J.R.R. Tolkien’s 2 Favorite Lord of the Rings Scenes Explained (They Might Not Be What You Expect)

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Many people consider The Lord of the Rings to be one of the best fantasy adventures ever written, and it will likely stay that way for a long time. The story has created countless beloved characters and scenes that have become instantly recognizable to fans. But what parts of his masterpiece did author J.R.R. Tolkien personally enjoy the most?

Fans recently discovered some previously unseen letters and writings by J.R.R. Tolkien in online archives. One interesting find is a 1967 letter he wrote to the Daily Telegraph Magazine, where he revealed his two favorite scenes from The Lord of the Rings. Can you guess which scenes made his list?

Tolkien mentioned that he’s particularly moved by two parts of The Lord of the Rings when rereading them: the ending of the chapter about Lothlórien, and the scene with the Rohirrim blowing their horns at dawn. He feels a distance from these passages because they were written so long ago, it’s like reading someone else’s work.

What Happens In the “Lothlórien” Chapter of The Lord of the Rings?

This chapter, titled “Lothlórien,” begins after the Fellowship escapes the Mines of Moria, but not without a terrible loss – Gandalf falls while fighting the Balrog. The remaining members of the Fellowship then travel to the enchanted forest of Lothlórien, where they hope to meet with the Elf-lady Galadriel.

Viewers of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring didn’t see the complete version of the Fellowship’s trek from Moria to Lothlórien as described in Tolkien’s book. In the book, the journey into Lothlórien is more challenging. The Elves distrust Dwarves, so they make Gimli wear a blindfold, fearing he’ll reveal their secrets. The Fellowship also has to secretly camp to avoid running into both Orcs and Gollum.

It’s likely Tolkien was particularly moved by how the story ended in this part: Aragorn asks everyone to wear blindfolds as a gesture of support for Gimli. This leads them to meet Celeborn and Galadriel, the rulers of Lórien, who graciously accept them all without prejudice. The chapter concludes with the Fellowship marveling at the beauty of Lothlórien and experiencing Galadriel’s radiant presence.

It’s easy to see why Tolkien loved that part of The Lord of the Rings so much – he saw it as a glimpse of paradise within his world of Middle-earth. It clearly sparked his imagination, and that must have made writing it a joy.

LOTR: The Horns of Rohirrim at Cockcrow, Explained

Another scene Tolkien particularly loved is the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, a major turning point in The Lord of the Rings and the thrilling finale of The Return of the King movie. This battle saw the remaining human kingdoms unite to defend their city, Minas Tirith, against Sauron’s attack – all while Frodo Baggins was attempting to destroy the One Ring.

King Théoden and his Rohirrim rode hard to reach Gondor, narrowly avoiding Sauron’s armies along the way. Faramir and his soldiers fought bravely, but the enemy broke through their defenses. Just as the Witch-king prepared to deliver a final, devastating attack on Minas Tirith, a distant rooster crowed with the rising sun, followed by the sound of horns – the Rohirrim were arriving over the hills.

This scene is particularly epic and uplifting for Tolkien, especially considering he had just written the grim “Battle of Osgiliath,” where Faramir and his troops suffered significant losses and were forced to fall back to Minas Tirith. For fans of The Lord of the Rings, the sound of the Rohirrim’s horns at dawn has become a famous symbol of hope and faith being justly rewarded.

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2026-06-18 02:13