Editing Samwise Gamgee (section)

=== The War of the Ring ===

[[File:Frodo and Sam guided by Gollum through the Dead Marshes by Alexander Korotich.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] and Sam guided by [[Gollum]] through the [[Dead Marshes]]. [[Scraperboard]] illustration by [[Alexander Korotich]], 1984]]

As told in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', Samwise Gamgee is [[Frodo Baggins]]'s gardener, having inherited the position from his father, Hamfast "Gaffer" Gamgee, who was [[Bilbo Baggins]]'s gardener. As "punishment" for eavesdropping on [[Gandalf]]'s [[The Shadow of the Past|conversation with Frodo]] about the [[One Ring]], Sam is made Frodo's first companion on his journey to [[Rivendell]].<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a|loc=book 1, ch. 2, "[[The Shadow of the Past]]"}}</ref> They are joined by [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]] and [[Peregrin Took]], Frodo's cousins, travelling together to [[Rivendell]]. At the [[Council of Elrond]] there, Sam joins [[The Fellowship of the Ring (characters)|the Fellowship of the Ring]].<ref name="The Council of Elrond" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a|loc=book 2, ch. 2, "[[The Council of Elrond]]"}}</ref> In the [[Elf (Middle-earth)|elvish]] land of [[Lothlórien]], [[Galadriel]] gives Sam a small box of earth from her garden.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a|loc=book 2, ch. 8, "Farewell to Lórien"}}</ref>

When the Fellowship splits up at the [[Falls of Rauros]], Sam insists on accompanying Frodo.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a|loc=book 2, ch. 10, "The Breaking of the Fellowship"}}</ref> Sam protects and cares for Frodo, who is growing weaker under the Ring's influence, as they move through the dangerous lands toward [[Mordor]]. Sam distrusts [[Gollum]], who became their guide into Mordor, leading them through the Dead Marshes.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954|loc=book 4, ch. 1, "The Taming of Sméagol"}}</ref><ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954|loc=book 4, ch. 2, "The Passage of the Marshes"}}</ref> His suspicions are confirmed in the mountain pass of Cirith Ungol, where Gollum betrays them to the giant spider [[Shelob]]. Shelob stings Frodo, and Sam drives her off.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a|loc=book 4, ch. 9, "Shelob's Lair"}}</ref> A band of [[orc (Middle-earth)|orcs]] approaches; Sam chooses to leave the apparently dead Frodo and take the Ring himself, and briefly becomes the [[Ring-bearer]]. He is momentarily tempted by the [[One Ring|Ring's]] [[Addiction to power in The Lord of the Rings|promise of power]], but does not succumb to it.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a|loc=book 4, ch. 10, "The Choices of Master Samwise"}}</ref> Sam then rescues Frodo (who had only been paralysed) from the [[Orc]]s who held him captive. Sam returns the ring to Frodo.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955|loc=book 6, ch. 1, "The Tower of Cirith Ungol"}}</ref> The two journey through Mordor<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955|loc=book 6, ch. 2, "The Land of Shadow"}}</ref> and into [[Mount Doom]]. Sam carries Frodo on his back for some of the way. Gollum attacks Frodo and reclaims the Ring, only to destroy both it and himself by falling into one of the Cracks of Doom.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955|loc=book 6, ch. 3, "Mount Doom"}}</ref>