The Fellowship of the Ring: Book 2, Chapter 2 Summary & Analysis

The next day, Gandalf summons Frodo and Bilbo to the Council of Elrond. Many individuals from far-off lands have recently arrived to Rivendell bearing news and seeking counsel. Elrond, the Lord of Rivendell, has convened the meeting to address these concerns and to determine the fate of the Ring.

Glóin reveals that a servant of Sauron has recently approached the dwarves, offering an alliance and new rings of power in exchange for news of a hobbit by the name of Baggins. Glóin also communicates his fears for his kinsman Balin, who has not been heard from since setting out some years ago leading a host of dwarves to reclaim their ancestral homeland of Moria.

Next, Elrond shares the history of the Ring with the gathered Council. This is not news to Frodo, for Gandalf had already revealed much of it to him in his final visit to the Shire. Many others present are alarmed to hear that the Dark Lord Sauron has risen again and is searching for his One Ring—the only weapon he requires for total domination of Middle-earth.

Boromir, a warrior from the south, takes advantage of a pause from Elrond to stand and speak of his home country of Gondor. He talks proudly of his people’s noble and courageous toil in protecting the western lands from the wild folk of the east. Boromir confirms that Sauron has risen and is quickly gaining power, having allied himself with the cruel warriors of the east. Gondor has been driven back from its defenses before Mordor, but continues to try to shelter the Free Peoples of Middle-earth. Boromir reveals that he has traveled for 110 days to reach Rivendell, due to a dream that he and his brother have shared that directs them to the elf-haven. The dream includes a riddle with mention of a Sword that was Broken, a “Halfling” (hobbit), and “Isildur’s Bane.”

Aragorn rises to reveal the Sword that was Broken, laying the shards of Narsil before the Council. These are the two pieces of the longsword that the Ranger has been carrying in the sheath at his side. Elrond tells Boromir of Aragorn’s lineage as the direct descendant of Isildur, the ancient king of Gondor who cut the Ring from Sauron’s hand during the War of the Last Alliance. Bilbo also relays the Riddle of Strider to the Council—the final lines state that “Renewed shall be blade that was broken: / The crownless again shall be king.” Solving the final pieces of Boromir’s riddle, Frodo steps forward to present Isildur’s Bane, the One Ring. 

In response to Boromir’s questions, Aragorn discusses the history of the Rangers as protectors of oblivious peoples. He indicates that he is ready to officially begin to claim his rightful authority as king of Gondor. Bilbo then tells the Council of his part in the story of the Ring, followed by Gandalf’s account of how it is that the Dark Lord Sauron has come to rise again. The wizard also relates the story of why he came to suspect the true nature of Bilbo’s ring and how he and Aragorn scoured the lands for the creature Gollum to learn about the Ring’s origins.

Legolas, an elf, then informs the Council that Gollum has escaped his imprisonment from the elves in Mirkwood. There are fears he will return to offer information to Sauron. Gandalf speaks once more to finish the final chapter in his tale. The Grey Wizard was betrayed by Saruman, head of the Middle-earth wizards and formerly a trusted ally of Gandalf and Elrond. Saruman desires to wield the Ring, and he prevented Gandalf from aiding Frodo on his journey to Rivendell by imprisoning him atop Saruman’s tower Orthanc. Gandalf was finally rescued by Gwaihir the Great Eagle, who carried him to the nearby country of Rohan. There, Gandalf tamed Shadowfax, the swiftest of all horses and reminiscent of the mearas of old. Shadowfax carried the wizard at great pace back to the Shire, but he was unable to find Frodo there or in Rivendell.

With everyone having spoken their piece and heard the combined story of the Ring, the Council considers what to do with the dangerous weapon. The elf-lord Erestor suggests they should take it to Tom Bombadil, for it holds no corruptive sway over him. Gandalf and Glorfindel reject the idea, for Tom is too unreliable in matters unrelated to his realm, and such a move would only delay Sauron’s inevitable rise to power. The Council also recognize they cannot destroy the Ring themselves—only the fires of Mount Doom in Mordor can melt the Ring into nothing.

Boromir suggests they take the Ring to Gondor to wield its immense power against the gathering might of Sauron, but Elrond and Gandalf advise that the Ring will ultimately corrupt all but the most powerful of beings. If such a being were to master it, they would transform into another dark power similar to Sauron due to the Ring’s  unavoidable evil nature.

Elrond and Gandalf agree that the only hope is to send messengers into Sauron’s stronghold of Mordor to destroy the Ring. Sauron is unlikely to suspect such a quest, as he cannot imagine anyone wanting to destroy an object of such great power. Bilbo bravely volunteers his service as Ring-bearer, but accepts Gandalf’s gentle rebuke that he is too old for such an adventure. A heavy silence sits on the Council as they consider the perils of such a journey.

Finally, Frodo—although he is very frightened—tells the Council that he will shoulder responsibility for delivering the Ring into Mordor, though he does not know the way. Elrond admits that he believes Frodo is the best choice as Ring-bearer, although he did not want to lay such a burdensome charge on the hobbit. The Lord of Rivendell believes Sauron may be defeated by someone seemingly weak who will be overlooked by the arrogant Dark Lord. The uninvited Sam then springs from up from a corner of the Council to exclaim that he will not let Frodo go on such a journey without him, to which Elrond agrees.