Interrogation of Frodo and Sam by Faramir
Faramir brings Frodo and Sam to the secret hideout of the Ithilien Rangers that was hidden by the Forbidden Pool.
Faramir would question Frodo and Sam about their destination. Frodo Baggins feared that if he revealed the true purpose of his journey as the Ring Bearer, he and the One Ring might be threatened again. Frodo and Sam answer Faramir vaguely.
However, eventually as Faramir told Sam and Frodo that Boromir, his brother was found dead with the Great Horn of Gondor split in half, Frodo and Sam were both surprised to learn of Boromir’s death and talks of the Fellowship of the Ring.
Frodo and Sam also didn’t know of Boromir’s death or the events that happened to the Fellowship of the Ring since they’ve parted from the Fellowship of the Ring at Amon Hen.
Temptation and Test of the One Ring to Faramir
Faramir eventually figures out that Sam and Frodo, the two hobbits were in the Ithlien Region to destroy the One Ring at Mordor. Faramir knew the One Ring, also known as Isildur’s Bane held great power and Faramir also becomes tempted by the One Ring.
As Faramir looked into the One Ring wielded by Frodo Baggins, the One Ring started to tempt Faramir. Faramir was tempted by the One Ring, he also recalls on memories with his brother and also thinks of the disappointment by his father Denethor 2nd who thought he was pathetic.
Denethor 2nd disliked Faramir as a son as he thought Faramir had a soft edge thinking it was a disgrace and a weakness. (Also Faramir trusted Gandalf so Denethor 2nd didn’t like Faramir) However, the kindness of Faramir helped Faramir overcome the temptation of the One Ring.
In the movie, Faramir takes Frodo and Sam to Osgiliath, where in the novel, Faramir releases Frodo and Sam at the Ithilien Ranger hideout at Henneth Annun while he supported their journey.
The Forbidden Pool and the capture of Smeagol by Faramir
Gollum or Smeagol wasn’t caught first by the rangers of Ithilien in the novel. However, Gollum/Smeagol was able to follow Frodo and Sam to the Forbidden Pool that concealed the secret base of the Ithilien Rangers at Henneth Annun. Smeagol was catching fish in the Forbidden Pool.
The Ithilien Rangers aimed at Gollum but Frodo was able to halt them as Frodo revealed the stories with Gollum.
In the movie, the fishing in the Forbidden Pool was forbidden so Gollum was tortured and interrogated. Faramir already knew some of the stories as Aragorn once passed through Gondor to capture Gollum. Faramir interrogated Gollum and handed back to Frodo Baggins.
Faramir’s Release of Frodo, Sam and Gollum
In the novel, Faramir released Frodo, Sam and Gollum at Henneth Annun right away. However, in the movie, Faramir brings Frodo, Sam and Gollum to Osgiliath as Faramir intended to bring the One Ring to his father Denethor 2nd.
However, Osgiliath was under siege as the forces of Mordor started to attack Gondor. Frodo and Sam first encounter the terrors caused by the nazguls on a fell beast. In the movie, the inner grace of Faramir was eventually convinced by the cause of Sam and Frodo.
Faramir knew that the One Ring could bring destruction, however he also wanted to prove himself a worthy son to his father Denethor 2nd.
However, Faramir also knew that the One Ring, Isildur’s Bane would eventually destroy Gondor if he brought it to Minas Tirith.
Faramir eventually decides to disobey his father Denethor 2nd and releases Sam, Frodo and Gollum at Osgiliath, bidding them farewell and good luck. (This is all a movie adaptation)
Sam, Gollum and Frodo’s destination – Cirith Ungol and Faramir’s warning on Cirith Ungol
In both the novel and the movie, Faramir questions Gollum’s plan to guide Sam and Frodo. Gollum replies that he planned to take the path of Cirith Ungol. Cirith Ungol was certainly one of the strongholds of Mordor where the orcs of Mordor didn’t guard much and lacked Sauron’s influence.
Faramir would strongly oppose Gollum’s plan and warns Sam and Frodo of the terrible stories of Cirith Ungol.
In the movie, Faramir would even threaten Gollum very harshly as soon as he heard that their destination was Cirith Ungol.
There weren’t many orcs defending Cirith Ungol because of the presence of the giant great spider Shelob that would prey on any living being attempting to pass Cirith Ungol.
Smeagol and Gollum’s plan for betrayal
Smeagol, the good personality already took place, however after being brutally interrogated by the men of Faramir, the distrust on Frodo grew inside Smeagol.
Eventually, Gollum, the evil personality, came out once more. Gollum and Smeagol plot to lure Frodo and Sam into the nests of Shelob, the great spider that dwelled in Cirith Ungol.
Why did the ents remain neutral
Ents were originally created to protect nature, animals and vegetation against those that tried to harm them. This wasn’t necessarily limited to the orcs and there was history of ents defending the forests from dwarves and humans as well as orcs.
Female ents were called entwives, while ents usually referred to the male ents. At the point of the War of the Ring, most of the entwives have already perished from Middle Earth and ents couldn’t produce offsprings.
Unlike the huorns were the living trees that couldn’t communicate with humans, dwarves and elves the ents were intelligent beings.
The ents knew that their time on middle earth was almost done as the only ents on middle Earth now barely remains population at the Fangorn Forest without any future. Thus, the ents remained neutral, until Merry and Pippin arrived.
Entmoot – The council and meeting of the Ents
The ents gather up in the southern part of the Fangorn Forest called Derndingle to discuss matters around the Fangorn Forest.
This council and gathering was called the Entmoot and it was a very rare event among the ents as they were very relaxed and didn’t interfere much with the history of Middle Earth.
Although the ents have remained neutral for such a long time, only protecting the forests against any being whether orc, human, dwarf etc the consequences that could happen if Sauron reigned and the deforestation caused by Saruman’s Isengard called upon an assembly of the Entmoot.
Merry and Pippin, who were accompanying Treebeard by Gandalf’s request would join the Entmoot that would last for days.The ents were slow talkers and it took days for the entmoot to end.
In the movie, the result of the Entmoot was to remain neutral but Merry and Pippin shows the deforestation caused by Saruman that motivated Treebeard to avenge on Saruman’s Isengard forces. Treebeard, the eldest ent eventually calls upon war against Saruman and the Last March of the Ents
