In 1937, Tolkien released a novel which told the story of a Hobbit and his journey across a fantastical land known as Middle Earth. During the 1950s, Tolkien expanded this universe with a sequel series known as the Lord of the Rings. These novels, which shared the journey of a different Hobbit and his journey to destroy the ring of a dark lord, later became movies. These films visualized Tolkien's word, even if they partially strayed from the original books. Join me as I highlight various landmarks from these movies!
The Shire
At the start of trilogy, we are introduced to the Shire. This lush landscape is the home of the Hobbits, which are short, relaxed beings with human-like features. These Hobbits include Bilbo Baggins, the main protagonist of The Hobbit, and Frodo Baggins, Bilbo's cousin and the main protagonist of The Lord of the Rings. The Shire itself is mostly a calm and isolated place. Every so often, however, the wizard Gandalf will visit the Shire and recruit the Hobbits on journey across Middle Earth. This includes causing Frodo and his friends to travel to Mordor once Gandalf discovers the One Ring was being kept in the Shire. After the ring is destroyed, the Hobbits return to the Shire their laidback lifestyles.
Isengard
Isengard is a valley located in the Misty Mountains. It primarily consists of the Tower of Orthanc, which is the domain of the wizard Saruman the White. Before the War of the Ring, Isengard was a lush domain of wildlife. During the war, Saruman sides with Sauron. To gain this allegiance, Saruman deforests the valley and begins digging deep into the ground. This allows the wizard to create an army of Orcs for Sauron. Saruman, however, receives punishment for his actions when the Ents, a race of sentient trees, attack Isengard for removing the forest. Though it is not shown what occurs to Isengard after the war, Gandalf grants the Ents control over this location.
Helm's Deep
Helm's Deep is a stronghold in Rohan. The fortress serves as a place of refuge for the people of Rohan during times of crisis. It is built into the mountain and is surrounded by a large, thick wall. Individuals can enter Helm's Deep through an elevated drawbridge. During the War of the Ring, King Théoden, the king of Rohan, moves his people to this stronghold as he and his men fight against Saruman's army of orcs. Though Helm's Deep can effectively guard its people, it suffers from a vulnerable drain in the outer wall. During the siege, this small space allows the orcs to break through the wall.
Minas Tirith
Minas Tirith is the capital city of Gondor. The city is separated into different levels, each at a higher elevation. It is also split down the middle with a rockface. At the top of Minas Tirith is the citadel, which is where the leader of Gondor rules his land. Gondor is supposed to be ruled by a king according to a lineage, but will be guided by a steward when no king is present. During the War of the Ring, Minas Tirith is lead by a steward of Gondor who fails to fight against Sauron when his forces threaten the city. When, Aragon, an ancestral king, comes to the city, he is able to guide the forces of good to victory.
Mount Doom
Mount Doom is a volcano in Mordor. At this volcano, the One Ring was forged and it is the only location where it can be destroyed. Throughout the movies, Frodo Baggins and his companions attempt to travel to Mount Doom to destroy the ring. Once they arrive in Mordor, however, the volcano is constantly watched by the Eye of Sauron. When Frodo does throw the ring into Mount Doom, the volcano itself is destroyed with a great eruption as the tower of the Eye of Sauron collapses.
As you watch these movies again in the future, take in the diverse locations across Middle Earth. Appreciate their stories and the impact they have on the narrative of the Lord of the Rings!
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