Disclaimer: I don't own The Fellowship of the Ring or any of Tolkien's characters.
A/N: This sounds very odd, but I wrote this as an assignment in my Tolkien Literature class. Tolkien translated a book called "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" into English. He used a poetic form of 11-16 unrhyming lines with no meter, and then 4 lines of short iambic meter with a/b/a/b rhyme. If you didn't understand any of that, that's fine, I just wanted to explain why the following poetry uses such a strange form. I had to summarize every chapter of Book 1 of The Fellowship of the Ring in this format. It's different, I know, but I thought I'd post it anyway.
Book 1, Chapter 1:
Master Bilbo was a very wealthy, hearty old Hobbit,
A very strange one, for sure, though kind.
His birthday, shared with an heir, was rapidly coming.
An exceptional thing, to be celebrated with great excitement,
For it was his eleventy-first, and his heir's coming out.
His heir was Frodo, orphaned son of a Baggins and a Brandybuck,
Cousin to Bilbo, understanding friend, more adventurous than most.
Gandalf the Wizard was to attend also,
Old friend of Bilbo, companion on a fantastic journey.
The Party Day arrived, and hundreds of Hobbits came.
After drinking, eating, and much merry-making had been done,
Master Bilbo spoke a speech, then disappeared!
Gandalf followed him home and saw him prepare to leave.
He had used a magic ring, ill-gotten on a journey past,
To disappear from his birthday party.
And so, the Ring must go,
But Bilbo loves it much,
Its evil he could not know,
Though Frodo will know its touch.
Book 1, Chapter 2:
Gandalf had been gone for many, many years
When strange doings outside Frodo's world became known
Gandalf returned and told of Frodo's magic Ring.
Its danger was perilous, its power great.
Stolen years ago from Gollum by Bilbo,
Stolen before that from Deagol, and Isildur.
It had a will of its own, and a wicked desire for its evil Master
Sauron, Lord of Mordor, Land of Evil, Ruler of Darkness.
Gollum, the wretch, knew of the Shire and Bilbo and Baggins,
And so he had told to the Dark Lord also.
Frodo, the Shire, his friends, his world lived all in great danger:
If to save them he would,
Frodo must travel far.
Sam, gardener, beside him stood,
For their friendship he would not mar.
Book 1, Chapter 3:
Frodo, to escape the Evil, pretended to flee to Buckland,
Where later he would run away to far places unknown.
Gandalf had not come back, though he had promised.
On the road to Buckland, with Sam and Peregrin Took,
A Rider, dressed all in black, rode up on a dark black horse.
As they hid to the side, it sniffed, seeking something in the shadows.
Later on their journey, again it appeared, this time driven away by Elves.
Sam finally saw an Elf, and glad he was when they invited them along.
Frodo was glad, for with the Elves he would find safety.
Pippin was simply tired, and glad for a bed.
Together they walked that night, miles and miles,
Then ended at an away-hall, where food and drink were served.
Frodo spoke in Elvish, and Gildor named him Elf-Friend.
They learned nothing about the Riders, but Gildor gave advice.
Keep good friends by your side,
And let them follow where you go.
For only friends may turn the tide
Of the Danger you will follow.