There’s so much good stuff happening in The Two Towers. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli get more room to show what they’re capable of, Frodo needs Sam more than ever, and then Tolkien brings in Treebeard and the Ents. These are some of my favorite fantasy books for a reason. Just when you think you’ve gotten a decent look at Middle-earth, there’s a whole other part of it to get into.
Aragorn was my favorite character in Fellowship, and the fighting here gives me plenty more to like about him. He’s someone you want beside you when things go to hell. But Legolas and Gimli deserve just as much attention. Between the sword, the bow, and the axe, those three are a serious problem for anyone coming at them. Their pursuit across Rohan also shows their determination before the bigger battles even start. They’re exhausted, working with whatever signs they can find, and still pushing on for their friends.
Then there’s Helm’s Deep. You can’t talk about this book without giving that battle some attention. Tolkien makes the defenses matter: the walls, the gates, and the ground everyone is trying to hold. You understand why being forced back is dangerous. Aragorn’s leadership, Legolas with his bow, and Gimli getting into the close fighting give each of them a part in it. And somehow Legolas and Gimli still find time to compete over their count. Apparently surviving the night isn’t enough. You also need to make sure your friend knows you’re winning.
Their friendship adds a lot to those scenes. They can give each other a hard time, but they also care whether the other one makes it through. Gimli has more to him than being handy with an axe, too. The way he talks about the caves at Helm’s Deep gives you a look at what he finds beautiful. Tolkien makes room for that even in a book with so much fighting.
Frodo and Sam are dealing with a different kind of pressure. Their part of the journey feels increasingly lonely, and Frodo needs Sam more than ever. Sam pays attention to the practical things that still have to happen when everything else feels overwhelming: food, rest, and keeping an eye on who they’re trusting. He can be stubborn and suspicious, but you understand where it comes from. He’s worried about his friend. Frodo has an enormous responsibility, and having someone who still cares whether he’s eaten matters.
Gollum makes that relationship more complicated. Frodo and Sam need his knowledge, but depending on him means living with a lot of uncertainty. Frodo’s pity and Sam’s distrust give you two understandable reactions to the same person. Gollum also makes the damage caused by the Ring much harder to ignore. It’s there in how he speaks, what he wants, and how difficult it is for him to think about anything else.
Treebeard and the Ents take this book to another level for me. Fangorn feels ancient, and meeting someone who remembers so much of that history makes it feel even older. Treebeard takes his time with everything, which is quite a change from everyone else running for their lives. But the damage being done to the forests gives those sections real weight. These are places he knows and cares about. Merry and Pippin’s time with him opens up a part of Middle-earth that nobody else could have shown us in quite the same way.
The map becomes especially useful with everyone traveling in different directions. Rohan’s open country, Fangorn’s forest, and the difficult approaches toward Mordor create very different problems. Tolkien designs the landscape around more than how it looks. It affects the fighting, the routes people can take, and whether they can stay hidden. You can see how these journeys belong to the same world even when the characters have no idea what’s happening to their friends.
That uncertainty is a big part of the book. People have to keep making choices without knowing whether anyone else is succeeding. For me, the loyalty running through it is what holds everything together. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli keep going for their friends. Sam keeps looking after Frodo. Treebeard has reasons of his own to care about what’s happening beyond his forest. The battles are a huge part of the appeal, but Tolkien gives everyone something worth fighting for.
Who I’d recommend it to
Anyone who enjoyed Fellowship and wants more time with its characters, bigger battles, and a wider look at Middle-earth. Start with Fellowship before this one. The relationships and the danger mean much more with that first part behind you.
Caution
There’s more sustained fighting, along with captivity, frightening creatures, and increasingly dark situations. Tolkien still takes time for description and conversation. The book follows one group for a long stretch before returning to another, and this is the middle of a continuous story, so don’t expect everything to wrap up here.
Discussion questions
Which of the three stood out most to you in the fighting: Aragorn, Legolas, or Gimli?
How did you feel about Frodo trusting Gollum? Would you have been closer to Sam’s position?
Were Treebeard and the Ents a highlight for you too, or did another part of Middle-earth grab your attention more?
Keep the comments spoiler-free, or clearly mark spoilers before discussing specific outcomes.
— Cory Lane