The Lord of the Rings: Questions & Answers

How does Frodo come into possession of the One Ring?

Bilbo Baggins finds the Ring in The Hobbit—the novel that precedes the Lord of the Rings trilogy—when he stumbles into Gollum’s cave beneath the Misty Mountains. The Ring had hidden itself away with Gollum to await its chance to reunite with Sauron. After winning a riddle contest against a vengeful Gollum, Bilbo uses the Ring’s invisibility to escape, and he later takes the Ring back to his home in the Shire. He had no idea of the value of the Ring, but was pleased to have secured such a portable and useful treasure in addition to his share of the gold from the dragon Smaug. At the beginning of The Lord of the Rings, the wizard Gandalf grows suspicious about stirrings from the evil land of Mordor. Gandalf knows that Bilbo is planning to embark on his final journey, and he urges Bilbo to leave the Ring behind for Frodo, his nephew. Bilbo resists—the Ring’s power is strong and it’s unwilling to let him go (just as he is unwilling to part with it)—but he ultimately bows to Gandalf’s suggestion and leaves the Ring to Frodo. When passing on this dubious “gift,” Gandalf explains to Frodo that it is the One Ring, forged by the Dark Lord Sauron to control Middle-earth, and Sauron is eternally seeking it. Knowing that Sauron’s servants will come for it soon, Gandalf warns Frodo that he must take it far from the Shire. This moment, which was set in motion long before his birth, forces Frodo into a role he never sought: he’s compelled to become the bearer of the Ring and to try to save Middle-Earth from the forces of Mordor.

Why does Boromir try to take the Ring from Frodo?

Boromir’s betrayal and death are among The Fellowship of the Ring's most poignant tragedies. He is a brave and honorable man, driven by a deep love for his people—but the Ring preys on his fears and ambitions, revealing the vulnerability even the noblest of hearts can harbor when faced with the Ring’s powerful evil. As the eldest son of the Steward of Gondor—a land ruled by Men which borders the Black Gate of Mordor—Boromir is desperate to save the people of Gondor from the burgeoning threat building in Mordor. He grew up hearing tales of the Ring’s power and believes that he stands a far better chance of saving Gondor if he can use the Ring as a weapon against Sauron. This is why, during the Council of Elrond, he angrily argues that the Fellowship should wield the Ring instead of destroying it.

As the Fellowship travels and Boromir is in the Ring’s presence more and more, he becomes increasingly fixated on its proximity and its power. The Ring’s influence works on him, eventually persuading him that to steal it from Frodo would be the right thing to do. By the time the Fellowship reach Amon Hen, his desperation for it overwhelms him. He tells Frodo that the Ring could be a “gift” to his people. When Frodo resists, Boromir insists that throwing away a weapon as powerful as the Ring would be the height of hubris and irresponsibility. Boromir loses control and tries to take it from him by force, but Frodo escapes by putting on the Ring and running away. When the distance between them lessens the Ring’s influence on him, Boromir is suddenly able to realize his terrible mistake. His brief betrayal quickly leads to his redemption when he sacrifices himself to protect Merry and Pippin from the band of attacking Uruk-hai, affirming that Boromir is, at heart, a brave and moral man.

Why does Gollum betray Frodo and Sam?

By the time he meets Frodo and Sam in The Two Towers, Gollum is a fractured shadow of his former self, his mind and willpower warped beyond recognition by the Ring’s corrupting power. He has no loyalty to anyone except himself and “his precious.” Although he briefly serves Frodo as a guide, he never truly gives up his obsession with reclaiming the Ring. Frodo’s kindness allows Smeagol, the fractured remnant of Gollum’s former self, to emerge, but Sam’s suspicion drives even Smeagol into bitterness and resentment. When the group reach the outskirts of Mordor, Gollum sees and seizes an opportunity to turn Sam and Frodo against each other. Gollum manipulates Frodo into believing that Sam wants the Ring for himself, and Frodo, exhausted and traumatized from their journey and the constant, harmful effects of the Ring, listens to Gollum’s lies rather than believing Sam’s protestations. Once Sam is temporarily out of the way, Gollum leads Frodo into Shelob’s lair, hoping the giant spider will kill Frodo so that he can take the Ring. Sam heroically rescues Frodo and Gollum’s plan fails, but he continues to stalk Sam and Frodo into Mordor, waiting for another chance to reclaim his lost treasure. Gollum betrays Frodo and Sam because it is in his nature to do so. Though a trace of goodness lingers in him as Smeagol, nothing—not even compassion or reason—can deter his obsessive drive to reclaim the Ring.

Why does Aragorn insist on taking the Paths of the Dead?

Aragorn chooses to follow the Paths of the Dead in The Return of the King because he knows it’s the only hope the race of Men have to defeat the armies of Mordor. After leaving Rohan, Aragorn takes the Paths of the Dead to summon the Men of the Mountain and compel them to fulfill the oath they made to his ancestor Isildur. He takes this incredible risk—no one else has ever passed through their territory and lived—because he knows that only a truly massive force can turn the tide against Sauron’s armies. He explains to Gimli and Legolas, who accompany him despite his insistence he go alone, that there’s a prophecy that says the Dead Men of Dunharrow owe a debt to Gondor. They are doomed to haunt the Paths of the Dead until they pay it, having broken their oath to fight for its king long ago. While the others doubt that the spirits will bend the knee to him, Aragorn hopes and believes that they will recognize him as Isildur’s heir. When he arrives, he demands their loyalty, promising to release them from their curse if they fight for him. The army follows him to the battle raging between Gondor and Mordor, where they overwhelm Sauron’s forces and help secure the ships needed to reinforce the soldiers at Minas Tirith. This decision allows Aragorn to bring fresh troops just in time for the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, turning the tide of the war against Mordor.

Why does Frodo fail to destroy the Ring?

Frodo fails to destroy the Ring because its corrupting power ultimately overwhelms him. Despite sacrificing so much to bring it to Mount Doom, the burden of carrying the Ring for so long erodes his will. By the time he reaches the fiery chasm, he can no longer resist its seductive pull—and instead decides to keep it for himself. From the beginning of his journey, the Ring steadily wears Frodo down, growing heavier—physically and psychologically—the closer he gets to Mordor. It tempts him again and again, eroding his strength and resolve with each step. By the time he reaches the fiery chasm of Mount Doom, the Ring has completely consumed him. No longer in control of his own will, Frodo rejects the Fellowship’s plan and, to Sam’s horror, claims the Ring for himself. In the end, the Ring is destroyed—but not by Frodo. Gollum, consumed by his obsession, attacks Frodo in a frenzy, biting off his finger to reclaim the Ring. But his triumph only lasts a moment: he loses his footing and falls into the molten depths of Mount Doom, unwittingly fulfilling the quest he had long sought to thwart. There’s a tragic irony to Gollum’s final moments; he’s finally reunited in death with the Ring that destroyed his life.