The journeys of Pippin, Merry, and Frodo in "The Two Towers"

¶ … second of the Ring trilogy by Tolkien, the Two Towers takes place in Middle Earth and the events immediately follow the events in the first book, Fellowship of the Ring (which followed the prefacing story told in The Hobbit).

List two main characters and tell something about each one.

Peregrin ("Pippin") Took and Meriadoc ("Merry") Brandybuck are both captured by the fierce Urak-Hai after the fellowship was betrayed by Boromir. These two hobbits, cousins of Frodo (the Ringbearer), manage to escape when the Rohorrim attack and destroy the orcs holding them hostage and are befriended by the erstwhile leader of the Ents, "Treebeard." Treebeard takes the two hobbits to his home and provides Pippin and Merry with near-magical "Ent draughts" (two different types) that appear to make them both taller than all other hobbits back in The Shire (an important attribute that will play an important role in The Return of the King) and the already curly hair on their heads even curlier. Following the destruction of one of the "two towers" (Saruman's Orthanc) by the enraged Ents, Pippin and Merry manage to rejoin with Aragorn, Gandalf, the dwarf and elf to resume their search for Frodo and Sam.

3.

What is the main conflict of the book?

The main conflict that runs throughout The Two Towers is the same one that runs throughout all three of the trilogy's books (and The Hobbit): the fundamental battle between good (as exemplified by Gandalf et al.) and evil (as exemplified by Sauron and his minions).

4.

How does the novel end?

The second book of the Ring trilogy ends when Samwise and Frodo, led by Gollum, reach the Black Gate that leads to the book's second tower, Sauron's Dark Tower, only to be forced to find an alternative entrance which is handily provided by Gollum who has already been this was before. After being detained and questioned briefly by Boromir's brother, Faramir and his troops, Frodo, Sam and even Gollum are released to continue their quest to destroy the Ring of Power. At the novel's end, Sam believes Frodo is dead after being poisoned by Shelob and takes the Ring for safekeeping only to learn that Frodo is alive but seized by Orcs and taken into Mordor.

6.

What is the theme of the book? What is a lesson learned from it?

The overarching theme of The Two Towers is one of hope that the quest will succeed because otherwise, Middle Earth is doomed to be ruled by Sauron if he regains control of the Ring of Power. The main lesson learned is that in spite of all odds, the Fellowship must persevere or all will be lost.

7.

What is the overall mood of the book?

There is an overriding sense of gloom and dark foreboding going on in The Two Towers with the outcome of the conflict with Sauron and his subservant sorcerer, Sarumen, being far from certain as the Ringbearer's quest seems to falter.

8.

Describe a favorite scene or incident from the book.

In Chapter 4, after realizing that Pippin and Merry are not Orcs, Treebeard provides them with two different types of Ent draughts that tasted and looked like water but which had a magical effect on the hobbits, sustaining them and making them grow taller and their hair curlier.