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57 pages 1 hour read

J. R. R. Tolkien

The Two Towers

J. R. R. TolkienFiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1954

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Book 3, Chapters 1-4Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Book 3, Chapter 1 Summary: “The Departure of Boromir”

Aragorn climbs to the top of Amon Hen, a hill beside the banks of the Anduin River, hoping to find the hobbit Frodo. He tracks Frodo’s steps, noticing that he ran up to the high seat that can be used to survey the surrounding countryside. Aragorn sits in the seat and sees nothing, but in the distance, he hears a horn blowing. He recognizes the sound as the horn carried by Boromir, who must be in trouble.

Aragorn rushes to Boromir’s aid, unable to find any sign of the hobbits. By the time he reaches Boromir, it is too late: Boromir has been shot by many arrows in a battle with orcs. While he has killed at least 20 orcs, he is mortally wounded and tells Aragorn that the remaining orcs have captured and carried away the hobbits he was trying to protect. Before he dies, Boromir confesses that he tried to take the Ring from Frodo and that he has failed in his mission. Aragorn weeps. A moment later, Legolas the elf and Gimli the dwarf find him. They have also been fighting orcs in the woods and lament that they arrived too late.

Aragorn explains that Boromir told him that some of the hobbits were captured by the orcs, but that he died before mentioning which hobbits.

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