The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien - A Fable Reading Guide
Jason Boog
Join the Sean Astin Book Club to start reading The Lord of the Rings books!
Discover the magic of Middle-earth on a journey with hobbits, elves, dwarfs, and wizards. “The Fellowship of the Ring” introduced much of what we now associate with fantasy, and continues to be one of the most beloved novels in the English language.We’ve created this reading group guide to introduce you to Tolkien and his world!Why is Sean Astin reading The Fellowship of the Ring?
Fable is designed for people to share the joy of reading. We are a social platform for book clubs that can be either private (closed and available by invitation only) or public (open and available for anyone to join). The iconic actor joined our community last year, sharing his Sean Astin book recommendations with a “Journeys of Adventure” theme. Sean’s Folio introduced us to stories that will speak to your soul, open your mind, and show you extraordinary things. “I’m always impressed with the accomplishments of others, from the heroic efforts of a single mother to the remarkable adventures of a mountaineer walking to the top of the tallest mountain,” wrote Sean in his Folio. "I’ve read The Lord of the Rings trilogy cover to cover three times and I absolutely love the books," Sean told his book club. "But I have never really experienced this trilogy the way fans do. I have decided to reread this epic series together with you, my loyal book club members."What comes first Hobbit or Lord of the Rings?
Tolkien first published "The Hobbit, or There and Back Again" in 1937, a quest story about a brave hobbit named Bilbo Baggins. "The Fellowship of the Ring" begins many decades later, as Bilbo's nephew Frodo carries on the family adventure. Two other books carry on Frodo's story and The Lord of the Rings books: "The Two Towers" and "The Return of the King."Things get more complicated when we think about the film versions of the books. The Lord of the Rings books have inspired three different movies, each released in the early Aughts: "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring;" "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers;" "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King;" and, in addition, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey;" "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug," and "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies."Here are all the LOTR books available in our bookstore!type: embedded-entry-inline id: 4gY1y6HRMCGnkXmdNoNlgm
Who were the 9 members of the Fellowship of the Ring?
In the film versions of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings books, Sean Astin played Samwise Gamgee, a hobbit and gardener who became one of the nine members of the Fellowship of the Ring, a collection of brave adventurers working together to destroy the One Ring before it could fall into the wrong hands. The Fellowship included eight more people: the Hobbit Frodo Baggins (who carried the One Ring), the wizard Gandalf, the ranger Aragorn, the captain-general Boromir, the Elf Legolas, the Dwarf Gimli, the Hobbit Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck, and the Hobbit Peregrin "Pippin" Took.While "Fellowship of the Ring" is a common term, The Tolkien Gateway adds this note:"actual term is not used in full until the chapter "Many Partings," when Aragorn disbanded it. In the story itself, they are usually referred to as the Fellowship, the Company of the Ring (more so than Fellowship), and the Nine Walkers (in opposition of the Nine Riders who pursued them)."
Download free book club discussion questions for The Fellowship of the Ring
https://youtu.be/L1dU1HZ_73MWhy is Lord of the Rings a banned book?
Over the decades, a few people have mistakenly believed that the magic in The Lord of the Rings books was satanic. As one Quora member pointed out, J. R. R. Tolkien was "a devout Catholic" and worked hard to make sure his writing would maintain "compatibility with orthodox Catholic Christianity!"In 2001, the Christ Community Church in New Mexico hosted a book burning, tossing copies of Tolkien's work in the fire--claiming the works were satanic. The Washington Post wrote about the sad incident:"But you don't have to go as far as the Middle East to find people trying to ban books. Last December in Alamogordo, New Mexico, a church pastor led about 500 people in a book-burning ceremony. Onto a bonfire, they tossed copies of Harry Potter books as well as J.R.R. Tolkien novels, William Shakespeare plays, magazines and Ouija boards."
What is the best quote from Lord of the Rings?
Here are a few great quotes from The Fellowship of the Ring," all handpicked by Sean Astin Book Club readers."‘I wish it need not have happened in my time,’ said Frodo."‘So do I,’ said Gandalf, ‘and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." -- Highlighted by club members J.C. Johnson, Rebecca Kessler, Holly, and Padma Warrior
“I feel that as long as the Shire lies behind, safe and comfortable, I shall find wandering more bearable: I shall know that somewhere there is a firm foothold, even if my feet cannot stand there again." -- Highlighted by club members Holly, MarjorieW, J.C. Johnson, Lady of Andunie
"Even Gollum was not wholly ruined. He had proved tougher than even one of the Wise would have guessed – as a hobbit might. There was a little corner of his mind that was still his own, and light came through it, as through a chink in the dark: light out of the past. It was actually pleasant, I think, to hear a kindly voice again, bringing up memories of wind, and trees, and sun on the grass, and such forgotten things."-- Highlighted by club member Ellis Light
Home is behind, the world ahead,And there are many paths to treadThrough shadows to the edge of night,Until the stars are all alight.-- Highlighted by club members Lauren, J.C. Johnson, Lady of Andunie, and Padma Warrior
"‘I have been so taken up with the thoughts of leaving Bag End, and of saying farewell, that I have never even considered the direction,’ said Frodo. ‘For where am I to go? And by what shall I steer? What is to be my quest? Bilbo went to find a treasure, there and back again; but I go to lose one, and not return, as far as I can see.’"-- Highlighted by club members Helen van Riel and J.C. Johnson
Keep reading on Fable!
You can discover more great books on Fable’s Fantasy genre page.Still looking for more to read? Fable has plenty of free books in every genre!You can also explore our book club directory, discovering more new friends and new books to share.
Jason Boog