not spoken of well, they would not speak of him at all. None of this happened in the movie. And in the book, Theoden’s son was said to have died five days before the heroes came. It was Wormtongue who brought it up while trying to make Gandalf seem a bad person not to be trusted.
b. As in the movie, Wormtongue is working for Saruman and is giving the King unwise council, which the King of course takes. The part in the movie where they had to leave their weapons was true in the book, only the others fought at having to leave their weapons, especially Aragorn who asked that no man touch Anduril and Legolas didn’t wish to part with the bow that Galadriel gave him. And, as in the movie, Gandalf was allowed his “walking stick”.
c. In the movie, Hama, the King’s door guard was shown, but in the book he was a much more important character. His death was a huge loss to the King.
d. The next part, where the heroes enter the great hall and meet the King and save him from Wormtongue and Saruman’s grasp was a bit dramatic in the movie, but I must say I thought it was very well done indeed even if in the book it was a bit less magical although Gandalf did use his staff as in the movie. I much like the way they did it in the movie though. Bravo! Right down to Hama giving Theoden his sword and the way Wormtongue kept claiming his innocence and then got banished was right from the book. In the book, Eomer gave the King his, Eomer’s, sword. Hama was the one who set Eomer free because he thought the King would want that once he was freed. The King gave Eomer back his sword and all was well. That is when Hama gave the King the King’s sword. Another major difference is that the heroes didn’t have to fight off any guards like they did in the movie.
e. After Wormtongue was banished (he was actually offered the choice to go to war with them and prove his loyalty or to leave and he left), Theoden did feed his guests and offered Gandalf anything he wanted. Gandalf then asked to have Shadowfax. With that, Theoden and Gandalf were even and Shadowfax was truly Gandalf’s with no thought of thievery.
f. The King then gave armor gifts to the heroes unlike the movie where they just chose stuff. And Gimli did not wear long and comical mail. Gimli chose a cap of iron and leather and a small shield that was made for the King when he was a boy. That is why it fit Gimli well.
g. In the movie Theoden didn’t want to go to war. In the book, Gandalf convinced him from the beginning that war was what he needed to do. Theoden was determined to lead his men to war. There was no hesitation.
h. In the book the King needed someone to stay behind and see to it that the women and children hid safely in Edoras while the men rode to the Fords of Isen to attack Saruman himself. When Eomer and Hama didn’t want to do it, to fight at the King’s side, it was Hama who came up with the idea of having Eowyn stay behind as Lord of the Eorlingas. The King agreed. So the whole march with the women and children and peasants was all wrong. So there was no flirting between Eowyn and Aragorn. Yes, in the book they looked at each other and thoughts went through their minds, but Aragorn was in love with Arwen. I think the Arwen was necessary. In the books we don’t learn about Arwen until the very end in the last book. For the movie’s sake I now see why they had to do all the Arwen scenes.
i. Eomer, because of the misunderstanding with Gimli in regards to Galadriel back when first met, offered to have Gimli ride with him (in the book, Gimli never rides alone because dwarves are not horsemen). Then Aragorn and Legolas ride on either side of them while Gandalf rides up front with the King.
7. Helm’s Deep
a. In the book, Erkenbrand of Westfold had been trying to hold Hornburg against the wild hillmen and herd folk who were attacking. The movie did a good job of showing how Saruman deceived them to fight against Rohan’s mean and I think the creatures they rode were great. But they were never attacked on the way and Aragorn never fell.
b. Once they hear of Erkenbrand, Gandalf tells the King to go to Helm’s Deep and not to the Fords of Isen. Then Gandalf rides off (as in the movie). Gandalf does tell Aragorn and the others to await his return at Helm’s gate, but unlike the movie, he doesn’t tell them when. As they near the castle, they know that many orcs are following them (it wasn’t Aragorn who comes alone to tell them).
c. When they get to the Helm, they find out that Erkenbrand is missing. At the Helm, there were people hiding there (women, children and peasants, but the boys and peasants did not have to fight).
d. As they prepare to hold off the orc army, they do so alone. The whole movie bit where the elves or Lorien come to their aid was a complete fabrication. It never happened at all in the book! I couldn’t believe it and was totally shocked that they did that. I mean, it was nice to see the elves fight and die, but it never happened!! The keeping of tally of how many orcs were killed between Legolas and Gimli did happen in the book, only more so.
e. The movie battle was good, but it was only close to the way it happened in the book. It wasn’t exact but still good. It did seem hopeless and they did have to keep retreating. Gimli and many men were lost and had to hid in the caves, including Eomer. They were thought to be dead. Aragorn did go with the King to ride out and attack the orcs that were almost upon them! Only in the book, it was the King’s idea. And when they sounded the horn and rode out, the orcs were scared. They rode out and scared the orcs. As in the movie, Gandalf returned that dawn but not with Eomer, with Erkenbrand. And the part that was completely left out of the movie is that the orcs were mostly destroyed by a forest of moving trees! The trees that the Ents herd!! This is where the movie stops the story of our heroes. The rest must come in the third movie.
8. The Road to Isengard
a. Gimli and Eomer come out of the caves, alive! Gimli with a bandaged head!
b. Gandalf says he’s going to Isengard. Theoden worries that his weary army cannot hope to assault the stronghold of Saruman. Gandalf then tells them that their visit is one of parley not to fight. So the King chooses a small party to travel to Isengard.
c. On their way they had to pass the trees that killed the orcs. These are wild trees who hate two-legged creatures, esp those who take the ax to trees.
d. In this chapter, Gimli speaks with amazement and awe of the caves at the Hornburg while he had to hide there. He made them sound great!
e. When they reach Isengard, they see the Ents and the work they made of Isengard. In the book, we see what they did by the clues left behind. The movie did a good job of showing the damage the Ents did to Isengard even though the Ents didn’t look as they should have. The only thing they didn’t show in the movie is that the Ents tried to destroy Orthanc but couldn’t because Saruman’s spells on it made it hard to knock down.
9. Flottsam and Jetsam
a. As they near Orthanc and decide what to do, who shall they meet but Merry and Pippin! The heroes sit with them to eat, smoke and touch bases as to all that happened since they were split.
b. The hobbits also tell of the Ent attack. Again, the movie was rather good and accurate.
10. The Voices of Saruman
a. This is a good chapter. The heroes, minus the hobbits, the King and Gandalf enter Orthanc to speak to Saruman. They meet Wormtongue and have him fetch Saruman.
b. Saruman puts a spell on all the men outside or Orthanc and they start to doubt their mission, their King, Gandalf, everything. They begin to quarrel amongst themselves. The spell even took hold of Theoden,
c. Gandalf finally speaks and kicks Saruman’s butt! He even has Saruman’s staff break! In the movie, I can only think that the scene where Gandalf beats Saruman by freeing Theoden is supposed to be from this part of the book. I will know when the last movie comes out. Gandalf does not kill Saruman. He states that he does not seek for Mastery (which means his already has it!).
d. While Gandalf was kicking Saruman’s butt, Wormtongue, trying to help, threw an orb down at Gandalf. Pippin picked it up and Gandalf took it. It was the orb Saruman used to see everything that was going on. The orb that Sauron used to keep tabs on Saruman. Saruman was very upset at losing it. Of course.
11. The Palantir
a. They rode off, Gandalf took Merry and Aragorn took Pippin. Merry asked many questions of Gandalf. Then Ents stood guard over Othanc and Saruman.
b. The hobbits felt left out and unneeded and unimportant because they weren’t allowed in Orthanc. But Gandalf reassures them that Saruman was very curious about them.
c. When they camped Pippin was jealous of Merry because Aragorn didn’t speak much. Merry shared info with Pippin but Pippin wanted to know more, he just wanted more. He was under the orb’s spell.
d. Pippin couldn’t sleep so he snuck to Gandalf and stole the orb. Then he went off to look into it. Pippin was at once taken to Barad-Dur. He screamed and everyone work and Gandalf tried to get him back. Pippin came back and reported that Sauron questioned him. Pippin said he was a hobbit but Sauron just thought Saruman used him to contact Sauron who was wondering why he had been so long. Sauron doesn’t know all that has happened to Saruman and Isengard. The biggest thing Gandalf was pleased at was that Pippin wasn’t questioned longer and that he didn’t give up the one secret mission. The ring! That is the biggest secret they have, it cannot be known.
e. Aragorn realizes that the orb they have is Palantír of Orthanc from the treasury of Elendil and the Kings of Gondor. Gandalf gives it to Aragorn to take charge of it. It is then that they learned how Isengard and Mordor communicated so efficiently.
f. While they planned, a flying Nazgul came over them freaking everyone out. Gandalf was going to ride ahead with Pippin and the others would make their way back to Helm’s Deep. On the way, Gandalf expains the history of the Palantíri to Pippin.

Book 4: The Two Towers (still)

1. The Taming of Sméagol
a. This chapter starts on the third evening since Sam and Frodo left the fellowship.
b. Sam and Frodo were making their way through the Emyn Muil, the mountains they had to cross to get the dead marshes. As in the movie, they were not faring well. They kept going in circles and getting lost again. At one point, Frodo decided to make a bold move and go over a cliff. Sam didn’t want to and they had no idea how they were going to make it. As Frodo was climbing down, a flying Nazgul flew over and scared them senseless. Frodo was stuck and blind, and Sam was going to help him. Frodo was regaining his eyesight and climbing back up. Then Sam stumbled upon the rope that Galadriel gave him! They used the rope to climb down the cliff. After they got down Sam was sad they had to leave the rope behind. He went to it to say goodbye, and with a slight tug, the rope came down!
c. That night they saw Gollum climb nimbly down the cliff after them. They feigned sleep and caught him much as in the movie! Just as in the movie, Frodo binds Gollum to them with an oath to the ring and its new master. Gollum/Sméagol will lead them to the black gate as in the movie, only Gollum/Sméagol hates light and will not travel during the day at all.
2. The Passage of the Marshes
a. This was much as in the movie only in the book it took a lot longer and there were many details esp of them making their way across at night and camping during the day. Not much of a day they ever had anyway. The marshes, heading from Emyn Muil to the mountain range before Mt. Doom, is about 40 leagues (a league is three miles so that means about 120 miles!!!). So that’s why it took them days to get to the black gate. Refer to the map at the end of this paper.
b. The part with the lights and the dead people and Frodo falling for it was true in the book as well. In the movie, they correctly portrayed how fast Gollum/Sméagol could move. But they didn’t really show how the hobbits couldn’t keep up with him. They had to keep asking him to slow down. When, in the movie, they showed them in marshes moving slowly in single file, that did happen in the book. All the dead people in the marshes were from the great Dagorlad battle of long ago fought at the Black Gates. Turns out that Mordor was built by men and belonged to men only once.
c. Another thing that kept happening in the book that they couldn’t show in the movie, or didn’t, was that every time they rested and ate, they tried to share their Lembas bread or what little they had with Gollum/Sméagol, but he hated any food they offered him, esp elven food. He hates anything elven. Gollum/Sméagol would just go off on his own to hunt and eat live food.
d. At one point, Sam, as on other occasions, fell asleep during his watch (In his defense I have to say that Frodo could not keep his watches at all. Frodo needed more sleep and Sam let him have it, Sam also gave Frodo more food. As this book leads to the last book we find that Sam is every bit as much if not more the hero.). Sam woke to find Gollum/Sméagol hovering over Frodo. Sam thought Gollum/Sméagol was going to wake Frodo but as he listened, he heard a debate go on between Gollum and Sméagol. They did it in the movie, rather well, but it wasn’t as Gollum/Sméagol hovered over Frodo and Sam listened. Yes, Gollum wanted the ring while Sméagol wanted to be good and loyal to Frodo, but no, Sméagol never made Gollum leave even though he did win over and they didn’t take the ring at that point (Sam didn’t have to act but now he knows of Gollum/Sméagol’s treachery and he heard Gollum speak of a ‘She’ who might help though Sam had no idea who this ‘She’ could be.
3. The Black Gate is Closed
a. Morannon is the black gate and they could see that this gate was impassable. So many orcs, an entire army, were ready to head out from there and the gate was heavily guarded. Passwords were required to enter safely. Sam was against trying to go that way and of course Gollum/Sméagol was against it, he had his own plan. In the movie, they show these huge troll-like monsters turning a gate-like thing. There was no mention of any such thing in the book.
b. When Gollum/Sméagol tells Frodo of the secret way he knows the hobbits were wary. Why hadn’t he told them before? This was done in the movie as well. Gollum/Sméagol got out of that by saying that master had not asked for that directly, he only told Gollum/Sméagol to get them to the black gate. Good one.
c. Gollum/Sméagol’s way had them travel south to Osgiliath, past Minal Morgul to Cirith Ungol. That was where Gollum/Sméagol’s secret way was.
d. They saw men going to Mordor and had to be very still. The elven cloaks kept the hobbits from being seen. Many black riders were leaving Mordor flying about. Sam asked Gollum/Sméagol, who was looking, if there any oliphaunts. There were none and Gollum/Sméagol had no idea what an oliphaunt was.
4. Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit
a. Now more than ever, Sam mistrusted Gollum/Sméagol to the point of not being able to sleep. Frodo sleapt well while Sam barely dozed even when Gollum/Sméagol slept. In the book, it was said that hunger helped Sam stay awake.
b. Where they were traveling there, Sam found many herbs that he collected. Gollum/Sméagol was not pleased. He hated their smell.
c. In a clearing, as they rested, it was Sam who asked Gollum/Sméagol to do Frodo a favor and get them some food for hobbits to eat. Gollum/Sméagol comes back with two rabbits and has a fit when Sam tries to cook it. That is the part that is similar to the movie scene. In the book, Sam made Gollum/Sméagol fetch him some water in the pans and then Sam totally cooked the rabbits and they ate them (in the movie, they never got to eat their stew). In the book, Frodo was asleep while Sam cooked the rabbits. Gollum/Sméagol warned Sam not to make a fire because it would bring enemies. The potatoes/taters scene was accurate too. But Sam wanted herbs and Gollum/Sméagol refused that request so Sam had to go and get them himself.
d. As in the movie, the cooking got them caught by men. Only good men, men of Gondor like Boromir. We are also introduced to Faramir, the captain and Boromir’s brother. A difference in the movie, Frodo acts if Gollum/Sméagol doesn’t exist while in the book he does not lie. He tells Faramir that he doesn’t know where Gollum/Sméagol went to and that he was just a chance companion. I think that is much better and that’s what should’ve been said in the movie. They made Frodo a liar.
e. The hobbits were questioned right there much by Faramir and Frodo told all of the fellowship that he could tell. Faramir was of course interested in the Boromir part. Then the hobbits were guarded as Faramir’s men attacked a passing enemy convoy. This happened in the movie, only out of order. In the book too, Sam got to see his oliphaunts and knew that no one back home would believe it.
5. The Window on the West
a. Here we see more questioning by Faramir. We learn that he is wise the way he pieces much together by what Frodo tells and what Frodo leaves out or cannot tell. The movie doesn’t do Faramir justice.
b. Faramir had a vision of Boromir on a boat, dead and was puzzled by the halflings not knowing that he died. He could tell by Frodo’s hesitation, that Frodo did not like Boromir although he could not know why. He soon told the halflings that Boromir was his brother.
c. Again, by what Frodo did not or could not say, Faramir pieced together that Frodo had the one ring. Before Faramir was sure of it, he told Frodo that he would never want such a thing (unlike the movie). Faramir was true to his word (this is the main reason why the movie did Faramir a misjustice).
d. Faramir judges Frodo fairly and believes all he says, but he will not decide to let them go without thinking on it further. That is why they are blindfolded and taken to the secret hideout behind the waterfall (as in the movie). Difference, in the book, the halflings were treated well, fed and allowed to sleep. While at the hideout much talking happened where Faramir told much of his people’s history.
6. The Forbidden Pool
a. As in the movie, Faramir wakes Frodo only to show him Gollum. They were about to kill Gollum, not as in the movie because Frodo said he didn’t know him but because they wanted to ask Frodo before they acted. It was their law that anyone who goes to their pool without permission be killed. Gollum was fishing in it. Frodo convinced them to let him draw Gollum in so that they could catch him. The movie was pretty accurate there and Gollum felt totally betrayed by the one hobbit he thought he could trust. In the book, poor Gollum was captured with the fish still in his mouth. Only in the book, Frodo worked much to convince Gollum that he actually saved his life. When they let Gollum go with Frodo, they tell him that it was only because of Frodo that they didn’t kill him. The main question Faramir asked Gollum was if he knew of their hideout and if he had ever been there before. Gollum promised never to go there again.
b. They get from Gollum where his secret pass is, at Cirith Ungol. The whole thing in the movie where Faramir takes them to Gondor never happens in this book. The whole Nazgul scence never happened.
7. Journey to the Cross-Roads
a. So they let the hobbits continue on their mission and send them off with food. Faramir also gives them staves as gifts. They were cut to their heights.
b. The rest of the chapter was their detailed, uneventful trek to the crossroads. None of this was in the movie.
c. This is where the movie ends for this part of this story. The rest was not in the movie.
8. The Stairs of Cirith Ungol
a. As they get closer to Mordor, Frodo’s burden wears on him. He can barely hold up his head.
b. A scene in the book was reminiscent of the scene in the movie where Sam fell down a hill and Frodo went after him and they hid under their cloaks as the enemy looked for them right in front of them. Only it didn’t quite happen that way. Frodo wanted to sleep because he was so tired but they weren’t anywhere convenient and a rock slipped and fell. Only they heard cries and saw flares and lights. Then an incredible army leaves Mordor heading to Osgiliath. This army was led by the Wraith-king, Isildur. The Wraith-king stops and looks, sensing the ring. Frodo was tempted to put it on, but instead he remembers the phial that Galadriel gave him. He touches it and the temptation fades. The Wraith-king continues.
c. The rest of the chapter has them find the stairs of Cirith Ungol. Gollum led the hobbits up tons and tons of stairs. The stairs were dark but the phial helps. He leaves them to rest, then quickly comes back for them. Frodo tries to let Gollum go but Gollum tells them that they still cannot find the way on their own. He must lead them through a tunnel.
9. Shelob’s Lair
a. Gollum leads them into the horrible smelling tunnel. In the tunnel, the hobbits lose their way and feel an awful sense of foreboding. When they call out for Gollum, he is nowhere to be found. He has led them into the trap he planned all along.
b. As they feel something come for them, they use the phial and its light helps them barely escape it. The only way out is barred and they find out that it is a very thick and strong spider web. Sam can’t cut through it with his sword but Frodo manages to cut through it with Sting.
c. They get out of the tunnel and celebrate escaping their danger. What they didn’t know was that they were in Shelob’s lair. Shelob is a huge spider who knew Gollum and she has many exits. Gollum’s plan was to give her the hobbits and then get back his precious.
d. Shelob comes out and attacks the hobbits. Sam and Frodo together try to defend themselves. As Sam gets thrown off and works to get back to help Frodo, Gollum attacks him! Sam’s fury helps him keep Gollum from killing him although Gollum gets away. Then Sam remembers that Frodo was still under attack.
10. The Choices of Master Samwise
a. Frodo was bitten by Shelob and she was bending over him either to eat him or to take him away. Sam attacks Shelob but she doesn’t think much of him. Sam was using Sting and managed to stab her eyes, her only weak point. Then Shelob landed on Sam but his sword was up so she got stabbed in the belly. Not a killing strike but very painful so she went away back to her lair.
b. Sam doesn’t know what to do. Frodo is dead and the mission has failed. After much deliberation, much, he decides to take on the task. He takes the ring on its chain, the phial and sting. He too felt the awful weight of the ring as he put it on his neck.
c. Then Sam hears orc voices. He hides and puts the ring on! The orcs take Frodo. As the orcs talk and piece together what happened, they figure a great elven warrior must still be on the loose. Only a great elven warrior could have injured Shelob. They mention that Frodo is alive because Shelob likes fresh food and would only poison him enough to knock him out for a while. That drives Sam nuts. He failed his master! The orcs take him away and Sam follows. The book ends when Sam is locked out of the tower where the orcs took Frodo. Sam locked behind a gate and Frodo in their clutches!

Book 5: The Return of the King

1. Minas Tirith
2. The Passing of the Grey Company
3. The Muster of Rohan
4. The Siege of Gondor
5. The Ride of the Rohirrim
6. The Battle of the Pelennor Fields
7. The Pyre of Denethor
8. The Houses of Healing
9. The Last Debate
10. The Black Gate Opens
Book 6: The Return of the King
1. The Tower of Cirith Ungol
2. The Land of Shadow
3. Mount Doom
4. The Field of Cormallen
5. The Steward and the King
6. Many Partings
7. Homeward Bound
8. The Scouring of the Shire
9. The Grey Havens
10. Appendices
a. Appendix A
b. Appendix B
c. Appendix C
d. Appendix D
e. Appendix E
f. Appendix F

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