The Fellowship of the Ring

Summary: The Fellowship of the Ring is a sequel to J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, and opens with the protagonist of said novel, Bilbo Baggins, throwing a long-awaited birthday party. He later reveals to his nephew, Frodo, that he plans to leave the Shire, their beloved home, for his next adventure. As a parting gift, he bestows upon Frodo a precious ring. Frodo soon learns from his friend, the powerful wizard Gandalf, that this is no ordinary ring, and it must be destroyed before it falls into the wrong hands. Along with allies consisting of elves, dwarfs, men, and hobbits, Frodo faces the perilous task of an epic journey to save the world in this first installment of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. 

Critical Evaluation: There is no denying that The Fellowship of the Ring as well as the subsequent novels in The Lord of the Rings trilogy deserve the high praise they’ve received, with some even saying J.R.R. Tolkien invented the modern fantasy genre. The character and world-building are phenomenal, however despite the dedication many have to the novel, there are still things that today’s young adults may notice and question. 

Tolkien’s ability to create well-rounded, likable characters elevates the connection that readers have to the story. The main character, Frodo, is admirable and honest. He exhibits extreme bravery, yet is quick to admit his faults. This is perfectly portrayed in the famous line, “‘I will take the Ring,’ he said, ‘though I do not know the way’” (Tolkien, 1954, p. 354). He makes mistakes, and readers may not always agree with the decisions he makes. The cast of characters surrounding Frodo each have a distinct personality and unique motivations, which allows the story to feel as though it really could have happened. 

Tolkien’s world-building is perhaps the piece of The Fellowship of the Ring that people remember the most, and it has allowed the movie adaptations to succeed just as the novels have. As first the hobbits, and then the Fellowship journey through Middle Earth, descriptions of setting and magic are sure to draw in any reader. There are countless examples of this throughout the novel, one being, “they thought of the slanting light of evening glittering on the Brandywine River, and the windows of Bucklebury beginning to gleam with hundreds of lights. Great shadows fell across them; trunks and branches of trees hung dark and threatening over the path” (Tolkien, 1954, p. 167). Tolkien employs not only storytelling, but the beauty of the words themselves to tell his tale. 

Despite its influence, there are still things to consider when reading The Fellowship of the Ring. Firstly, young readers may find Tolkien’s tone slow and dry. Why the writing is beautiful, he is clearly a fan of description and sometimes dialogue sections are few and far between. If a teenager was interested in reading the novel, but was having trouble staying engaged, the audio book may be a good option for them. Additionally, they could watch the movie first and then read the book, so they are well-versed on the plot. 

Secondly, Tolkien’s lack of female characters may trouble some. Yes, there are strong women throughout the novel and the series, who are inspirational, well-written, and essential to the plot. But it’s undeniable that ultimately the main heroes of the novel are all male, and the pages are few and far between when a reader may run across a woman. 

Overall, The Fellowship of the Ring is a classic that has gone on to influence modern fantasy as we know it. Any teen interested in high adventure stories should consider picking it up. 

Reader’s Annotation: Frodo is a happy hobbit living a quiet life in the Shire, until the powerful wizard Gandalf tells him that a ring gifted to him by his uncle is extremely powerful, and could cause great destruction if it falls into the wrong hands. So begins Frodo’s epic adventure to destroy the Ring, and save Middle Earth.