The Two Towers Summary: Plot, Characters and Ending
The Two Towers is the second volume of The Lord of the Rings. After the Fellowship breaks apart, the story splits in two. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli help the kingdom of Rohan fight the wizard Saruman, while Frodo and Sam, guided by the treacherous Gollum, make their way toward Mordor.
It contains Books Three and Four of the six books that make up the full story.
| Character | Who they are |
|---|---|
| Frodo Baggins | Ring-bearer |
| Samwise Gamgee | Frodo's loyal companion |
| Gollum (Sméagol) | Former owner of the Ring, their guide |
| Aragorn | Heir to the throne of Gondor |
| Legolas and Gimli | Elf and dwarf companions |
| Merry and Pippin | Young hobbits |
| Gandalf | Wizard, returned as Gandalf the White |
| Théoden | King of Rohan |
| Saruman | Wizard allied with Sauron |
| Treebeard | Eldest of the Ents |
| Faramir | Boromir's brother |
What happens after the Fellowship breaks?
Orcs of Saruman capture Merry and Pippin. Boromir dies defending them, after admitting he tried to take the Ring from Frodo. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli chase the orcs across Rohan. Riders of Rohan, led by Éomer, destroy the orcs, and in the confusion Merry and Pippin escape into Fangorn Forest.
↑ Back to the topWho are the Ents?
Merry and Pippin meet Treebeard, an ancient tree-shepherd. The Ents hold a long council and decide to march on Saruman, who has been cutting down their forest. In Fangorn, the three hunters meet Gandalf, returned from his fall in Moria as Gandalf the White.
↑ Back to the topHow does Gandalf help Rohan?
At Edoras, King Théoden has been weakened by the poisonous advice of Gríma Wormtongue, Saruman's spy. Gandalf rouses him, Wormtongue flees, and Théoden rides to war. At the fortress of Helm's Deep, the Rohirrim are besieged at night by Saruman's huge army. At dawn Gandalf arrives with reinforcements, and a forest of angry Huorns appears and destroys the fleeing orcs.
↑ Back to the topWhat happens to Isengard?
The Ents have flooded Saruman's stronghold, Isengard, and trapped him in his tower, Orthanc. Merry and Pippin greet the riders sitting cheerfully among the ruins. Saruman tries to use his persuasive voice and fails; Gandalf breaks his staff. Wormtongue throws down a seeing stone, a palantír, and Pippin looks into it and meets the eye of Sauron. Gandalf rides with Pippin to Minas Tirith.
↑ Back to the topWhat happens to Frodo and Sam?
Frodo and Sam catch Gollum and make him swear to guide them. He leads them through the Dead Marshes to the Black Gate, which is impossible to pass, and then south through Ithilien, where they are captured by Faramir. Unlike his brother, Faramir resists the Ring and lets them go, warning them against Gollum's chosen path.
↑ Back to the topHow does The Two Towers end?
Gollum leads them up the steep stairs of Cirith Ungol and into the lair of Shelob, a giant spider, hoping she will kill them so he can take the Ring. Shelob stings Frodo. Sam fights her off and, believing Frodo dead, takes the Ring to continue the quest. Then orcs carry Frodo away, and Sam overhears that he is only paralyzed, alive and a prisoner. The book ends with Sam outside the tower's closed gates.
↑ Back to the topMore about The Two Towers
This summary reveals the whole plot, including the ending.