Plot Summary:
The Breaking of the Fellowship
The story begins in the immediate aftermath of The Fellowship of the Ring. With the Fellowship scattered by an Orc attack, Aragorn discovers Boromir, son of the Steward of Gondor, dying. Boromir confesses he tried to take the Ring from Frodo and, in his final moments, urges Aragorn to go to Minas Tirith and save their people. He reveals that the Orcs have captured the hobbits Merry and Pippin. After Boromir’s death, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli give him a noble farewell, sending his body over the Falls of Rauros in an Elven boat.
Aragorn deduces that Frodo, along with his faithful servant Samwise Gamgee, has secretly crossed the River Anduin to continue the quest to Mordor alone. Faced with a choice—to follow the Ring-bearer or rescue the captured hobbits—Aragorn resolves that the fate of the Ring is no longer in their hands. Driven by duty to their companions, he, Legolas, and Gimli set out in pursuit of the Uruk-hai who have taken Merry and Pippin, beginning a desperate chase across the plains of Rohan.
The Uruk-hai and the Riders of Rohan
Merry and Pippin are captives of a large band of Orcs, a mix of Saruman’s Uruk-hai and Orcs from Mordor and the Misty Mountains. The factions quarrel over their orders: the Mordor Orcs, led by Grishnákh, want to head east, while the Uruk-hai, under Uglúk, are commanded to bring the hobbits to Saruman in Isengard. After a violent clash, Uglúk’s Uruk-hai prevail. During their grueling, forced march across Rohan, Pippin cleverly drops a Lórien-leaf brooch, leaving a clue for any pursuers.
Meanwhile, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli—the “Three Hunters”—pursue the Orcs with astonishing speed and endurance. After three days of relentless chase, they encounter a company of Rohirrim, the Riders of Rohan, led by Éomer, the king’s nephew. Éomer informs them that his riders ambushed and destroyed the entire Orc-band the previous dawn, leaving no survivors and burning the bodies. Seeing no hobbits among the slain, Éomer is initially suspicious of the strangers, as his king, Théoden, has been ensnared by the poisonous counsel of his advisor, Gríma Wormtongue, who is a servant of Saruman. Aragorn, however, reveals himself as the heir of Isildur, wielding the reforged sword Andúril. Impressed, Éomer defies the king’s orders and lends them horses, asking them to return to Edoras, the capital of Rohan, when their search is done.
Treebeard and the Awakening of Fangorn
Merry and Pippin, it turns out, were not killed. During the Riders’ attack, Merry and Pippin were carried off by the Mordor-orc Grishnákh, who suspected they had the Ring. When Grishnákh is slain by a Rider, the hobbits escape into the ancient and feared Fangorn Forest. There, they encounter Treebeard, a giant, tree-like creature who is an Ent—one of the oldest beings in Middle-earth and a shepherd of the trees.
Initially mistaking them for little Orcs, Treebeard is fascinated by the hobbits and takes them to his home. He learns from them of the wider world and, crucially, of the treachery of the wizard Saruman, whose Orcs have been felling trees on the borders of Fangorn. This news, combined with the hobbits’ tale of their journey and Gandalf’s fall, rouses Treebeard’s long-dormant anger. He calls an “Entmoot,” a gathering of the Ents, to decide what must be done. After three days of slow, deliberate council, the Ents are fully roused to wrath. In a sudden, terrible fury, they march on Saruman’s fortress of Isengard, taking the unsuspecting wizard completely by surprise. The hobbits ride with them, witnessing the forest itself going to war.
Gandalf the White and the King of the Golden Hall
Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli follow the hobbits’ tracks into Fangorn Forest. There, they are confronted not by Saruman, as they fear, but by Gandalf, returned from his battle with the Balrog in Moria. He is no longer Gandalf the Grey but has been sent back as Gandalf the White, more powerful and purposeful. He confirms the hobbits are safe with the Ents and explains that their coming was the spark that ignited Fangorn’s wrath.
Gandalf tells them their new purpose is not to find the hobbits, but to ride to Edoras and free King Théoden from Saruman’s influence. They arrive at the golden hall of Meduseld to find Théoden old and decrepit, completely under the sway of Wormtongue. Gandalf breaks Saruman’s spell, shattering Wormtongue’s power. Théoden is restored to his full strength and kingly vigor. He exiles Wormtongue, reclaims his sword, and, against the counsel to retreat to the fortress of Dunharrow, resolves to ride to war against Saruman. As the host of Rohan rides for the Fords of Isen, Gandalf departs on a swift errand, promising to meet them at Helm’s Deep.
The Battle of Helm’s Deep
King Théoden’s forces learn that their men at the Fords of Isen have been defeated and that a massive army from Isengard—ten thousand Uruk-hai and wild men of Dunland—is marching on them. On Gandalf’s advice, they retreat to the Hornburg, a great fortress in the mountain valley of Helm’s Deep.
As a great storm breaks, the battle begins. The forces of Isengard assault the Deeping Wall and the Hornburg gate with overwhelming numbers and a “blasting-fire” devised by Saruman. The defence is desperate. Aragorn and Éomer lead a sortie from the gate, driving the attackers back temporarily. Gimli distinguishes himself by saving Éomer and holding a breach in the wall. The Deeping Wall is eventually breached by Saruman’s explosives, and the defenders are driven back to the fortress and the Glittering Caves behind.
All seems lost, but as dawn breaks, Théoden and Aragorn lead a final, desperate cavalry charge out of the Hornburg. At the same moment, Gandalf returns on a hilltop, accompanied by Erkenbrand and a thousand men of Westfold. Together, they charge into the enemy’s rear. Trapped between the king’s charge and Gandalf’s army, the Uruk-hai panic. They flee into a mysterious, newly appeared forest of sentient trees—Huorns from Fangorn—and are never seen again.
Flotsam and Jetsam
The victors ride to Isengard. They find it utterly ruined, its great ring-wall torn down and the entire plain flooded. The great tower of Orthanc stands alone and unharmed in the center of the devastation. Sitting atop the rubble of the gate, they find Merry and Pippin, contentedly smoking pipe-weed scavenged from Saruman’s stores. The hobbits recount the tale of the Ents’ attack: how they tore down the walls, dammed the River Isen, and flooded the entire fortress, trapping Saruman in his tower.
Gandalf, Théoden, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli confront Saruman, who appears on his balcony. The wizard attempts to sway them with his magically persuasive voice, first trying to beguile Théoden and then trying to sow discord between Gandalf and his allies. Théoden, however, rejects him utterly. Gandalf then breaks Saruman’s staff, stripping him of his power and casting him from the order of Wizards. As they leave, Wormtongue, also trapped in the tower, throws a heavy, dark orb from a window, aiming for Gandalf or Saruman. The orb is a palantír, one of the ancient Seeing-stones of Númenor, which Pippin retrieves. That night, Pippin, unable to resist its lure, looks into the stone. He is confronted by the Dark Lord Sauron himself, who mistakes him for the Ring-bearer and Saruman’s prisoner. Gandalf realizes the grave danger and, taking Pippin with him, rides at once for Minas Tirith to warn the city of the impending attack.
The Taming of Sméagol
The narrative shifts back to Frodo and Sam, who are struggling through the barren hills of the Emyn Muil. They are being stalked by the creature Gollum, who has been trailing them since Moria. One night, they manage to ambush and capture him. Frodo, remembering Gandalf’s words and taking pity on the wretched creature, spares his life. In return, he makes Gollum swear an oath on the Ring itself to serve the “Master of the Precious.” The creature’s two personalities—the fawning Sméagol and the malicious Gollum—are at war, but the submissive Sméagol half agrees. He promises to guide them to Mordor by a secret way, as the main Black Gate is impassable.
The Passage of the Marshes
Gollum leads them out of the Emyn Muil and into the Dead Marshes, a vast, stinking fenland. As they navigate the treacherous paths, guided by Gollum’s uncanny skill, they see eerie lights and the spectral faces of dead Elves, Men, and Orcs from an ancient battle, submerged beneath the stagnant water.
During their passage, a Nazgûl on its winged steed flies overhead, a terrifying messenger of Mordor. The creature’s presence fills them with dread and deeply frightens Gollum, who fears that the Enemy is aware of their quest and that the Ring is calling to its masters. The burden of the Ring grows heavier on Frodo, and he begins to feel the constant, searching pressure of the Eye of Sauron.
The Black Gate is Closed
Gollum guides them to the Black Gate of Mordor, the Morannon. It is a terrifying, heavily fortified entrance, swarming with Orcs and watched by the Towers of the Teeth. As they hide and watch, they see armies of Easterlings marching into Mordor to join Sauron’s forces. Frodo, in a moment of despair, feels he must attempt to enter this way, but Gollum frantically pleads with him, telling him it is certain death. He reveals his “secret way”: a high, unguarded pass far to the south, Cirith Ungol. After a moment of doubt, Frodo agrees to trust Gollum once more, sensing it is his fate to do so.
Journey to the Cross-roads
Gollum leads them south into the fair but now desolate land of Ithilien, the former garden of Gondor. They find it a pleasant but dangerous land, scarred by war but still holding a wild beauty. While resting, Sam cooks a pair of rabbits, and the smoke from his small fire attracts the attention of a group of Gondorian Rangers.
They are captured by the Rangers, who are led by Faramir, the younger brother of Boromir. Faramir interrogates Frodo, and his questions are sharp and insightful. He reveals that he saw his brother Boromir’s body floating down the Anduin in an Elven boat. Under this questioning, and a slip of the tongue from Sam, Faramir deduces that Frodo carries Isildur’s Bane—the One Ring. Unlike his brother, Faramir resists the temptation. Recognizing the immense peril of the Ring and the importance of Frodo’s quest, he declares, “I would not take this thing, if it lay by the highway. Not were Minas Tirith falling in ruin and I alone could save her.” Showing his “quality,” he gives the hobbits provisions and lets them go, though he warns them gravely against the path to Cirith Ungol and their treacherous guide.
Shelob’s Lair
Gollum leads them eastward into the dreaded valley of Minas Morgul, the city of the Nazgûl. From its gate, a great army led by the Witch-king issues forth, marching to war. The Ring tempts Frodo to reveal himself, but he resists, clutching the Phial of Galadriel. After the host passes, Gollum leads them up a long, winding stair carved into the cliff face.
He brings them to the entrance of a dark tunnel, reeking with an ancient stench. This is Torech Ungol, the lair of Shelob, a monstrous, primeval spider. Gollum has led them into a trap, hoping Shelob will kill the hobbits so he can reclaim the Ring from their bones. Inside the pitch-black tunnels, Shelob attacks. She stings Frodo, binding him in her strong, sticky cords. Believing his master to be dead, Sam, in a fury of grief and loyalty, attacks the monster. Armed with Frodo’s sword, Sting, and the Phial of Galadriel, he wounds Shelob, stabbing her eye and her soft underside. Pained by the Phial’s light, a holy radiance she has never before encountered, the great spider retreats to her lair.
The Choices of Master Samwise
Finding Frodo pale, cold, and seemingly dead, Sam is overcome with despair. He debates what to do: die by his master’s side or continue the Quest alone. Realizing that the Ring must be destroyed at all costs, he makes the agonizing choice to leave Frodo. With a heavy heart, he takes the Ring from around his master’s neck, intending to carry it to Mount Doom himself.
As he approaches the pass of Cirith Ungol, he overhears two Orcs, Shagrat and Gorbag, discussing the events. To his astonishment, he learns that Frodo is not dead, only paralyzed by Shelob’s venom. The Orcs find Frodo’s body, and under orders to take any prisoners to their tower, they carry him away. Sam, now realizing his terrible mistake, races after them, but the great iron gates of the Tower of Cirith Ungol slam shut before he can reach them, leaving him alone in the land of Mordor.
Characters
Frodo Baggins
Frodo’s journey in The Two Towers is primarily an internal one, marked by increasing suffering and resilience. The physical weight of the Ring becomes a palpable burden, mirroring the psychological toll of his quest. He grows more isolated, feeling the constant, pressing gaze of Sauron’s Eye. His defining traits in this volume are his profound pity and his enduring sense of duty. His decision to spare and trust Gollum, despite Sam’s warnings, is a pivotal act of mercy that shapes the entire course of their journey. This compassion, however, does not make him naive; he understands Gollum’s wickedness and asserts his mastery over him when necessary, showing a new sternness. His encounter with Faramir reveals his growing wisdom and fortitude, as he navigates the captain’s sharp interrogation without revealing the Ring’s secret, until forced. By the end, Frodo is physically and spiritually exhausted, but his resolve to reach Mount Doom remains absolute, even in the face of despair.
Samwise Gamgee
Sam evolves from a loyal servant into a heroic figure in his own right. His simple, grounded worldview acts as an anchor for Frodo and a counterpoint to the epic events unfolding around them. His primary motivation is his unwavering love and loyalty to his master. This loyalty is fierce and protective, leading to his deep mistrust of Gollum and his bold confrontation with Faramir. Throughout their journey, Sam is the pragmatist, worrying about food, rope, and rest, which keeps their quest grounded in reality. His ultimate test comes in the pass of Cirith Ungol. Believing Frodo is dead, he faces an impossible choice. His decision to take the Ring and continue the quest alone, however reluctantly, is the culmination of his growth. It is an act of profound courage and self-sacrifice, transforming him from a companion into the temporary bearer of Middle-earth’s greatest burden.
Gollum / Sméagol
Gollum is the book’s most tragic and conflicted character. His introduction establishes the central struggle between his two warring personalities: the wretched, fawning Sméagol who desires friendship and approval, and the malicious, cunning Gollum who craves only the “Precious.” This duality makes him both an indispensable guide and a constant threat. His knowledge of Mordor’s secret paths is essential to the quest’s progress, yet his obsession with the Ring drives him to ultimate betrayal. The debate he has with himself, overheard by Sam, perfectly encapsulates his internal torment. Frodo’s pity awakens the Sméagol persona, leading to moments of genuine, if fleeting, loyalty and affection. However, the proximity of the Ring inevitably strengthens the Gollum side, culminating in his decision to lead the hobbits into Shelob’s lair.
Aragorn
In this volume, Aragorn fully steps into the role of leader and warrior-king. With Gandalf gone, the burden of command falls upon him, and he accepts it without hesitation. His decision to pursue Merry and Pippin, rather than follow Frodo, demonstrates his commitment to the members of the Fellowship and his sense of honor. The chase across Rohan showcases his incredible skills as a Ranger and his physical endurance. His confrontation with Éomer is a turning point, where he openly declares his lineage and wields Andúril, the Sword that was Broken, not just as a weapon but as a symbol of his authority and destiny. At Helm’s Deep, he is a peerless champion, fighting with courage and inspiring the men of Rohan. He acts as a pillar of strength and hope, embodying the return of the king that Gondor has long awaited.
Gandalf the White
Gandalf’s return from death is the book’s great eucatastrophe—a sudden, joyous turn of events. He is transformed: more powerful, more focused, and less constrained. As Gandalf the White, he replaces Saruman as the head of his order. He is no longer just a guide but a commander and a force of nature in the war against Sauron. He moves with purpose and authority, breaking Saruman’s hold on Théoden, rallying the Rohirrim, and turning the tide at the Battle of Helm’s Deep. He is a figure of immense power, yet his wisdom is his greatest weapon, as he orchestrates events and directs his allies with foresight and a deep understanding of the enemy’s mind. His new incarnation is more remote and less overtly “merry,” embodying the gravity of the war he has returned to fight.
Théoden
King Théoden’s arc is one of dramatic renewal. When we first meet him, he is physically and spiritually broken, prematurely aged by the subtle poison of his advisor, Wormtongue, who is a puppet of Saruman. He is lost in despair, blind to the dangers facing his kingdom. Gandalf’s intervention shatters this enchantment, and Théoden is reborn. He stands tall again, his mind cleared and his will restored. Casting off his lethargy, he reclaims his kingship with vigor, choosing to lead his people into battle rather than hide in his halls. His ride to Helm’s Deep and his final, desperate charge from the Hornburg symbolize his return to the heroic lineage of the House of Eorl. He represents the potential for courage and honor to be reawakened, even when all seems lost.
Core Themes
Hope in the Face of Despair
The Two Towers is saturated with a sense of encroaching doom. The characters are constantly confronted with overwhelming odds, from the defense of Helm’s Deep against a massive army to Frodo and Sam’s seemingly impossible journey into the heart of the enemy’s land. Yet, the narrative consistently champions hope not as a guarantee of success, but as a moral imperative to act. Aragorn’s pursuit of the hobbits is undertaken with little chance of success, but driven by duty. Théoden rides to Helm’s Deep knowing his forces are vastly outnumbered. Sam’s decision to continue the quest alone is the ultimate act of hope against utter despair. The theme is perhaps best articulated by Aragorn: “There is always hope.”
The Corrupting Influence of Power
The One Ring’s corrupting nature is a constant, looming presence. Frodo feels its physical and mental weight growing with every step towards Mordor, tempting him and draining his spirit. The character of Gollum is the ultimate embodiment of this theme; his entire existence is a tragic portrait of what the Ring can do, reducing a person to a wretched, obsessed creature torn between his corrupted self and the faint memory of who he once was. The theme is also explored through the wizard Saruman, whose desire for the Ring has led him to betray his allies and his purpose, turning his fortress of Isengard into a foul imitation of Mordor. Faramir provides a crucial counterpoint: his deliberate rejection of the Ring, even when it is offered, demonstrates that its power can be resisted and that true strength lies in humility, not domination.
Pity, Mercy, and Providence
The act of showing mercy to the undeserving proves to have profound and unforeseen consequences. Frodo’s decision to spare Gollum, an echo of Bilbo’s pity in The Hobbit, is the central driver of the second half of the book. Without Gollum as a guide, the quest would have failed at the Emyn Muil or the Black Gate. This suggests a providential force at work, where acts of compassion are rewarded by fate. Faramir’s choice to spare Frodo, releasing him when his duty demanded he do otherwise, is another critical act of mercy that allows the quest to continue. The theme suggests that moral goodness, especially pity, has a power that can alter destiny in ways that brute force cannot.
The Awakening of the Ancient World
A significant theme is the idea that the escalating evil of Sauron and Saruman is so profound that it awakens ancient, seemingly dormant forces. The most powerful example is the Ents. As shepherds of the trees, they have remained aloof from the affairs of Men and Elves for thousands of years. However, Saruman’s wanton destruction of their forests—a symbol of industrial evil destroying nature—rouses them to a “last march.” Their destruction of Isengard is a visceral depiction of nature’s wrath unleashed. Similarly, the Huorns, the half-wild, tree-like beings, descend upon the Uruk-hai at Helm’s Deep, swallowing the army in a vengeful forest. This theme suggests that the world of Middle-earth is a living entity, and that its oldest elements will rise to defend themselves when the balance is threatened.
Plot devices
Parallel Narratives
The book is famously split into two distinct and chronologically parallel storylines. Book Three follows the martial and epic adventures of Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and the other members of the sundered Fellowship as they engage in the growing War of the Ring. Book Four shifts to the intensely personal, stealthy, and psychologically grueling journey of Frodo and Sam. This structural choice is highly effective. It allows Tolkien to build suspense by leaving one group at a critical juncture while switching to the other. It also creates a powerful thematic contrast between the open warfare fought by heroes and the quiet, internal struggle against despair and corruption undertaken by the hobbits. The fate of the world hinges not on the great battle, but on the small, unseen quest.
The Eucatastrophe
A term coined by Tolkien, the eucatastrophe is the “good catastrophe,” the sudden and joyous turn of events that delivers salvation when all hope seems lost. The Two Towers contains one of the most famous examples in literature: the climax of the Battle of Helm’s Deep. The defenders are beaten, the wall is breached, and the fortress is about to fall. At the darkest moment, as dawn breaks, King Théoden leads a hopeless charge, the horn of Helm Hammerhand sounds in the deep, and Gandalf appears on the ridge with a thousand men. This sudden arrival snatches victory from the jaws of certain defeat, providing a powerful emotional release and reinforcing the theme of hope.
Foil Characters: Boromir and Faramir
The brothers Boromir and Faramir serve as powerful foils for one another, representing two different responses to temptation and duty. Boromir, who succumbed to the Ring’s lure at the end of the previous book, is defined by his desire to use the Enemy’s weapon for the good of his people, a path that leads to his own fall. Faramir, when faced with the exact same temptation, explicitly rejects it. He tells Frodo he would not take the Ring even if it were the only way to save his city. This moment is not just a personal test but a thematic one, defining what Faramir calls “quality.” Through Faramir, Tolkien explores a different kind of heroism—one founded on wisdom, restraint, and the understanding that certain powers are too dangerous to wield, no matter how noble the intention.
