| This article refers to the novel. For other namesakes, see The Two Towers (disambiguation). |
The Two Towers: Being the Second Part of The Lord of the Rings is a novel written by J.R.R. Tolkien. It is preceded by The Fellowship of the Ring and followed by The Return of the King.
Title[]
A 1999 edition cover of The Two Towers novel
Tolkien came up with the title under deadline pressure and later expressed dissatisfaction with it. In letters and one sketch, he considered several possible sets of towers, including Minas Tirith and Barad-dûr, and even the possibility of leaving the matter ambiguous. However, he eventually settled on Orthanc and Minas Morgul and wrote a note to this effect which appears at the end of most editions of The Fellowship of the Ring. He also produced a final cover illustration showing these towers, but the publisher decided not to use it in order to save money on the production costs.
Loosely, any pair from a set of six towers in the story could plausibly fit the title: Cirith Ungol, Orthanc, Minas Tirith, Barad-dûr, Minas Morgul, and the Hornburg.
Structure[]
Because The Two Towers is the central portion of a longer work, its structure differs from that of a conventional novel. It begins and ends abruptly, without introduction to the characters, explanations of major plot elements or a satisfying conclusion. The first section follows the divergent paths of several important figures from The Fellowship of the Ring, but tells nothing of its central character, on whose fate so much depends, enabling the reader to share in the suspense and uncertainty of the characters themselves. The narrative of the second part returns to the hero's quest to destroy the evil that threatens the world. While the first section tells of an epic battle, the struggles in much of the second are internal.
Contents[]
Book III: The Treason of Isengard[]
Map of the routes taken
The Hobbits Merry and Pippin escape from the Orcs who captured them when the Orcs themselves are attacked by the Riders of Rohan. Merry and Pippin head into nearby Fangorn Forest where they encounter treelike giants called Ents.
The forest generally keep to themselves, but are moved to oppose the menace posed to the trees by the wizard Saruman, who has been chopping down trees in the forest to fuel fires for his furnaces.
Aragorn, Gimli the Dwarf, and Legolas the Elf, tracking Merry and Pippin, come across Éomer of Rohan and his riders who tell them that they attacked the Orcs the previous night and left no survivors. However, Aragorn is able to find small prints and they follow these into Fangorn, where they meet a white wizard who they at first believe to be Saruman, but who turns out to be their wizard friend Gandalf, whom they believed had perished in the mines of Moria. He tells them of his fall into the abyss, his battle to the death with the Balrog and his reawakening. The four ride to Edoras and persuade King Théoden that his people are in danger. In the process, Saruman's agent in Edoras, Gríma Wormtongue, is expelled. Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas then travel to the defensive fortification of the Hornburg, while Gandalf goes north in search of Erkenbrand's men to bring as reinforcements. At the Hornburg, they resist an onslaught of Orcs and Men sent by Saruman, and Gandalf arrives the next morning with the Westfold army led by Erkenbrand just in time. The fleeing Orcs run into a forest of Huorns; half-tree, half-ent creatures and none escape. Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, Théoden, Éomer, Gandalf and some guards then head to Saruman's stronghold, Isengard. There, they reunite with Merry and Pippin and find the fortress overrun by Ents, who had flooded it with the nearby river and besieged Orthanc, where Saruman hid in refuge. After giving Saruman a chance to repent, Gandalf casts him out of the order of wizards. Wormtongue throws something from a window at Gandalf and those with him. This turns out to be one of the palantíri. Pippin, unable to resist the urge, looks into it and has an encounter with Sauron. Gandalf and Pippin then head for Minas Tirith in preparation for the upcoming war.
Chapters[]
- I - The Departure of Boromir - Aragorn finds Boromir hit with many arrows, who tells him that Orcs took Merry and Pippin, and that they were still alive. Boromir dies, and his body is set down over the Falls of Rauros on a 'funeral boat'; Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli decide to follow the Orcs who had captured Merry and Pippin, rather than following Frodo and Sam. The three of them set off to chase the Orcs.
- II - The Riders of Rohan - They follow the trail of the Orcs and find several clues as to what happened with the hobbits, then meet an éored of Rohirrim led by Éomer, who tell them that the Orcs were destroyed and none were left alive. They camp near the site of the Orc massacre.
- III - The Uruk-hai - This chapter begins further back in time, telling the story of Merry and Pippin being captured by the Orcs, who are led by Uglúk from Saruman's army, and Grishnákh from Mordor. The two parties of Orcs argue constantly. The Orcs camp near Fangorn Forest and Grishnákh attempts to take the hobbits away with him. The hobbits escape as Grishnákh is killed by an arrow. They flee into Fangorn Forest as the men of Rohan attack the Orcs.
- IV - Treebeard - Merry and Pippin meet Treebeard the Ent, who calls an Entmoot, a gathering of Ents in Derndingle. The hobbits meet another Ent, Quickbeam. After three days of deliberation, the Ents decide at the Entmoot to attack Isengard.
- V - The White Rider - The chapter goes back to the story of Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, who discover signs that the hobbits escaped the Orcs into the forest. They meet an old man, who they at first presume to be Saruman, but who turns out to be Gandalf. They set off for Edoras.
- VI - The King of the Golden Hall - The four of them reach Edoras and talk with King Théoden. Gríma Wormtongue is expelled. Théoden gives Gandalf the horse Shadowfax.
- VII - Helm's Deep - Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli are at the Hornburg with the Rohirrim, defending the people of Rohan from attack by the army of Saruman. The Battle of the Hornburg is fought and won.
- VIII - The Road to Isengard - They travel to Isengard, and see that it has been destroyed. At Isengard they find Merry and Pippin.
- IX - Flotsam and Jetsam - Merry and Pippin tell the story of how the Ents attacked Isengard, in amongst the ruins or 'flotsam and jetsam' of the fortress.
- X - The Voice of Saruman - Saruman has a very persuasive voice, which he almost uses to persuade Théoden and the others until Gandalf casts him from the order of wizards. Wormtongue throws the palantír of Orthanc from the tower, which misses Gandalf, and is picked up by Pippin.
- XI - The Palantir - Pippin looks into the palantír and is seen by Sauron. Gandalf explains the origin of the palantír; Gandalf sets off with Pippin for Minas Tirith, riding on Shadowfax.
Book IV: The Journey of the Ringbearers / The Ring Goes East[]
Frodo and Sam discover Gollum stalking them as they try to reach Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring. Gollum hopes to reclaim the Ring. Sam loathes and distrusts him, but Frodo pities him. Gollum promises to lead them to a secret entrance to Mordor and for a time appears to be a true ally. They first stop at the Black Gate of Mordor, where Gollum persuades them not to go in, where they would surely be caught. They head south into Ithilien, and are captured by Faramir, the brother of Boromir. Faramir learns from Frodo of his brother's death and the plan to destroy the Ring, and eventually allows them to go on their way. Gollum leads them up the stairs of Cirith Ungol away from Minas Morgul and into the lair of Shelob, an enormous spider-like creature, who inflicts her poisonous bite on Frodo. Sam resolves to finish the quest himself and takes the Ring. However, when Orcs take Frodo's body, he follows them and learns that Frodo is not dead but unconscious and now their prisoner. The last line of the book is "Frodo was alive but taken by the enemy."
Chapters[]
- I - The Taming of Sméagol - Gollum joins Frodo and Sam, after Sam captures him.
- II - The Passage of the Marshes - They pass through the Dead Marshes.
- III - The Black Gate is Closed - They reach the Black Gate, Gollum persuades them not to go in, and they head south.
- IV - Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit - They reach the pleasant country of Ithilien. The title refers to the rabbits Gollum catches that Sam cooks; the smoke from the fire causes them to be seen by men of Gondor led by Faramir, and they witness an ambush on a Haradrim army, and an Oliphaunt.
- V - The Window on the West - Frodo and Sam are captured by Faramir's men and they are blindfolded on their way to Henneth Annûn. Frodo and Faramir discuss Boromir's death.
- VI - The Forbidden Pool - Faramir shows Frodo they have found Gollum at the Forbidden Pool. Frodo saves him from being shot by Faramir's men.
- VII - Journey to the Cross-roads - Frodo, Sam and Gollum leave Faramir. They travel to the Cross-roads of the Fallen King where the Morgul-road between Osgiliath and Minas Morgul intersects with the North Road of Ithilien and the Harad Road.
- VIII - The Stairs of Cirith Ungol - They witness an army leaving Minas Morgul and climb up the stairs to keep the Witch-king of Angmar from notices.
- IX - Shelob's Lair - Gollum betrays Frodo and Sam as they encounter with Shelob the spider.
- X - The Choices of Master Samwise - Frodo is taken by the Orcs. Sam listens to the Orcs talking about him, which is how he finds out that he is still alive (he had thought that Shelob had killed Frodo).
In adaptations[]
Some of the events of The Two Towers were depicted in a 1978 film of The Lord of the Rings by Ralph Bakshi and the 2002 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers by Peter Jackson. Both films abandoned the parallel storytelling of the book in favour of a more chronological presentation. The first chapter from the book actually appears at the end of Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Later events of The Two Towers were filmed for Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Various games also adapt The Two Towers, including online role-playing games like The Two Towers MUD and graphically-oriented console games.
Gallery[]
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Translations[]
| Foreign Language | Translated name |
| Afrikaans | Die Twee Torings |
| Albanian | Dy Kullat |
| Alemannic German | Die zwei Türme |
| Amharic | ሁለቱ ሕንጻዎች |
| Armenian | Երկու ամրոց |
| Assamese | টাৱাৰ দুটা |
| Azerbaijani | ایکی بورج (South Azerbaijani) İki qala (Latin) |
| Belarusian Cyrillic | Дзве вежы |
| Bengali | দুই টাওয়ার |
| Bosnian | Dvije kule |
| Bulgarian Cyrillic | Двете кули |
| Burmese | ရဲတိုက်မျှော်စဉ်ကြီးနှစ်ခု |
| Cambodian | ប៉មពីរ |
| Catalan | Les Dues Torres |
| Cebuano | Ang Duha ka mga torre |
| Chinese | 雙城奇謀 |
| Colognian | De Zweij Törm |
| Corsican | Dui Torri |
| Croatian | Dvije kule |
| Czech | Dvě věže |
| Danish | De To Tårne |
| Dari | دو برج |
| Dutch | De Twee Torens |
| Esperanto | La Du Turoj |
| Estonian | Kaks kantsi |
| Faroese | Tey bæði tornini |
| Finnish | Kaksi tornia |
| French | Les Deux Tours |
| Frisian | Dön Tau Törner (Northern) De Twa Tuorren (Western) |
| Galician | As Dúas Torres |
| Georgian | ორი ციხე-კოშკი |
| German | Die Zwei Türme |
| Greek | Οι Δύο Πύργοι |
| Gujarati | ધ ટુ ટાવર્સ |
| Hindi | दो टावर्स |
| Hungarian | A két torony |
| Icelandic | Tvær turnarnir |
| Indonesian | Dua Menara |
| Italian | Le due Torri |
| Japanese | 二つの塔 |
| Javanese | Menara loro |
| Kannada | ದಿ ಟು ಟವರ್ಸ್ |
| Kazakh | Екі мұнара (Cyrillic) Eki munara (Latin) |
| Korean | 두 개의 탑 |
| Kyrgyz Cyrillic | Эки мунара |
| Latin | Duae Turres |
| Latvian | Divas torņi |
| Lithuanian | Du bokštai |
| Lombard | I Dò Torr |
| Luxembourgish | Déi Zwee Tierm |
| Macedonian Cyrillic | Двете кули |
| Malagasy | Ireo Tilikambo Roa |
| Malayalam | ദ റ്റു ടവേഴ്സ് |
| Malaysian | Dua Menara |
| Maltese | Iż-Żewġt Torrijiet |
| Marathi | द टू टॉवर्स |
| Mongolian Cyrillic | Хоёр цамхаг |
| Nepalese | दुई टावरहरू |
| Norwegian | Den To Tårn |
| Occitan | Las Doas Torres |
| Pashto | دوه ټاورونه |
| Persian | دو برج |
| Polish | Dwie Wieże |
| Portuguese | As Duas Torres |
| Punjabi | ਦ ਟੂ ਟਾਵਰਜ਼ |
| Romanian | Cele două turnuri |
| Russian | Две башни |
| Sardinian | Sas Duas Turres |
| Scots | The Twa Touers |
| Scottish Gaelic | An Dà Thùr |
| Serbian | Две куле (Cyrillic) Dve kule (Latin) |
| Sesotho | Mehaho e 'Meli |
| Sindhi | ٻن ٽاورز |
| Sinhalese | කුළුණු දෙක |
| Slovak | Dve veže |
| Slovenian | Stolpa |
| Spanish | Las Dos Torres |
| Sundanese | Nu Dua munara |
| Swedish | Sagan om de två tornen (Old) De två tornen (New) |
| Tajik Cyrillic | Ду манора |
| Tamil | இரண்டு கோபுரங்கள் |
| Tatar | Ике манара |
| Telugu | ది టు టవర్స్ |
| Thai | หอคอยสองแห่ง |
| Tigrinya | እቲ ኽልተ ግምብታት |
| Turkish | İki Kule |
| Turkmen | Iki diň |
| Ukrainian Cyrillic | Дві вежі |
| Urdu | دو ٹاورز |
| Uyghur | ئىككى مۇنار |
| Uzbek | Икки қалъа (Cyrillic) Ikki qal’a (Latin) |
| Vietnamese | Hai tòa tháp |
| Welsh | Y Dwy Tyrau |
| Yiddish | די צוויי טאָווערס |
| Yoruba | Awọn ile iṣọ meji |
| The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien | |
 | |
| Books: | The Fellowship of the Ring | The Two Towers | The Return of the King |
|---|---|
| Movie trilogy: | The Fellowship of the Ring | The Two Towers | The Return of the King |
| Animated movies: | J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings | The Return of the King (TV special) | The War of the Rohirrim (upcoming) |
| Miscellaneous: | The History of The Lord of the Rings | Lord of the Rings radio series (1955, 1979, & 1981) |
| Previous novel: The Fellowship of the Ring |
The Lord of the Rings novels |
Next novel: The Return of the King |