The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring book report

Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien is the first novel in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The trilogy is about two stories. The first is about two characters, Frodo and Samwise who travel to Mordor to destroy the ring of power. The second centers on the rest of the Fellowship fighting the forces of Sauron and Saruman. Fellowship of the Ring introduces the reader to how the fellowship forms and to its members. The majority of the novel is about the fellowship's journey to Morder and ultimately their separation. At the heart of the book, is the revelation of the power of the ring and how its power corrupts.

The novel begins in the Shire with Bilbo Baggins preparing for his retirement and settling his estate, planning to leave most of it to his adopted son, Frodo Baggins. Bilbo's old friend and wizard, Gandalf the Grey, visits to bring fireworks for the celebration and see his old friend. During this visit, Gandalf becomes curious about Bilbo's old ring. His subsequent research reveals that Bilbo's ring is the ring of power, the ring that rules over all the other rings of power forged ages in the past. Sauron forged this ring and answers only to his will. Gandalf asks Frodo, the inheritor of the ring, to go to Rivendell where a council will be held to discuss what course of action needs to be taken.

On his way to Rivendell, Frodo is joined by his cousins Pippin and Merry and his longtime friend, Samwise Gamgee. During their journey, they meet Strider (later revealed to be Aragorn, heir to Gondor), a ranger who guides them to Rivendell and protects them from the Nazgul who were sent from Sauron to retrieve the ring. The travelers finally reach Rivendell, where a council is formed by dwarves, elves, and humans to discuss the ring. At this council, a fellowship is formed compromised of one dwarf, Gimli, one elf, Legolas, four hobbits, Frodo, Samwise, Pippin, and Merry, two men, Aragorn and Boromir and finally, Gandalf the Grey. Frodo is the designated ring bearer and he takes it upon himself to destroy the ring in Mordor. The fellowship suffers setbacks on their journey which ultimately lead them to the Mines of Moria, where they are ambushed by orcs and Gandalf battles the Balrog. Both Gandalf and the Balrog fall to the depths of the mines, while the rest of the fellowship escapes. Ultimately, the remainder end up ambushed once again by Saruman's orcs. During this battle, Frodo and Samwise journey to Mordor on their own, Boromir is killed by arrows, and Pippin and Merry are kidnapped.