Description
This conclusion to Tolkien's epic myth begins with the members of the Fellowship scattering once again as they prepare to withstand the impending onslaught from the Dark Lord Sauron and his Nazgul.
Frodo and Sam continue in their hopeless trek across the devastated and evil land of Mordor, intent on destroying the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom. As they struggle to reach their goal, Pippin and Gandalf arrive at the city of Minas Tirith, where the Men of Gondor will soon make a stand against the armies of Sauron. Denethor, Steward of Gondor, strives with Gandalf for power and supremacy as they prepare for Sauron's assault, but his pride comes crashing down as personal tragedy strikes and defeat seems imminent.
Then out of apparent doom rises a new king and new hope. Aragorn and Gandalf risk all, leading an assault on the Dark Lord himself in an attempt to distract him from the Ringbearer and perhaps give Frodo time to destroy the Ring. At the end of it all, can Frodo resist the temptation of the One Ring itself?
The Return of the King Digital Download Literature Study Guide
Formatted with your High School student in mind, Progeny Press literature study guides provide in-depth lessons and writing assignments that strengthen reading comprehension, expand vocabulary, and develop advanced literary analysis and essay writing skills. Each guide challenges students to think critically and engage meaningfully with the text, without unnecessary busywork that diminishes the joy of reading.
For over 30 years, homeschool families, co-ops, and Christian schools worldwide have trusted Progeny Press to provide rigorous, faith-based English and Language Arts curriculum that inspires thoughtful readers and confident writers.
What Progeny Press' The Return of the King Literature Curriculum Digital Study Guide provides your HighSchool student:
ELA Built for Ages 15–18 • Grades 9–12
Our faith-based literature study guide helps students strengthen their reading and comprehension skills through engaging, age-appropriate activities.
Author Biography: Journey through the life of J.R.R. Tolkien, uncovering the captivating history behind both the renowned author and the epic novel.
Vocabulary: Engage in diverse activities designed to enhance retention and foster language growth.
Literary Techniques: Explore the literary artistry with a focus on characterization, archaic language, rhythm, hubris, extended metaphor, imagery, alliteration, assonance, anthropomorphism, irony, foreshadowing, eucatastrophe, comic relief, allusions, parochialism, dramatic structure, and the dynamics between static and dynamic characters. Unearth themes of heroism, narcissism, and resolution.
Moral Lessons and Character Values: Gain insight through moral lessons, navigating the choices between conflicting forces, Christ figure in literature, the complexities of fallen humanity, wisdom derived from grief, the significance of great deeds, scriptural parallels, the allure of temptation, the power of evil, the implications of death wishes, the resonance of hope in Psalms, principles of stewardship, the essence of pity, the dynamics of endings and changes, reflections on wealth and power, the art of moving on, interdependence, just war considerations, and contemplations on the nature of evil.
Activities and Writing Assignments: Engage in prequel reviews, map character movements, conduct research on kings, create a Middle-earth map, delve into harrowing tales, explore the concept of martyrs, analyze the feudal system, participate in essays or debates on women in battle, Rohirrim culture, armor design, Denethor and Saul's character comparisons, prophecy interpretations, Pippin vs. Merry analyses, discussions on duty, light and darkness explorations, research on fortress walls, compose victory songs or poems, express through watercolors, enact the crowning of Aragorn, explore living will concepts, compare contemporary coronations, examine Christ’s second coming parallels, luck dynamics, healing principles, reflections on death and immortality, delve into messianic imagery, explore themes of growing up, patterns of providence, analyze female characters, create short stories, and dramatize key scenes. Additionally, delve into interviews or research on PTSD.
Suggestions for Further Reading: Get addtional book recommendations with an in-depth reading list of books by Tolkien, and other books and movies that relate to, The Return of the King.
What Will You Need?
A Complete Language Arts Experience with Progeny Press
- A copy of the The Return of the King novel
- A copy of the The Return of the King study guide
- A Bible (digital or physical)
- A dictionary (child-friendly or online)
Created for upper-level learners, this guide strengthens critical thinking and encourages polished writing while helping students master essential ELA concepts.
Designed for YOU
- Homeschool families looking for Christian literature curriculum
- Schools looking for top quality ELA materials
- Parents wanting to build reading comprehension and character
- Co-ops and small group instruction
These guides work well on their own or alongside your preferred grammar and writing program.
Features and Benefits FAQ - Progeny Press ELA PDF Study Guide:
Why Schools & Families Love Our Study Guides:
- Faith-Based Curriculum: Each guide is rooted in Christian values, helping students grow academically while learning in a faith-aligned environment
- Proven Success: Trusted by homeschool families, co-ops, and Christian schools for more than 30 years.
- Easy to Follow & Open-and-Go: Designed for simplicity and flexibility. Just open and start learning.
- Biblical Connections: Every study promotes meaningful discussions that tie literature themes to Scripture and real-life application.
- Adaptable for Any Setting: Works beautifully in homeschools, classrooms, or co-ops and supports different learning styles and teaching methods.
- Thoughtfully Structured Lessons: Integrates literature analysis with biblical truth, helping students strengthen both academic understanding and spiritual growth.
- Engaging, Hands-On Activities: Includes projects, creative assignments, research papers, writing assignments, and interactive exercises that support reading comprehension and make learning memorable.
- No Busywork: Every activity is purposeful, faith-filled, and designed to deepen understanding—not fill time.
- Comprehensive Literature Coverage: Features classic and contemporary works that build strong literary foundations and critical thinking.
- Support for Parents & Teachers: Includes practical tips, clear instructions, and full answer keys to make teaching simple and effective.
Digital Format Details:
- Download instantly—no shipping required
- Works on Mac, PC, and most tablets
- Fillable form fields allow on-screen answers or easy printing
- No costly software purchases necessary. PDF files open in the FREE Adobe Reader program.
Note: Mobile devices may require an alternative app that supports and saves fillable form fields and interactive features. - Conveniently print what you need, when you need it
- Print the whole ELA study guide at once
- Print single literature lessons or pages as the student completes them
- Print multiple copies of the entire curriculum study guide for classroom sets
All of Progeny Press' language arts PDF download unit lessons are written from a Christian worldview!
