The Return of the King

This article is about the book. For other uses, see The Return of the King (disambiguation)

The Return of the King is the third and final volume of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, following The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers.

Title

Tolkien conceived of The Lord of the Rings as a single volume comprising six sections he called "books" and extensive appendices. The original publisher made the decision to split the work into three parts, publishing the fifth and sixth books and the appendices under the title The Return of the King, in reference to Aragorn's assumption of the throne. Tolkien indicated he would have preferred The War of the Ring as a title, as it gave away less of the story.

Trivia

Before it was decided to publish The Lord of the Rings in three volumes, Tolkien had hoped to publish the novel in one volume, or combined with The Silmarillion. At this stage he planned to title the individual books. The discarded title for Book V was The War of the Ring. Book VI was titled The End of the Third Age or The Return of the King.

Synopsis

Book V

The Return of the King, being the third and final part of J. R. R. Tolkien's book — The Lord of the Rings — was published on October 20, 1955.

The story begins as Gandalf delivers news to Denethor, the steward of Gondor, that war is imminent. He then brings Pippin with him, who enters the service of the steward. Aragorn, by his courage and leadership, proves himself a worthy ruler of men. He is destined to find a lost army of men now dead yet entrapped in a curse set forth long ago by their own disobedience, in a place known as the Paths of the Dead. The remnants of the Fellowship lead the forces of Gondor and Rohan in defence of Gondor's capital city, Minas Tirith, resulting in the cataclysmic Battle of the Pelennor Fields. Those characters that survive the battle are led by Aragorn on an assuredly suicidal feint-attack against the Black Gates of Mordor, partly to distract Sauron from defending his other borders so that Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee can gain a clear passage into Mordor. Aragorn's company takes its stand before the Black Gates of the Morannon, exchanging idle words with the Mouth of Sauron.

Book VI

In the meanwhile, the brave and loyal Sam (who for a short time bore the One Ring) enables the long-suffering Frodo to navigate the barren wasteland of Mordor. For part of the way they are overtaken by a company of orcs and must pretend to be orcs before they are able to escape. The two hobbits, tired and less than half-alive, finally reach the Crack of Doom. At the last minute, however, Frodo succumbs to the Ring's power and takes it as his own. Just then, Gollum appears from nowhere, attacks Frodo, and bites his finger off to claim the Ring. Gollum gloats over his prize, but loses his balance and falls into the lava below, taking the Ring with him. The Ring is destroyed, freeing Middle-earth from Sauron's power forever. Frodo and Sam escape from the Crack of Doom and are rescued by the great eagles who carry Gandalf to Mount Doom from the Black Gate of the Morannon. Upon Sauron's defeat, his armies at the black gates flee, and the men of Gondor and Rohan are victorious in the battle.

Aragorn is crowned King of Gondor just outside Minas Tirith. After a series of goodbyes, the Hobbits return home, only to find the Shire under the control of "Sharkey", who turns out to be Saruman, diminished in power but not in malevolence. Merry and Pippin, now experienced warriors of Rohan and Gondor respectively, take the lead in setting things right again, and lead an uprising of hobbits against Saruman, freeing the Shire.

Over time, the Shire heals, but Frodo does not. Eventually Frodo departs for the Undying Lands to find solace, along with Gandalf, Bilbo Baggins, and the elves. Sam, Merry and Pippin watch them depart and return home in silence. Sam is greeted by his wife Rose and his daughter Elanor. In the last line of the book Sam says to Rose; "Well, I'm back".

Chapters

The Return of the King is divided into two books — book five and book six. Book Five follows Aragorn and Gandalf up to the opening of the Black Gate. Book Six begins with Frodo and Sam's journey, and details the rest of the story.

Book V

• I - Minas Tirith - Gandalf with Pippin arrive in the great but decaying city of Minas Tirith where they talk with Denethor, Steward of Gondor. Pippin enters the service of the Steward to repay the debt he owed Boromir. Pippin then is taken through the city by Beregond, a soldier of the Guard, and later by Beregond's son Bergil. Pippin and Bergil end the day watching men from other lands in Gondor march in to defend the city. The Darkness begins.
• II - The Passing of the Grey Company - The story continues back at Dol Baran, where Gandalf and Pippin left the company. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, and Théoden and Éomer are overtaken by the Grey Company riding from Rivendell. They ride to Helm's Deep where Merry offers his sword to Théoden and Aragorn looks into the palantír of Orthanc, reveals himself to Sauron, and wins the struggle for the Stone. Aragorn then decides to take to the Paths of the Dead and goes to Edoras and then Dunharrow. There, Éowyn tries to both dissuade Aragorn from taking to the Paths and attempt to accompany him on the journey. They pass through the underground tunnel of the Dead and come across the remains of an heir of Rohan. The Grey Company comes to the Stone of Erech in Gondor where they summon the Host of the Dead to fulfill their oath. The Company then rides into the darkness of Mordor.
• III - The Muster of Rohan - Théoden, Éomer, and Merry come down from the hills into Dunharrow and climb the stair of the Hold. There they learn that Aragorn has travelled the Paths of the Dead, and Théoden explains to Merry the story of the deadly road. Théoden then receives an emissary from Denethor, begging him to come to Minas Tirith by presenting the Red Arrow. Merry is ordered then to stay behind because of his stature, but he heads off for Minas Tirith anyway, taken on a horse by a rider who calls himself Dernhelm.
• IV - The Siege of Gondor - The story returns to Gandalf and Pippin, who goes to wait on the Steward. Pippin and Beregond see the return of Faramir and the Nazgûl's attack on him thwarted only by Gandalf. Faramir comes to the city and reports that he had met Frodo and allowed him to continue into Morgul Vale. Faramir endures his father's wrath until Gandalf quells the argument and argues that the Ring would not have done any good in Minas Tirith. The next day Faramir goes off to defend Osgiliath from the attack by Mordor, but is wounded during the retreat. Minas Tirith is besieged. Denethor, apparently wracked with grief over his son, withdraws from leading the men and leaves it up to Gandalf. The Orcs set the first circle of the city on fire and Denethor's madness leads him to try and burn himself and Faramir alive on a pyre. The chapter ends with the gate of Minas Tirith broken, leaving Gandalf and Pippin alone to stand against the Lord of the Nazgûl until the army of Rohan arrives.
• V - The Ride of the Rohirrim - The Rohirrim pass through the Drúadan Forest and the Stonewain Valley, with the aid of the wild men who live there, led by Ghân-buri-Ghân. The army arrives at Minas Tirith and sees the breaking of the gate and then charges headlong into the battle.
• VI - The Battle of the Pelennor Fields - The armies of Rohan and Gondor fight the armies of Mordor, Rhûn and Harad as described in Battle of the Pelennor Fields; Théoden is mortally wounded by his own horse after it is spooked by the Nazgúl. Éowyn, with Merry's help, kills the chief of the Nazgúl. The Black Fleet arrives, heartening Sauron's forces, but the standard of the King tells Rohan and Gondor that it is Aragorn who has arrived, having taken control of the fleet.
• VII - The Pyre of Denethor - Pippin tells Gandalf of Denethor's madness. Both return to the hallows where Beregond is defending the wounded Faramir from immolation and has killed several men already. Gandalf ends the conflict and takes Faramir off the pyre, and -- for a moment -- Denethor appears to regain his senses. However, they discover that Denethor has been using a palantír and has lost all hope of victory and does not wish to serve under Aragorn. Denethor then sets himself on fire. Faramir is taken to the houses of healing, and Gandalf explains to everyone how Denethor rejected Sauron in the palantír but was duped by the Dark Lord and despaired of all hope.
• VIII - The Houses of Healing - Théoden is laid in state in the main hall of Gondor. Éowyn, Merry, and many others are injured and placed in the houses of healing where Gandalf calls for Aragorn to come and assist, stating that the "hands of the king are the hands of a healer." Aragorn uses kingsfoil to save Faramir, Éowyn, Merry, and many more who are injured, and the people of Minas Tirith begin to say that the king has come back among them.
• IX - The Last Debate - Gimli and Legolas enter Minas Tirith and meet Merry and Pippin again. The Captains of the West hold a counsel on their next action; they decide to send 7000 men against Mordor to march on the Black Gate.
• X - The Black Gate Opens - The army, with Gandalf, Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, and Pippin (but not Merry) marches to the Black Gate. The Mouth of Sauron comes out to discuss terms, and presents tokens which were owned by Sam and Frodo. The Mouth of Sauron calls for an unconditional surrender and claims the lands east of the Great River for Sauron. Gandalf asks to see the hostages, but the emissary hesitates, so Gandalf rejects the terms. The Mouth of Sauron then departs and the army of Mordor attacks them. Pippin and Beregond, attacked by a Troll, ready themselves for death; but Pippin hears the cries that the Eagles are coming before losing consciousness.

Book VI

• I - The Tower of Cirith Ungol - Sam goes to find Frodo in the Orc tower. Sam discovers that the Orcs have killed each other in a quarrel over Frodo's possessions - especially his mithril coat. Sam finds Frodo in the top chamber of the tower and returns the Ring to him.
• II - The Land of Shadow - Sam and Frodo make their way into Mordor. They discover that Gollum is still on their trail. As they approach the vale of Udûn, they are captured by an Orc company. Just as Frodo nears exhaustion and death, Sam engineers an escape off the road.
• III - Mount Doom - Frodo and Sam reach Mount Doom. Gollum appears and tries to attack them, but Frodo overpowers him. Sam prepares to kill Gollum, but relents out of pity when Gollum begs for his life. Moments later, Frodo succumbs to the Ring's power and puts it on, exposing him at last to Sauron. Gollum knocks aside Sam and attacks Frodo, biting off his finger and taking the Ring, but then he slips and falls into the Cracks of Doom, destroying himself and the Ring. Frodo and Sam witness the fall of the Dark Tower as the mountain collapses around them.
• IV - The Field of Cormallen - The story returns to the Field of Cormallen, continuing from Book Five, chapter X; the eagles arrive and the Captains of the West stand as they witness the destruction of Mordor and hear Gandalf proclaim the success of the Ringbearer; Gandalf then mounts an Eagle and flies south to Mount Doom where he and the Eagles rescue Frodo and Sam; Sam awakes to find himself in Ithilien and realizes that he has not dreamt; Frodo and Sam are honoured on the Field of Cormallen near Cair Andros with a great feast; they are reunited with Strider--now proclaimed as King--and the rest of the Fellowship.
• V - The Steward and the King - chapter begins in Minas Tirith at the Houses of Healing after the armies departed for the Black Gate. Éowyn, ill at ease from her wound and brooding over Aragorn, is taken to see Faramir, who is immediately attracted to her. Merry is also in Minas Tirith and tells Faramir much of Éowyn's suffering. Éowyn and Faramir slowly fall in love and agree to marry. Later they see the arrival of the armies with Aragorn, Gandalf and the four hobbits. Gandalf crowns Aragorn King of Gondor. Aragorn makes Faramir prince of Ithilien and keeps the office of Steward, appointing the pardoned Beregond as his chief captain. Gandalf takes Aragorn to Mount Mindolluin to survey the lands of his kingdom where they find a sapling of the White Tree, which Aragorn uproots and plants in the court of the King. On midsummer's eve, Elrond, Galadriel, Arwen and the elves arrive in the city from the north, and Aragorn weds Arwen.
• VI - Many Partings - The company rides north to Rohan where they bury Théoden and then celebrate his life and reign in a great feast at Meduseld. They then ride to Isengard where they find that the Ents have replanted the trees in the valley, but have released Saruman and Gríma Wormtongue out of pity. Gimli and Legolas head north through Fangorn; Aragorn, taking the keys to Orthanc, returns to his kingdom; the rest of the company heads north where they meet Saruman and Gríma. Saruman refuses to repent and even steals Merry's pipeweed pouch. Galadriel and the Lórien elves leave over the pass of Caradhras; and the hobbits and Gandalf later arrive in Rivendell where they visit Bilbo, who has now grown incredibly aged.
• VII - Homeward Bound - The hobbits and Gandalf travel to Bree where they stay at the Prancing Pony, and are told by Butterbur that there has been trouble in Bree while they have been away. They assure Butterbur that things will become better because Aragorn is now the King, and then depart for the Shire. Gandalf leaves the hobbits near the Barrow Downs to visit Tom Bombadil, affirming their abilities to handle their own affairs from this point forward.
• VIII - The Scouring of the Shire - The hobbits arrive in the Shire to find it taken over by Frodo's distant cousin Lotho Sackville-Baggins, who is a puppet of 'Sharkey.' The Shire has been submitted to tyranny by the bigger men and their dupes - the Shiriffs - with the exception of the land around the Tooks, which is under a state of semi-siege. Merry and Pippin help "raise the Shire" and lead a revolt against the ruffian Isengard men and half-orcs controlling the Shire. The Battle of Bywater is fought in which the main group of ruffians are defeated and expelled from the Shire. The hobbits find Saruman ('Sharkey') and Wormtongue at Bag End and expel Saruman from the Shire, which has turned into all but a desolate wilderness. Saruman tries to kill Frodo but is foiled by the mithril coat. Frodo spares the evil wizard, but Wormtongue — who has killed Lotho — kills Saruman, and is then killed himself by hobbit archers, thus ending the War of the Ring at the doorstep of Bag End.
• IX - The Grey Havens The cleaning up of the Shire. The hobbit resisters are released from prison. Sam discovers the gift that Galadriel has given him and uses the dust in the box to replant the Shire, culminating in the planting of the mallorn tree of Lórien. Several years pass, and Frodo begins to show signs of declining health and damage due to his wounds and the long burden of the Ring. Sam and Frodo go to meet the elves, Galadriel, and Bilbo travelling west through the Shire, and they travel to the Grey Havens where they meet Gandalf. Merry and Pippin arrive; Frodo, Bilbo, Gandalf and the elves set sail to the west; Sam returns to Rose and their daughter Elanor at Bag End.

Structure

The structure of The Return of the King mirrors somewhat that of The Two Towers in that the first section recounts the various adventures of several characters including a massive battle, and the second section resumes the quest of the Ring-bearers.

• Book V

• Book VI

• Appendices

A Annals of the Kings and Rulers

I The Númenórean Kings

II The House of Eorl

III Durin's Folk

B The Tale of Years (Chronology of the Westlands)

C Family Trees (Hobbits)

D Calendars

E Writing and Spelling

I Pronunciation of Words and Names

II Writing

F

I The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age

II On Translation

• Indices

I Songs and Verses

II Persons, Beasts and Monsters

III Places

IV Things

Similarity with C.S. Lewis

There is some similarity with C.S. Lewis's science fiction book Perelandra. Both it and The Return of the King reach their climax with a titanic struggle in an underground chamber in whose floor there is a deep rift leading to a volcanic fire. In both books, the struggle ends with a character being cast into the fire and consumed, and an entire world is thereby redeemed from a great evil.

Since the two books were written at nearly the same time, and since Lewis and Tolkien were close friends who were in the habit of reading the manuscripts of their books to each other and to other fellow-members of the Inklings, it may be that the similarity between the two books is not accidental.

Adaptations

• The Return of the King, 1980 animated feature made for television, featuring the voices of Orson Bean and John Huston.
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, 2003 theatrical film directed by Peter Jackson.