1. How does Tolkien develop the nature of the Black Riders so that their identity as Ringwraiths does not come as a surprise?

2. Many characters convey pieces of information at the Council of Elrond— information about the history of the Ring, about events that have happened more recently, or about their own presence at the Council. What information is new to the reader?

3. What shows that the Ring has no effect on Tom Bombadil? What is later given as an explanation for this? Why is Gandalf unwilling to entrust the Ring to Tom?

4. When Frodo offers his Ring to Galadriel, she refuses it, as had Gandalf and Aragom. Why does she refuse it?

How do the three elven Rings, one of which she wears, differ from the other Rings of Power?

5. Pippin, Aragorn, and Denethor all use one of the palantiri. What happens in...