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Hero

Actually I think there is more than one hero in the story. As the story is divided into different paths that people take, there is in my opinion at least one hero in each part of the storyline. For the purposes of this project, I will go with Frodo Baggins as the main hero.

Plot Summary

A long time ago, a hobbit called Bilbo Baggins came back from an adventure. With him, he brought a mysterious ring that he had found in a cave and that had previously belonged to a creature called Gollum. It turns out that this is the ring once forged by the dark ruler Sauron with which he wanted to dominate the world. For a long time, everyone had forgotten about that ring but now Sauron is looking for it again and he must never find it. The only way to be sure is to destroy the ring in the fire in which it was made. So Frodo, BIlbo’s nephew and heir, sets out with the task of getting the ring to Mordor to destroy it. The fate of all of Middle Earth depends on the outcome of this quest.

Departure

Call to Adventure

Frodo’s uncle Bilbo celebrates his 111 birthday and intends to leave home. He therefore leaves all his possessions - including the ring - to Frodo. Gandalf then reveals the true nature of he ring and tells Frodo that it cannot stay in the Shire as the enemy is already looking for it. The only way to destroy it, Frodo learns, is to get it to the place where it was made and cast it into the fire from which it came.

Refusal of the Call

Once Frodo learns what this ring is and how powerful and potentially dangerous it is he does not want to keep it. He absolutely agrees with Gandalf that the ring has to be destroyed but he does not see himself as the one to do it (“I am not made for perilous quests. I wish I had never seen the ring. Why did it come to me? Why was I chosen?” - chapter “The Shadow of the Past”) He then asks Gandalf to take the ring instead. As Gandalf refuses, Frodo finally agrees to keep the ring safe but only until someone better qualified is found to take over.

Supernatural Aid

Gandalf promises to help Frodo along the way. He also chooses a companion for him (Samwise) and makes suggestions about the travel plans and the route they should take. But when he has to leave because of some urgent matter, Frodo stays back alone and when Gandalf does not return as he had promised, Frodo has to start the journey without supernatural aid. On the way, however, he meets some helpers. The first one is Tom Bombadil who safes Frodo in the Old Forest and again a bit later in the Barrow-Downs.

Crossing of the First Threshold

There are several situations that could qualify for this step of the journey. I think it is the moment when Frodo leaves his home in Hobbiton for good. He has sold his possessions and - to keep his journey as secret as possible - pretends to go living with some relatives in another part of the Shire.

Belly of the Whale

In my opinion, this stage happens when Frodo leaves the Shire and goes on into the Old Forest. It is an old and somewhat dangerous forest. Frodo had only heard stories about it but had never been there. This is the first situation in which he definitely does no longer know what lies ahead of him.

Initiation

Road of Trials

• When Frodo and his three friends are kidnapped by a barrow-wight, he is the only one who wakes up again by himself. He grabs his sword and tries to save his friends and manages to call Tom Bombadil for help who gets them out of the tomb.

• In Bree, Frodo has an accident when the ring slips on his finger and makes him invisible in front of all the people in the bar. A stranger then approaches him and while his companions are full of distrust, Frodo makes the choice to trust this man despite there being no evidence that he tells the truth. It later turns out this man (Strider / Aragorn) was actually sent by Gandalf to protect Frodo on his way.

• On Weathertop: This is were Frodo fails a trial. When they are surrounded by ring-wraiths, he deliberately puts on the ring. This is a mistake as they can feel him even clearer now and he is almost mortally wounded.

• In Rivendell, he probably passes the most important test so far. When everyone is arguing about what should be done with the ring, he steps forward to announce that he himself will take the ring to Mordor.

Meeting with the Goddess

At the moment, I cannot think of a situation that would fit this stage of the journey. Maybe the closest is in Lothlorien when Frodo meets the elven queen Galadriel. He feels unexpectedly drawn to her. What brings them together is not exactly love, more a shared grief, so I am not sure if this situation qualifies for this stage of the hero’s journey. As Lord of the Rings is a story mostly dominated by men, there isn’t anyone Frodo could fall in love with.

Woman as Temptress

Galadriel, for sure. Frodo never offers the ring to anyone else. His meeting with Galadriel in her garden and his looking into her magic mirror make him want to give up the ring to her. 

There is also the constant temptation of the ring itself. Frodo acts more and more possessive (which is understandable, especially when Gollum is around). In the end, when he has made it through all the other trials, he even fails to destroy the ring because he has developed such a deep connection with it.

Atonement with the Father

I think this might be the situation in Rivendell when Elrond has called people from the different races of Middle Earth to a meeting about the ring. Even though legally he is not the ruler of them all, he is definitely the one with most authority among them. And when Frodo offers to take the ring to Mordor, he approves of this choice (“I think that this task is appointed for you, Frodo; and that if you do not find a way, no one will.” - chapter “The council of Elrond”).

Apotheosis

The moment when Frodo realizes that his journey, unlike that of his uncle Bilbo, will not be a “there and back again” story. For him, there will be no way back. He realizes that this task will very likely cost his life and he accepts it and is determined to see it through. Also, when they are already in Mordor and almost at the end of their quest, Frodo makes a comment about how he feels “naked in the dark”. He seems to be completely drained of everything - his energy, his memories... All he wants to do is finally get it over with.

Ultimate Boon

This one is difficult. Frodo does not set out to find anything, he sets out to destroy. There is nothing that he finds. He saves Middle Earth so I would say he reached his goal but there is no material gain and nothing that benefits him personally either.