The Fellowship of the Ring Q&A
- 1
What is the One ring?
Sauron, a deeply evil king, learned the secrets of the Elven rings of Power. He twisted the knowledge he gained to craft the One ring at a forge of Mount Doom in Mordor. He imbued the ring with his power and linked it to himself. Although Sauron was stopped by the last alliance of men, the ring survived. In Frodo’s hands, the ring allows him invisibility, long age, and acute senses, but Sauron can use it to enslave all other rings of power.
- 2
Who are the black riders?
The black riders are introduced as Ringwraiths, the lieutenants of Sauron who can feel the presence of the One ring. The Ringwraiths were once men with rings of Power, but they were warped by Sauron’s power and made into his powerful servants. The Ringwraiths are destroyed as they attempt to capture Frodo near Rivendell, but they do not die as they return to Mordor to reform.
- 3
Why do none of the others volunteer to take the ring to Mordor?
The One ring has the power to twist and corrupt its bearer, but the hobbits have largely proven to be immune to most of its corruption. Bilbo and Gollum both managed to part with the ring, without completely fading into the wraith world like the men who had borne the rings of power and been converted into Ringwraiths. Bilbo is said to be the first person to have ever given up the ring voluntarily in its nearly two millennia-long histories.
- 4
Why is Gollum following the Fellowship?
Gandalf describes Gollum as a creature from a race that had been the ancestors of the Hobbits, until he was taken in by the charm of the ring when it was discovered by his friend, Deagol. Gollum, who had then been called Sméagol, had murdered his friend and used the ring to become a thief. He became an outcast and went into exile in the caves of the misty mountains, where he survived for four hundred years due to the power of the ring. The ring left Gollum when it came across Bilbo, and it abandoned Gollum. He has been looking for the ring since he left the caves after losing the ring.