The Two Towers

Article written by Michael Chude

B.Sc. degree in parasitology and entomology from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

After Boromir fell to the allure of the Ring and his attack on Frodo while attempting to steal the one Ring from him, Frodo chose to carry on to Mordor alone instead of allowing another member of the Fellowship to fall to the same temptation. In the confusion of the attack by Uruk-hai, Frodo, and Sam slipped away down the Nan Hithoel.

Key Facts about The Two Towers

• Title: ‘The Two Towers‘
• Published: 11 November 1954 in the United Kingdom.
• Literary Period: Post Modern
• Genre: Fantasy
• Point-of-View: Third Person, omniscient
• Setting: Middle-earth
• Climax: The Battle of Helm’s Deep
• Antagonist: Sauron, Saruman

J.R.R. Tolkien and The Two Towers

J.R.R. Tolkien began writing what would become the Lord of the Rings Trilogy after the overwhelming success of his first book, ‘The Hobbit.’ He originally intended for the trilogy to be published together as one book. Tolkien’s manuscript contained 6 “books”, but they had to be broken down into 3 separate volumes due to post-WW2 paper shortages and other reasons. ‘The Two Towers’ contains books 3 and 4 of the original manuscript.

Tolkien initially had issues finding a title for the book, which contained the two widely disparate sections 3 and 4. In the end, he settled for The Treason of Isengard and the Ring Goes East. Tolkien foresaw the confusion that would be generated by the book’s name amongst fans. Indeed, many of his readers have often mistaken the two towers mentioned in the name to be Minas Tirith, the Tower of Watch, and Barad-dur, the Dark Tower.

According to Tolkien in a letter to his publisher, he had intended the towers to be the tower of Orthanc, which was Saruman’s residence, and the tower of Cirith Ungol. The Ringwraiths also reappear, even more, powerful than before. They ride on fell beasts bred for them by Sauron and strike dread into the hearts of men. Other creatures which make an appearance also include elephant-like animals named oliphaunts.

Books related to The Two Towers

The books most obviously related to ‘The Two Towers’ are the books that make up The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Other books that are related to J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Two Towers’ include ‘The Way of Kings‘ by Brandon Sanderson, whose meticulous world-building, complex magic system, and intricate plot are reminiscent of Tolkien’s meticulous attention to detail, ‘The Bear and the Nightingale’ by Katherine Arden, which captures Tolkien’s ability to blend mythology with a captivating narrative, ‘The Poppy War’ by R.F. Ruang, which explores the themes of war, power, and the moral complexities of heroism, mirroring some of the deeper themes Tolkien’s works.

Other books related to ‘The Two Towers’ include ‘The Name of the Wind‘ by Patrick Rothfuss, an epic fantasy novel in which the protagonist’s journey is filled with mythical creatures, ancient prophecies, and the struggle between good and evil. ‘The Children of Blood and Bone‘ by Tomi Adeyemi also captures the spirit of Tolkien’s epic storytelling. It is filled with vibrant world-building, diverse characters, and themes of oppression, empowerment, and the fight against injustice.

The Lasting Impact of The Two Towers