![]() If you're getting into Tolkien after Rings of Power, you'll want to start your coursework at the back of The Return of the King with the appendices, where Tolkien provides a chronology of the Second and Third Ages. Frodo, beleaguered by the physical and psychological toll of the ring, passes into the Undying Lands to find peace, and harmony settles over Middle-earth. Still in thrall to the evil Saruman, the Shire needs a champion, forcing the hobbits to mount a rebellion in the fateful Scouring of the Shire. Ultimately, Aragorn steps into his destiny as King of Gondor and peace reigns, but readers coming to the series from the films will be disarmed by the hobbits’ homecoming. As Frodo falls dangerously under the sway of the ring’s dark magic during the hazardous journey through Mordor, Aragorn and his forces stage a last stand at the Black Gate of Mordor, and Frodo makes a seismic sacrifice to destroy the ring once and for all. The trilogy concludes thrillingly with The Return of the King. (And once you've finished, check out our maps to Dune, Game of Thrones, and The Wheel of Time next.) What kind of Tolkien reader will you be? Time to start reading and find out. Additionally, for anyone looking to do their homework about the Rings of Power lore, I've flagged the books that will enrich your viewing of the series. I grew up in Tolkien’s wide, wild world in the way that other members of my generation grew up in Narnia or Hogwarts these books are an enduring part of my heart and identity, and they can be for you, too.īelow, I’ve charted a choose your own adventure course through the lore, with exit points for the casual reader and bonus material for the newly converted Tolkienite. Yes, dear reader, you caught me-I’ve been a Tolkienite since age eight, when I got my hands on The Hobbit and it changed my little brain forever. What’s the best path for reading your way through, you ask? It’s a simple question, but one bound to rile up Tolkien fans, who love and study the author’s works with serious devotion. But The Lord of the Rings is just the tip of the iceberg Tolkien’s Middle-earth legendarium encompasses thousands of years and dozens of other works, meaning that if you dive in, it may be quite a long time before you make it there and back again. You’ll always remember the first time you encountered these moving, masterfully imagined epics about the struggle between good and evil, the delicate balance of death and immortality, and the addictive danger of power. ![]() If you haven’t read the series, how I envy you! Newcomers are in for an unforgettable reading experience. Now, with Amazon's Rings of Power closing the curtain on a successful Season One, a whole new generation of fans have discovered Middle-earth. Peter Jackson’s early aughts film adaptations have only compounded the series’ enduring popularity, inviting new fans into Tolkien’s fantastical world by way of Academy Awards, timeless memes, and astounding filmmaking. Tolkien’s sprawling magnum opus popularized the fantasy genre, galvanized a counterculture movement, and snowballed into a global pop culture phenomenon. Tolkien certainly imbued the elves with a certain form of practical and applicable magic.It’s difficult to imagine a world without The Lord of the Rings. Still, lembas bread sustains many members of the fellowship throughout their long trek.ĭespite Frodo's very difficult journey in LOTR, he had a great deal of help along the way from Sam and the elven magic inherent in many of the gifts he was given. ![]() Sadly, lembas bread is also part of the plot Gollum uses to turn Frodo against Sam when he takes the final bit of their supply and scatters the crumbs all over Sam while the hobbit sleeps to make Frodo think he ate the rest of it. Legolas remarks to Merry and Pippin, "One small bite is enough to fill the stomach of a grown man!" Nearing the end of their journey to Mordor, Frodo and Sam are practically living off of lembas bread as their food stores run short and wild game is sparse. It's kept in mallorn leaves and perfect for sustenance on long journeys. They are stocked up with lembas bread, also referred to as elven bread or waybread in the books. As they depart Lothlórien, the fellowship receives a final gift.
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