The Fantasy Review’s Beginner’s Guide to The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.
J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings is the ultimate classic of fantasy literature that has influenced generations of writers and been enjoyed by millions of readers. For those new to Middle-earth, this guide will help you in your journey as you navigate the complex world Tolkien created.
Blog cover art: Alan Lee
The Basics You Need to Know
The Lord of the Rings is actually one large novel, often published in three volumes:
- The Fellowship of the Ring
- The Two Towers
- The Return of the King
Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings as one story, but publishers made it into a trilogy of books to make it more marketable.
The story follows the hobbit Frodo Baggins as he and The Fellowship of the Ring set out to destroy the One Ring and prevent the Dark Lord Sauron from fully returning.
The World of Middle-earth
Tolkien’s Middle-earth is a colossal secondary fantasy world which he poured over 40 years into creating the history, languages, and geography. Some of the races of people you will encounter include:
- Hobbits: Small, peace-loving creatures from the Shire
- Elves: Immortal beings with a deep connection to nature
- Dwarves: Skilled craftsmen who dwell in mountain halls
- Men: Mortal humans with varying cultures and kingdoms
- Wizards: Powerful beings sent to guide and protect Middle-earth, originally Maia
Major Themes
As you read The Lord of the Rings, keep an eye out for these central themes:
- The corrupting influence of power
- Friendship and loyalty
- Good vs Evil
- The power of hope in the face of overwhelming odds
Tips for Reading
Take your time: The pacing can be slow and the writing style difficult for a modern audience to get to grips with, but with time you will sink into the gentle classic fantasy style.
Use the appendices: They provide valuable background information on characters, languages, and history. This information is pretty thorough, but for more in-depth reading, you can also check out The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, and many of the other additional books edited and published by J.R.R. Tolkien’s son, Christopher Tolkien.
Additionally, The Complete Guide to Middle Earth by Robert Foster is a fantastic resource for looking up any names, places, etc, that you want to know more about.
Enjoy the journey: Immerse yourself in The Lord of the Rings! There is a reason there is a lot of Tolkien scholarship out there. This book is rich in language, detail, worldbuilding, and more. I would personally recommend reading it all at once without using additional encyclopedias like Robert Foster’s book, and instead have a more thorough reread with those additional resources at a later date.
Legacy and Impact
The Lord of the Rings has had an enormous influence on fantasy literature and popular culture. Its themes, characters, and world-building have inspired countless authors, filmmakers, and artists, but most of you fantasy readers will notice its influence in books.
‘The Eye of the World’ is a Beautiful Homage to ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’
Series like The Wheel of Time, and nearly all modern fantasy is influenced in some way by Tolkien’s work. Of course, there are exceptions, like Malazan Book of the Fallen, but for those classic fantasy tropes with Elves, Dragons, Dwarves, etc, we get that from Tolkien.
