Which 2 towers are the Two Towers?

[Idril Celebrindal]

In The Two Towers movie by PJ, Orthanc and Barad-Dûr are clearly the two towers in question. But in the book, I can't really think of an instance where it's actually defined which 2 towers are the Two Towers (this is turning into a kind of tounge twister). There are only four significant towers that I can think of:
Orthanc
Barad-Dûr
Minas Tirith
Minas Morgul
I'm sure there are other towers in Middle Earth, but these seem to be the only ones mentioned (but don't take my word for that).
So, which 2 towers are the Two Towers? Minas Morgul and Minas Tirith? Barad-Dûr and Minas Tirith? Barad-Dûr and Orthanc?
Does anybody know if this is mentioned anywhere in Tolkien's books, and if not, then which 2 towers do you think are the Two Towers? (now try saying that five times).

 

[Ent]

Interestingly, there are two references to "two towers" in the text.
Three times, with reference to the Two towers of the Teeth" - the towers at the Black Gate, originally built by Gondor to protect re-entry into the black land.
Once with referecnce to the two Towers at Helm's Deep.

I believe most people consider Minas Morgul and Minas Tirith to be the 'two towers' but I'm not sure of the justification.

Given books 3 and 4 of Tolkien's work start and end with the Black Gate, one must wonder if the 'two towers' in view are indeed meant to be the Towers of the Teeth with which those books have to do.

An intriguing question.

Tolkien himself leaves it intentionally ambiguous, in letter 140 to Raynor Unwin in 1953 regarding titles, saying as here:

He also says in letter 143 of 1954:

AND YET - this comment is made in the 'footnotes' about Tolkien's view:

Therefore, it may well come to a 'take your pick' kind of situation.
(and that's all I have to say on the matter. At least, for now.)

 

[ZehnWaters]

I was going to say, Tolkien didn't design the titles of the books because he wrote the whole thing as one giant book. It was the publisher who broke them up into a trilogy and gave them names. He also thought Return of the King was a spoiler (I'm not sure how, since Aragorn set out from Rivendell with this purpose).

 

[Elthir]

According to Tolkien (anyway) the two Towers are Orthanc and Minas Morgul.

Despite any earlier, now posthumously published ambiguity, Tolkien himself ultimately published this in The Lord of The Rings, in accord with his ultimate design for the book cover.

🐾

 

[Eljorahir]

The closing pages of my old paperback "The Fellowship of the Ring" include a little prelude to the next book and an identification of the Two Towers.

 

[Ent]

According to Tolkien (anyway) the two Towers are Orthanc and Minas Morgul.

The closing pages of my old paperback "The Fellowship of the Ring" include a little prelude to the next book and an identification of the Two Towers.

Cool. Thanks to you both. Looks like he finally settled the issue in his own mind, then. Good to know.

 

[Elthir]

Yes. Once upon a time, in days now long forgotten by some, we couldn't say for certain if Tolkien himself wrote or approved the bit Eljorahir just posted.

Then. . . then came Hammond and Scull, or Scull and Hammond; and then there was much rejoicing!

🐾

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

In Tolkien's design for the volume, you can see a white tower with a crescent moon below the drawing (Minas Ithil) and a dark horned tower with the white hand below.

 

[Eljorahir]

Yes. Once upon a time, in days now long forgotten by some, we couldn't say for certain if Tolkien himself wrote or approved the bit Eljorahir just posted.

Then. . . then came Hammond and Scull, or Scull and Hammond; and then there was much rejoicing!

So, what was the conclusion of ol' Scully and Ham? Did Tolkien write it himself? It does sound a little like a commercial a publisher would want: "Don't forget to buy the other books!"