Chapter 4 Summary

The narrative returns to Gandalf and those outside the Black Gate. To the north, the Captains of the West founder on the hills outside the Gate, surrounded by a dark, rolling sea of Orcs and Wild Men. Gandalf stands proudly, white and calm, with no shadow falling upon him. Suddenly, a great cry rises up: “The Eagles are coming!” Out of the north arrives a company of great eagles, led by Gwaihir the Windlord. The will of Sauron falters, and all the armies of Mordor quail in terror. A great roar shakes the hills. Gandalf cries in victory that the Ring-bearer has completed his quest, and that the reign of Sauron has ended. As Gandalf speaks, a huge shadow rises in the south, extending across the sky like a giant hand, and then vanishes in the wind with a great rush.

Aragorn leads the Captains in a great sweep over the plains. Gandalf then soars into Mordor on the back of Gwaihir. Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam, still in the heart of Mordor, have given up all hope of survival. As they talk quietly below the ruin of Mount Doom, Gwaihir spots them. Two eagles sweep down and lift the hobbits into the air.

Analysis

This chapter, which marks the public acknowledgment of the end of Sauron’s reign, features a number of prominent images of vanishing shadows. The great Darkness, extended outward like a giant hand over the land, suddenly vanishes. This sign of Sauron’s fall is marked by the image of the hand, which is associated with Sauron’s finger that wore the Ring and also suggests the reaching, grasping, greedy nature of the Dark Lord—the only aspect of him that we see, as he is never an actual character in the novel. But with the routing of Sauron, this hand dissipates like a shadow in the light, or like smoke in the air. The symbolism of this quick fading is clear. Sauron’s power was never substantial or real, but was always just an airy illusion, a castle in the air that was fated to dissolve. When Gandalf stands outside the Black Gate, Tolkien explicitly tells us that no shadow falls upon the wizard—as a figure of supreme good, he is able to resist the pall of Sauron’s evil.

Important quotations explained

Chapter 2 The Land of Shadows

There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was a light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.

Explanation for Quotation 1

The motif of a star can be viewed as a universal symbol of light. It was typical of old Norse mythology, and it is also one of the major Christian symbols – symbol of hope. It’s hope that fills Sam’s heart and makes him believe in positive resolution of their Quest. The vision of a star made him aware of mental and spiritual presence of their companions and the warriors of the forces of goodness in this dark place. He clearly felt being guarded by something. This was the first time when Sam stopped troubling about his own and his master’s fate and fearlessly fell asleep.

Chapter 3 Mount Doom

Frodo: “But do you remember Gandalf’s words: Even Gollum may have something yet to do? But for him, Sam, I could not have destroyed the Ring. The Quest would have been in vain, even at the bitter end. So let us forgive him! For the Quest is achieved, and now all is over. I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things, Sam.”