J .R.R. Tolkien’s notes and dust‑jacket art reveal that the two towers he meant for Volume II of his epic were Orthanc in Isengard and Minas Morgul, not the film’s Barad‑dûr. The clarification comes from Tolkien’s own February 1954 draft note and his illustrated cover, which depict a white tower (Morgul) and a dark tower marked with the White Hand (Orthanc).

February 1954 draft note pins Orthanc and Minas Morgul as the pair

Tolkien added a marginal comment to a 1954 manuscript stating that the second volume is “dominated by Orthanc and the fortress of Minas Morgul, which guards the secret entrance to Mordor.” This explicit phrasinng, cited by scholras, directly counters the cinematic reading that pairs Orthanc with Barad‑dûr.

Dust‑jacket illustration confirms the author’s visual cue

The original dust‑jacket, designed by Tolkien himself, shows a white tower under a moon symbol—identified by experts as Minas Morgul—next to a dark tower bearing the White Hand, a clear reference to Orthanc. The visual cue was intended to guide readers toward the two structures that dominate the narrative of Volume II.

Peter Jackson’s adaptation swapped Barad‑dûr for cinematic drama

In Peter Jackson’s 2002 film, Saruman names Orthanc and Sauron’s Dark Tower of Barad‑dûr as the “Two Towers.” The director’s choice, while dramatic, diverges from Tolkien’s documented intent, a point highlighted in recent literary analyses.

Unresolved speculation:Did Tolkien ever favor Cirith Ungol?

Letters to his editor Rayner Unwin reveal Tolkien briefly entertained making the second tower Cirith Ungol, the perilous pass where Frodo and Sam climb. He also toyed with pairing the Dark Tower with Minas Tirith, but dismissed both as misleading for the volume’s focus.

What remains uncertain about Tolkien’s title dilemma

Scholars still debate why Tolkien reluctantly accepted the title “The Two Towers” under publisher pressure, and whether his later notes represent a final decision or a lingering ambiguity. As the source notes, “Tolkien was never fully satisfied with the title,” leaving room for further textual investigation.