The Lord of the Rings is J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy masterpiece, chronicling the quest to destroy the One Ring and defeat the Dark Lord Sauron. Set in Middle-earth during the Third Age, the story begins when Bilbo Baggins passes the mysterious Ring to his nephew Frodo in the Shire.
The wizard Gandalf discovers the Ring’s true nature—it is the One Ring forged by Sauron to control all other Rings of Power. With Sauron’s forces searching for it, Frodo must leave the Shire. Accompanied by his loyal friend Samwise Gamgee and joined by fellow hobbits Merry and Pippin, Frodo begins his perilous journey. At Rivendell, the Council of Elrond decides the Ring must be destroyed in Mount Doom’s fires where it was forged.
The Fellowship of the Ring forms: Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, Aragorn (heir to Gondor’s throne), Legolas the elf, Gimli the dwarf, and Boromir of Gondor. Their journey takes them through treacherous lands. In the Mines of Moria, Gandalf falls battling a Balrog, seemingly perishing. The Fellowship reaches Lothlórien, where Galadriel warns Frodo of the Ring’s corrupting power.
The Fellowship breaks when Boromir, corrupted by the Ring’s influence, tries seizing it from Frodo. Uruk-hai attack, killing Boromir and capturing Merry and Pippin. Frodo and Sam continue alone toward Mordor, while Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli pursue the captors. The hobbits escape into Fangorn Forest, befriending Treebeard the Ent. Meanwhile, Gandalf returns as Gandalf the White, having defeated the Balrog.
The wizard Saruman, corrupted and allied with Sauron, threatens Rohan with his Uruk-hai army. Gandalf frees King Théoden from Saruman’s influence. The Ents destroy Isengard while Rohan’s forces triumph at Helm’s Deep. Pippin encounters a palantír seeing-stone, alerting Sauron to their plans. Gandalf rushes to Minas Tirith, Gondor’s capital, with Pippin.
Frodo and Sam, guided by the creature Gollum—the Ring’s previous owner—approach Mordor. Gollum plots to reclaim his “precious” Ring. In Gondor, the Steward Denethor despairs as Sauron’s vast armies besiege Minas Tirith. Aragorn takes the Paths of the Dead, rallying ghost warriors to fulfill their ancient oath. Rohan’s cavalry charges to Gondor’s aid, and Éowyn, disguised as a warrior, slays the Witch-king of Angmar.
Gollum leads Frodo into the spider Shelob’s lair. Though poisoned and captured by orcs, Sam rescues Frodo. Together, they reach Mount Doom’s slopes, exhausted. At the Cracks of Doom, the Ring’s power overwhelms Frodo—he claims it for himself. Gollum attacks, biting off Frodo’s finger with the Ring, but falls into the lava, destroying both Ring and himself. Sauron’s power collapses, his realm crumbling.
Gandalf rescues Frodo and Sam as Mount Doom erupts. Aragorn is crowned King of Gondor, marrying Arwen. The hobbits return to the Shire, finding it corrupted by Saruman. After restoring their homeland, Frodo, forever scarred by his burden, sails to the Undying Lands with Gandalf and the elves, seeking peace. Sam remains, treasuring their friendship and the knowledge that their sacrifice saved Middle-earth from eternal darkness.