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This is the fourth in a seven-part book club series on The Lord of the Rings. These episodes will be released on the first of each month from now through March to accompany our Book Club as we’re reading The Lord of the Rings! If you’d like to join our book club, you can visit www.teawithtolkien.com/book-club.

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The Lord of the Rings Book IV Summary

Book IV of The Lord of the Rings follows Frodo and Sam as they slowly journey towards the Land of Mordor. After leaving the Fellowship behind, they become lost as they wander through the wilderness. Gollum has been pursuing them at length, and finally comes to them as they wander. Rather than hiding or attacking, they take him in as their guide. Gollum guides them eagerly through the Dead Marshes and to the Black Gate, however they soon realize they will need to enter Mordor through a different path. Gollum tells them of a different, secret path which will lead them through a tunnel.

As they continue to follow Gollum, they are found in Ithilien by Faramir, Captain of Gondor and brother of Boromir, and are taken in by his men. While he is initially skeptical of their story, they develop a great trust and gain much insight from each other. Faramir allows Frodo and Sam, guided by Gollum, to leave him freely and they journey to the Cross-Roads. From then, they make the dangerous climb up the Stairs of Cirith Ungol.

At the top of the stair, they enter a putrid and dark tunnel—Shelob’s Lair. Gollum abandons the hobbits and they realize they’ve been led into a trap. Frodo and Sam navigate the tunnel on their own, protecting themselves from Shelob with the bright Elven lights—The Phial of Galadriel and Sting. They manage to escape the tunnel and Frodo runs desperately away.

Shelob stings Frodo as Sam is attacked by Gollum, who flees after a short fight. Sam believes Frodo to be dead and weeps bitterly, falling into despair. However, he comes to the decision that he must carry the Ring and finish the quest without Frodo. He regretfully leaves Frodo where he lies, but his body is taken by a company of Orcs and brought through the tunnels. Sam follows them and the book ends as he comes to the horrifying realization: “Frodo was alive, but taken by the enemy.”