Middle-earth book 4 · 1955
The Return of the King
The war for Middle-earth reaches its climax, as Frodo and Sam struggle on towards the heart of Mordor.
Spoiler-free summary written for The Recurring Cast.
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Book facts
- Author
- J. R. R. Tolkien
- Series
- Middle-earth, book 4 of 7
- Published
- 1955
- Setting
- Set in Middle-earth
- Story order
- Book 7 by the story’s timeline
- Characters charted
- 10
- Chart confidence
- High
The Return of the King on screen
- The Return of the King (1980, tv film, ABC). Rankin/Bass’s animated conclusion to the quest of the Ring.
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003, film, Cinema). The conclusion of Jackson’s trilogy, winner of eleven Academy Awards.
In story order: after The Two Towers.
Who is in The Return of the King
10 recurring or key characters from J. R. R. Tolkien’s chart.
Lead 2
- Frodo BagginsBilbo's heir, the Ring-bearer
- Samwise GamgeeFrodo's gardener and companion
Major 4
- GandalfWizard
- AragornRanger and heir of Isildur
- GollumCorrupted former Ring-bearer
- Merry and PippinFrodo's hobbit cousins
Minor and cameo 4
- Bilbo BagginsHobbit who finds the One Ring
- LegolasElf of the Fellowship
- GimliDwarf of the Fellowship
- ElrondHalf-elven lord of Rivendell
Also featuring these characters
Other J. R. R. Tolkien books that share the most characters with The Return of the King.
- The Fellowship of the Ring1954 · Middle-earth · 10 shared charactersBuy on Amazon
- The Hobbit1937 · Middle-earth · 4 shared charactersBuy on Amazon
- Unfinished Tales1980 · Middle-earth · 2 shared charactersBuy on Amazon