Fellowship of the Ring
| Fellowship of the Ring | |
|---|---|
| Organisation | |
 | |
| "The Fellowship of the Ring" by Peter Xavier Price | |
| Other names | Company of the Ring |
| Date founded | 18 December T.A. 3018 Council of Elrond |
| Purpose | Escort the One Ring to Mount Doom |
| Disbanded | 22 August T.A. 3019 Breaking of the Fellowship |
| Gallery | Images of the Fellowship of the Ring |
- "The Company of the Ring shall be Nine; and the Nine Walkers shall be set against the Nine Riders that are evil..."
- ― Elrond in The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Council of Elrond"
The Fellowship of the Ring, also known as the Company of the Ring, was formed from nine members of the Free peoples during the War of the Ring. Its purpose was to take the One Ring to Mordor, the only place where it could be destroyed.
Members[edit | edit source]
- Gandalf — One of the Wizards sent to Middle-earth by the Valar. He was the leader of the Fellowship.
- Aragorn, son of Arathorn — The Chieftain of the Dúnedain and the last heir to the throne of Gondor and Arnor. He led the Fellowship after the loss of Gandalf.
- Boromir, son of Denethor — Captain-general of Gondor and next-in-line to be the Ruling Steward of Gondor.
- Legolas, son of Thranduil of Mirkwood — Emissary of the Elves of Mirkwood.
- Gimli, son of Glóin — A Dwarf of the Lonely Mountain.
- Frodo Baggins — A Hobbit from the Shire, chosen to carry the One Ring.
- Samwise Gamgee — A Hobbit, Frodo's gardener, servant and close friend.
- Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck — A Hobbit and cousin of Frodo, best friends with Peregrin "Pippin" Took.
- Peregrin "Pippin" Took — A Hobbit and also a cousin of Frodo, youngest of the Fellowship.
History[edit | edit source]
The Fellowship of the Ring was formed in Rivendell with the purpose to destroy the One Ring, and the only way to do so was to throw it into the Cracks of Doom.[1] It was decided that nine walkers should contrast the Nazgûl of Sauron with Frodo as the Ring-bearer and Gandalf as the leader.
Although the purpose was fixed by the Council of Elrond, it was not decreed how, in what manner and through which route this could be done; such details were left to the Fellowship's discretion. As a consequence, the Fellowship started with no detailed plan. One option was to go directly to Mount Doom, the other was to ask help from Boromir's father, Denethor II. The way of how to reach the East was a problem. After moving south from Rivendell, they encountered crebain on their arrival in Hollin. Fearing that they were used as spies by Saruman, the Fellowship spent the entire day in hiding, without a campfire.
When they had to pass the Misty Mountains, Boromir proposed the Gap of Rohan (the way through which he journeyed to Rivendell); Gandalf insisted on passing through Moria but Aragorn thought the Redhorn Pass would be safer. However after attempting in vain to pass the blizzard, they followed Gandalf's option.[2]
After fighting with wolves and the Watcher in the Water, they managed to open the Doors of Durin and enter Moria.
There they found the Orcs who overran Balin's Colony years ago. They also saw Durin's Bane, one of the Balrogs of Morgoth, who devastated Moria in the beginning of the Third Age. To buy them time, Gandalf destroyed the Bridge of Khazad-dûm and both Maiar fell together into the abyss, while the Company escaped back to the light.[3] Aragorn was appointed the head of the Company, and their next stop was to meet with Galadriel and Celeborn, the elf-lords of Lothlórien.[4] They stayed there for four weeks, resting and counseling for their plan and route. On their leave, the elves gave them several useful gifts, which included Lembas bread and gave them boats to sail the Anduin.[5]
Meanwhile, Saruman, who served Sauron, sent a band of Uruk-hai to capture the halfling who bore the Ring and bring him to Isengard.[6] Frodo began to realize not only that someone was following them, but also that the Ring was having a malevolent effect on some members of the party, especially Boromir.[7] It was he who tried to take the ring from him, after the passage through the Argonath. In the process, Frodo put on the ring to escape him, but he was followed by Sam. The rest of the Company was attacked by orcs while trying to find the Ring-bearer. Seeing no other halfling, the Orcs succeeded in capturing Merry and Pippin, killing Boromir, who tried to protect them.[8] And so, the Fellowship was broken, but not yet disbanded. Frodo decided to go to Mordor himself, but Sam followed him down the Emyn Muil.[9] Aragorn, with Gimli and Legolas, (the "Three Hunters") decided to follow the Orcs into Rohan and rescue Pippin and Merry.[10] Unknown to them all, Gandalf had been resurrected and visited Lothlórien after them.[11]
After many adventures the eight remaining members of the Fellowship reunited after the downfall of Sauron.[12] When King Théoden's funeral escort set out from Minas Tirith, all eight journeyed together until they met Treebeard at Orthanc. There Gimli and Legolas departed to visit the deep places of Fangorn Forest on their way to their own homes, and Aragorn declared that the Fellowship of the Ring was at last ended.[13]
Timeline[edit | edit source]
December 3018[edit | edit source]
January 3019[edit | edit source]
- 7 - They pass the ridge of Hollin. Crebain appear. A shadow passes above them at night.
- 8 - The Company reach Hollin.
- 11 - They climb until midnight. Snow on Caradhras.
- 12 - More snow
- 13 - The Company is attacked by Wolves in the early hours. They reach the West-gate of Moria at nightfall. The Watcher attacks and jams the West-gate. Bill the Pony leaves. Gollum begins to trail the Ring-bearer.
- 14 - The road through Moria. The Company spends the night in Hall Twenty-one.
- 15 - They find the Chamber of Mazarbul and Balin's Tomb. Gimli takes the Book of Mazarbul. Attack of the Orcs and the Balrog. The Company reaches the Bridge of Khazad-dûm, which is ruined. Fall of Gandalf. Aragorn leads the Company and they escape outside. The Company reaches Nimrodel late at night and they meet Haldir, Rúmil and Orophin. They sleep on flets.
- 17 - The Company passes the Silverlode and reach the Naith and Cerin Amroth. They come to Caras Galadhon at evening.[14]
February 3019[edit | edit source]
- 14 - Frodo and Sam look into the Mirror of Galadriel. Frodo offers the Ring to her, and she passes the test.
- 16 - The Elves give the cloaks, and the gifts of Galadriel. Farewell to Lórien. Gollum in hiding on the west bank observes the departure by boat.
- 22 - Sam sees Gollum and talks about him to Frodo.
- 23 - The boats are attacked at night near Sarn Gebir and retreat. A flying shadow approaches but leaves.
- 24 - They carry the boats through a passage above Sarn Gebir and continue sailing after. The shadow is seen again.
- 25 - The Company passes the Argonath and reaches Nen Hithoel. They camp at Parth Galen.
- 26 - Breaking of the Fellowship. Frodo and Sam leave the Fellowship for the eastern Emyn Muil. Orcs from the North, Mordor and Isengard attack, and kill Boromir. Meriadoc and Peregrin are captured and carried off towards Isengard. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli set out in pursuit of the orcs at evening.[14]
March 3019[edit | edit source]
- 25 March - Destruction of the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom
April 3019[edit | edit source]
- 8 April - Frodo awakens in Ithilien and the surviving members of the Fellowship are fully reunited.[15]
July 3019[edit | edit source]
August 3019[edit | edit source]
Inspiration[edit | edit source]
The notion of the number nine balancing nine evils (here, the Ringwraiths), is a motif seen in literature, as in the famous Old English Nine Herbs Charm, where nine herbs are used to remedy nine contagions or venoms that go through the land.[16] Additionally, Tolkien chose the 25th of March as the date of the destruction of the One Ring, due to his Catholic Faith, as this is widely believed to have been the day of the death of Jesus Christ.[17] Furthermore, Tolkien noted in Nomenclature that the date the Ring was destroyed was purposefully chosen. It coincides with the feast of Annunciation or Lady Day.
Terminology[edit | edit source]
Though usually called Fellowship of the Ring in adaptations and by fans, the actual term is not used in full until the chapter "Many Partings", when Aragorn disbanded it.[13] In the story itself, they are usually referred to as the Fellowship, the Company of the Ring (more so than Fellowship), and the Nine Walkers (in opposition of the Nine Riders who pursued them).
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Council of Elrond"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Ring Goes South"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Journey in the Dark"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Lothlórien"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Farewell to Lórien"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Uruk-hai"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Great River"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Breaking of the Fellowship"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Taming of Sméagol"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Departure of Boromir"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The White Rider"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Field of Cormallen"
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Many Partings"
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years"
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Chief Days from the Fall of Barad-dûr to the End of the Third Age"
- ↑ "Tolkien Society Anglo-Saxon Study Pack 2" dated 29 May 2006, The Tolkien Society (accessed 29 May 2023)
- ↑ {{webcite|articleurl=https://www.teawithtolkien.com/blog/2017/2/11/the-significance-of-march-25th
| Members of the Fellowship of the Ring |
|---|
| Frodo · Sam · Merry · Pippin · Gandalf · Aragorn · Legolas · Gimli · Boromir |
