The Return of the King Summary: Plot, Characters and Ending
The Return of the King is the final volume of The Lord of the Rings. Sauron attacks Gondor, and Aragorn comes into his own as king, while Frodo and Sam struggle across Mordor to destroy the Ring in the fires of Mount Doom.
It contains Books Five and Six, plus appendices on the history and languages of Middle-earth.
| Character | Who they are |
|---|---|
| Frodo and Sam | Hobbits carrying the Ring to Mount Doom |
| Aragorn | Heir of Isildur |
| Gandalf | Wizard leading the defense |
| Pippin | Hobbit who serves Denethor |
| Merry | Hobbit who serves Théoden |
| Denethor | Steward of Gondor |
| Faramir | His younger son |
| Théoden | King of Rohan |
| Éowyn | Théoden's niece |
| The Witch-king | Lord of the Nazgûl |
What happens in Gondor?
Gandalf and Pippin reach Minas Tirith, where Pippin swears service to Denethor, the proud steward. Aragorn takes the Paths of the Dead and summons an army of ghosts who once broke an oath. Merry joins Théoden's army. Sauron's huge force besieges the city. Faramir is gravely wounded, and Denethor, despairing, prepares a fire to burn himself and his son. Pippin and Gandalf save Faramir, but Denethor dies in the flames.
↑ Back to the topWhat happens in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields?
The Riders of Rohan arrive at dawn. Théoden is crushed under his horse. Éowyn, disguised as a soldier, faces the Witch-king, a leader no living man can kill. With Merry's help, she kills him. Aragorn sails up the river on captured pirate ships with fresh troops, and the battle is won. In the Houses of Healing, Aragorn heals Faramir, Éowyn and Merry.
↑ Back to the topWhy do they march on the Black Gate?
To draw Sauron's eye away from Frodo, Aragorn leads a small army to the Black Gate of Mordor. They are vastly outnumbered and surrounded, but hope that the distraction will give Frodo his chance.
↑ Back to the topWhat happens at Mount Doom?
Sam rescues Frodo from the orc tower of Cirith Ungol, where the orcs have fought among themselves. Disguised as orcs, they cross the barren land of Mordor. Frodo weakens under the weight of the Ring, and Sam carries him up the mountain. At the edge of the fire, Frodo cannot let it go and claims it for himself. Gollum attacks, bites off Frodo's finger with the Ring and falls into the fire with it. Sauron's power collapses, his tower falls, and eagles rescue Frodo and Sam from the erupting mountain.
↑ Back to the topHow does The Return of the King end?
Aragorn is crowned king and marries Arwen. The hobbits return home to find the Shire taken over by Saruman, now called Sharkey, and his ruffians. They lead an uprising. Saruman is killed by Wormtongue. Sam marries Rosie Cotton. But Frodo, wounded by his ordeal, never fully heals. Two years later he sails from the Grey Havens with Bilbo, Gandalf and the elves to the lands across the sea. Sam watches the ship go, then returns home to his wife and daughter.
↑ Back to the topMore about The Return of the King
This summary reveals the whole plot, including the ending.