Because The Two Towers is the central portion of a longer work, its structure differs from that of a conventional novel. It begins and ends abruptly, without introduction to the characters, explanations of major plot elements or a satisfying conclusion. This is characteristic of the technical classification novel sequence, not a book series - though it and the other two volumes are not individual novels themselves. The first section follows the divergent paths of several important figures from The Fellowship of the Ring, but tells nothing of its central character, on whose fate so much depends, enabling the reader to share in the suspense and uncertainty of the characters themselves. The narrative of the second part returns to the hero's quest to destroy the evil that threatens the world. While the first section tells of an epic battle, the struggles in much of the second section are internal.

Chapter Summary of Book III

As Aragorn searched for Frodo, he heard Boromir's horn blowing. He found him mortally wounded by arrows, and his assailants gone. Before Boromir died, he revealed that Merry and Pippin had been captured by Orcs in spite of his efforts to defend them, and that Frodo had disappeared because he had tried to take the Ring from him. In his last moments, he charged Aragorn to defend his city Minas Tirith from Sauron. With Legolas and Gimli, who had been fighting Orcs by themselves, he paid his last respects to the fallen man and sent him away on a funeral boat. The three then resolved to follow the Orc captors. However after hardship the Hobbits escaped when the Orcs themselves were attacked by the horsemen of Rohan. Merry and Pippin headed into nearby Fangorn Forest where they encountered giant treelike creatures called Ents. The Ents resembled real trees in every way, except for the fact that they could see, talk, and move. These guardians of the forest generally kept to themselves, but their leader Treebeard persuaded them to oppose the menace posed to the trees by the wizard Saruman, who had chopping these down to fuel fires for his furnaces.

Aragorn, Gimli the Dwarf and Legolas the Elf came across the Riders of Rohan who told them that they attacked the Orcs the previous night and left no survivors. However, Aragorn was able to find small prints and they follow these into Fangorn, where they met a wizard dressed in white who they at first believed to be Saruman, but who turned out to be their wizard friend Gandalf, whom they believed had perished in the mines of Moria. He told them of his fall into the abyss, his battle to the death with the Balrog and his ressurection with enhanced power. The four rode to Rohan's capital Edoras, where Gandalf roused King Théoden from inaction against the threat Saruman poses. In the process, Saruman's agent in Edoras, Gríma Wormtongue, is expelled from the city. Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas then travel with Théoden's troops to the defensive fortress called the Hornburg in the valley Helm's Deep, while Gandalf goes away to Isengard to talk to Treebeard. At the Hornburg, they resisted an onslaught of Orcs and Men sent by Saruman, and Gandalf arrived the next morning with the remains of the army of Westfold that Saruman's forces had previously routed. The orcs fled into a forest of Huorns, creatures similar to Ents, and none escaped. The heroes and the Rohirric army then head to Saruman's stronghold in Isengard.

There, they reunited with Merry and Pippin and found the city overrun by Ents, who had flooded it with the nearby river, and the central tower of Orthanc besieged, with Saruman and Gríma in it. After giving Saruman a chance to repent, Gandalf cast him out of the order of Wizards. Gríma threw something from a window at Gandalf and those with him. This turnedout to be one of the palantíri, seeing-stones. Pippin, unable to resist the urge, looked into it and had an encounter with Sauron. Gandalf and Pippin then headed for Minas Tirith in preparation for the upcoming war.

• Chapter I. The Departure of Boromir - Aragorn finds Boromir wounded by many arrows, who tells him that orcs took the Hobbits, and they were still alive. Boromir does not tell Aragorn which Hobbits were taken. Boromir dies, and his body is set down the stream on a 'funeral boat.'; Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli decide to follow the orcs who had captured Merry and Pippin, rather than following Frodo and Sam. The three of them set off to chase the orcs.

• Chapter II. The Riders of Rohan - They follow the trail of the orcs and find several clues as to what happened with the hobbits, then meet a company of Rohirrim led by Éomer, who tell them that the orcs were destroyed and none were left alive. They camp near the site of the orc massacre.

• Chapter III. The Uruk-hai - This chapter begins further back in time, telling the story of Merry and Pippin being captured by the orcs, who are lead by Uglúk from Saruman's army, and Grishnákh from Mordor. The two sides of orcs are constantly arguing. The orcs camp near Fangorn, and Grishnákh attempts to take the hobbits away with him. The hobbits escape as Grishnákh is killed by an arrow. They flee into Fangorn Forest as the orcs are attacked by the men of Rohan.

• Chapter IV. Treebeard - Merry and Pippin meet Treebeard the Ent, who calls an Entmoot, a gathering of Ents in Derndingle. The hobbits meet another Ent, Quickbeam. The ents decide at the entmoot after three days, to attack Isengard.

• Chapter V. The White Rider - The chapter goes back to the story of Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, who discover signs that the hobbits escaped the orcs into the forest. They meet an old man, who they at first presume to be Saruman, but who turns out to be Gandalf. They set off for Edoras.

• Chapter VI. The King of the Golden Hall - The four of them reach Edoras and talk with King Théoden. Wormtongue is kicked out of the city. Théoden gives Gandalf the horse Shadowfax.

• Chapter VII. Helm's Deep - Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli are at Helm's Deep with the Rohan army, defending the people of Rohan from attack by the army of Saruman.

• Chapter VIII. The Road to Isengard - They travel to Isengard, and see that it has been destroyed. At Isengard they find Merry and Pippin.

• Chapter IX. Flotsam and Jetsam - Merry and Pippin tell the story of how the Ents attacked Isengard, in amongst the ruins or 'flotsam and jetsam' of Saruman's fortress.

• Chapter X. The Voice of Saruman - Saruman has a very persuasive voice, which he almost uses to persuade Théoden and the others until Gandalf casts him from the order of wizards. Wormtongue throws the palantír of Orthanc from the tower, which misses Gandalf, and is picked up by Pippin.

• Chapter XI. The Palantír - Pippin picks up the palantír and is seen by Sauron. Gandalf explains the origin of the palantír; Gandalf sets off with Pippin for Minas Tirith, riding on Shadowfax.

Chapter Summary of Book IV

Frodo and Sam discovered and captured Gollum stalking them as they tried to reach Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring. Gollum hoped to reclaim the Ring. Sam loathed and distrusted him, but Frodo pitied him. Gollum promised to lead them to a secret entrance to Mordor and for a time appeared to be a true ally. Upon reaching the Black Gate of Mordor, Gollum persuaded them not to go in, where they would have been surely caught. They headed south into Gondor's province of Ithilien, and were captured by Faramir, the brother of Boromir. Faramir learned from Frodo of his brother's death and of the plan to destroy the ring, and allowed them to go on their way. Gollum led them into the lair of Shelob, an enormous spider-like creature, who inflicted her poisonous bite on Frodo. Sam resolved to finish the quest himself and took the Ring. But when Orcs took Frodo's body, he followed them and learnt that Frodo was not dead, but unconscious and now their prisoner. The last line of the book is Frodo was alive but taken by the enemy.

• Chapter I. The Taming of Sméagol - Gollum joins Frodo and Sam, after Sam captures him.

• Chapter II. The Passage of the Marshes - They pass through the Dead Marshes

• Chapter III. The Black Gate is Closed - They reach the gate of Mordor, Gollum persuades them not to go in, and to head south.

• Chapter IV. Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit - They reach the pleasant country of Ithilien. Title refers to the rabbits Gollum catches that Sam cooks; the smoke from the fire causes them to be seen by men of Gondor led by Faramir, and they witness an attack on a Southron army, and an Oliphaunt.

• Chapter V. The Window on the West - Frodo and Sam are captured by Faramir's men and they are blindfolded on their way to Henneth Annûn. Frodo and Faramir discuss Boromir's death.

• Chapter VI. The Forbidden Pool - Faramir shows Frodo they have found Gollum at the Forbidden pool. Frodo saves him from being shot by Faramir's men.

• Chapter VII. Journey to the Cross-roads - Frodo, Sam and Gollum leave Faramir. They travel to the crossroad of the road east between Osgiliath and Minas Morgul, and the north-south road from the Black Gate to the southlands.

• Chapter VIII. The Stairs of Cirith Ungol - They witness an army leaving Minas Morgul.

• Chapter IX. Shelob's Lair - encounter with Shelob the spider

• Chapter X. The Choices of Master Samwise - Frodo is taken by the orcs. Sam listens to the orcs talking about him, which is how he finds out that he is still alive, having thought that Frodo had been killed by Shelob.

References

Wikipedia