The Lord of the Rings/Characters: Difference between revisions

== The Fellowship of the Ring ==

Frodo Baggins is a principal protagonist of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''. He was a hobbit of the Shire who inherited Sauron's Ring from his Bilbo Baggins and undertook the quest to destroy it in Mount Doom.

* [[Weapon of Choice]]: An elven dagger, [[Named Weapons|named Sting]].

Samwise Gamgee, Frodo Baggins' loyal servant, was determined to follow his master wherever he went even when he was not invited. Sam proved to be a brave and loyal companion and became Frodo's closest friend. His Hobbit-sense and his love for Frodo saw them both through danger and hardship to the end of the quest. Sam was unwilling to give up hope even when things seemed darkest.

* [[Working Class Hero]]: Out of the four main hobbits, two are the sons of chieftains (Merry and Pippin) and the other is a very wealthy heir (Frodo); Sam is the only one who is not a "gentlehobbit". He treats the others with deference, but he is still shown shown to be a heroic character.

Meriadoc Brandybuck was a sensible Hobbit whose concern for his cousin Frodo Baggins led him to mastermind the "conspiracy" that ensured that Frodo embarked on his quest with his friends at his side. Despite his feelings of uselessness and self-doubt, Merry became a Knight of the Riddermark and played a significant role in the War of the Ring. Through his loyalty and courage he helped to defeat one of the Dark Lord's most terrible servants.

* [[Weapon of Choice]]: An Arnorian witchblade, designed to hurt Nazgûl.

Peregrin Took was just in his tweens when he announced his intention to accompany his cousin Frodo Baggins on his quest. Pippin's youth and curious nature got him into trouble on occasion, but his steadfast friendship and unquenchable cheerfulness helped carry him and his companions through the darkest times. During the quest, he grew up quickly and became an important member of the Fellowship and a Knight of Gondor.

* [[Trickster Archetype]]: An innocent version, with Merry, though this toned down as they make their transition to [[Badass Normal|badasses]].

The modern [[Wizard Classic|archetypal wizard]]. In the Third Age, the Valar (basically greater angels) sent five Maiar (basically lesser angels) to Middle-earth to aid the struggle against Sauron, clothed in the forms of old men and forbidden to use their power directly. Of these, two fled east and were never heard from again. Of the remainder, Gandalf embodied wisdom, Saruman knowledge, and Radagast, nature. Though Saruman is presented as the head of the Council of the Wise, the elves originally wanted Gandalf, who declined the position. They nevertheless entrusted him with Narya, the Ring of Fire (one of the three Rings of Power gifted to the elves), which had previously been held by Círdan the Shipwright.

* [[You Shall Not Pass]]: [[Trope Namer]]. [[Beam Me Up, Scotty|In the book it's "You ''cannot'' pass".]]

Aragorn is the chief of the Dúnedain, Rangers of the North. One of the dying breed of Númenóreans, Aragorn is raised in secret by Elrond in Rivendell, unaware of his true identity as the Heir of Isildur. When he comes of age Elrond reveals all to him, and he meets and falls in love with Elrond's daughter Arwen. After she reciprocates, some 30 years later, Elrond tells Aragorn that he can only have her hand in marriage if he becomes the King of Gondor and Arnor. Aragorn spends the next few decades battling orcs and aiding Gandalf in tracking and opposing the agents of Sauron, particularly Gollum. In his youth he also travels far and wide, notably as a [[The Captain|captain]] of Gondor and Rohan (under a pseudonym, Thorongil), to be the best he can in order to pursue his destiny.

* [[Weapon of Choice]]: Sword.

Legolas is the son of King Thranduil of Mirkwood, and is sent by his father to Rivendell to deliver news of Gollum's escape. There he becomes one of the nine members of the Fellowship. Compared to the rest of the Fellowship, he is rather lighthearted as is shown by his dialogue. He and Gimli do not get along well due to the longstanding animosity between dwarves and elves, but before the War of the Ring is over, they have become friends. While traveling with the Fellowship, Legolas is told by Galadriel that if he hears the cry of a gull, he will be drawn to the sea. True to Galadriel's prediction, he hears the cry of a gull. It is not until many years after the War of the Ring ends, however, that Legolas builds a ship and sails to Valinor.

* [[Weapon of Choice]]: Bow and long knife.

The token dwarf. Gimli son of Gloin attends the council at Rivendell and volunteers to participate in the Fellowship, at least partially because his arch-nemesis Legolas has just done the same. After that he primarily runs around as a [[Boisterous Bruiser]], forming an [[Odd Friendship]] with Legolas. Legolas even took him with him across the sea to Valinor, making Gimli the only Dwarf to dwell in that land.

* [[Weapon of Choice]]: Axe. [[Crazy Prepared|Several of them.]]

Son of Denethor the steward of Gondor. Boromir is a mighty warrior of his people and their champion.

== Men ==

King of Rohan, uncle of Éowyn and Éomer. Théoden is betrayed by his servant Gríma who enfeebled and confused him. While Gandalf helped him come to his senses, the damage has already been done: his armies are in disarray, bands of wild men have ransacked the countryside and his only son and heir is dead. Théoden faces the challenge of standing amongst legends in the midst of his failure trying to find his own strength again which he eventually does in the Battle of Pelennor Fields.

* [[Royals Who Actually Do Something]]

Théoden's nephew, and marshal of the great corps of mounted riders which is the main strength of Rohan. Gríma has him exiled to further throw the country into disarray, but Éomer is not so easily dissuaded. As Théoden's nearest male blood relative, the role of heir-apparent devolves onto him.

* [[The Wise Prince]]

Éomer's sister, and much beloved of Théoden... as well as [[Stalker with a Crush|Gríma]]. Because Arwen has such little face-time in the novels, Éowyn is essentially [[The Smurfette Principle|the token female of the story]]. Being an [[Action Girl]] only made things worse.

* [[Sweet Polly Oliver]]

Boromir's younger brother, but the two are quite different; while Boromir is tempted by the lure of the Ring, Faramir [[Incorruptible Pure Pureness|tosses it away with ease]]. (This was changed [[Rule of Drama|for dramatic reasons]] in the film.) He becomes even more central in the third novel, as the action moves to his homeland of Gondor.

* [[The Wise Prince]]: Practically his defining trait.

Denethor is the Steward of Gondor, ruling the nation from Minas Tirith in the absence of the King. He is used to being in charge, and does not like the idea of having to give up power to the (possibly) rightful heir to the throne. Denethor denies Aragorn's kingship on the basis that he is not Anarion's heir, whom the council of Gondorian nobles has always held the be only proper holder of the title 'King of Gondor.' Aragorn actually ''is'' Anarion's heir as well, but he is not a direct male-line descendant as he is from Isildur.

* [[24-Hour Armor]]: Seen as a symbol of his stubbornness and pride, but also redeeming values thereof.

Denethor's brother-in-law and the Prince of Dol Amroth, a fiefdom of Gondor. Imrahil is a noble man with elven blood who leads the knights of his city to the defense of Minas Tirith. He carries Éowyn off the battlefield and becomes the acting ruler of Gondor after Denethor's suicide, but cedes authority to Aragorn, the rightful king. After the War of the Ring, Éomer married his daughter Lothíriel.

* [[The Wise Prince]]

A common man of Gondor who serves as a soldier in Minas Tirith. Beregond is appointed Pippin's guide to the city and quickly becomes close friends with the hobbit, as does his son Bergil.

== Elves ==

The Half-Elven, Master of Rivendell, father of Arwen, and bearer of one of the three elven Rings, Vilya the Ring of Air, given to him by Gil-Galad upon the latter's death at the end of the Second Age. He is a venerable warrior and cunning strategist, but also acts as opposition to Aragorn from a much less lofty post: that of [[Overprotective Dad]].

* [[Theme Twin Naming]]

Arwen Undómiel, the Evenstar, is a elven woman of great beauty whom Aragorn hopes to marry. Unfortunately, she shows up in only three chapters of the story, the second one being her wedding to the King of Gondor, so readers can be forgiven for perceiving her as a [[Shallow Love Interest]]. Tolkien rectified by including more about her romance with Aragorn [[All There in the Manual|in the appendices]].

* [[World's Most Beautiful Woman]]: Literally (after Lúthien died).

* [[Beware the Nice Ones]]

* [[Big Good]]

== Other Main Characters ==

The main character of ''[[The Hobbit]]'', who inadvertently sets ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' in motion with his discovery of the Ring. Frodo's "uncle" (really his older cousin) and father-figure, Bilbo's 111th (and Frodo's 33rd) birthday opens the story; Bilbo, feeling the Ring's effects on him, leaves the Ring to Frodo and sets out on his last adventure. Years later, Frodo meets Bilbo again in Rivendell, whence he has retired.

* [[Where There's a Will, There's a Sticky Note]]

A seemingly minor character from ''[[The Hobbit]]'' who played a key role in this book. Sméagol, once of a race not unlike the Hobbits, was fishing with Déagol when they encountered the ring. They both immediately coveted it and Sméagol murdered Déagol for it. He retreated for over 600 years deep into the mountains and became a degenerate creature named Gollum (after a throat noise he makes) feared by the goblins. The ring, having a mind of its own, slipped from Gollum's fingers intending to be found by a goblin but it was instead found by Bilbo who used it to confound Sméagol and escape his current danger. When Bilbo had the chance to strike down Gollum, he pitied him and let him live.

* [[Yandere]]: [[Murder the Hypotenuse|"My one... my own...]] [[Cargo Ship|my Precioussss..."]]

A strange... ''person'' who lives in the Old Forest just outside the Shire. Tom is the forest's "Master" and nothing can harm him within its borders. His nature is a mystery--he was old even when the first Elves entered his part of the world. He lives in a little house with his wife, the river-spirit Goldberry. Tom was the first person the hobbits met after leaving the Shire and he provided them safe passage along the early part of their journey. He also gave them their swords after he rescued them in the Barrow-downs. He refuses to get involved in the War of the Ring and sits the whole thing out.

* [[Wacky Wayside Tribe]]

* [[Badass Grandpa]]

== The Forces of Evil ==

The eponymous Lord of the Rings. The lieutenant of Morgoth, the original Dark Lord, Sauron was responsible for much suffering of Elves and Men in the Elder Days. When Morgoth was banished, Sauron ultimately picked up in his place. His first gambit was to teach the Elves to crafts the magic rings (ultimately the three for the Elves, seven for the Dwarves, and nine for Men). He then crafted his own One Ring as an extension of his being through which he meant to dominate each race. However, the elves were on guard against this evil and the dwarves were too focused on material wealth. Sauron made his first bid through force but was routed and his body destroyed. However, his ring anchored him to our realm and would allow him to regather.

* [[Well-Intentioned Extremist]]: His goal was once to [[Order vs. Chaos|establish order]] in Middle-Earth.

Yes, the One Ring is a character, the one around whom everyone in the series bases their actions. Sauron made it, lost it, and wants it back. Gollum is addicted to its presence. The White Council want to destroy the Ring, Frodo volunteers, and the Fellowship of the Ring protect him on his quest.

* [[This Is Your Brain on Evil]]

The leader of the Wizards and the White Council, Saruman the White possessed great knowledge and skill at crafting, but was proud and haughty. He dwelt in the tower of Orthanc at Isengard. Saruman was originally a steadfast enemy of Sauron, but in time came envy Sauron and began searching for the One Ring. At first he steered the White Council away from opposing Sauron, hoping that the Dark Lord's rise would bring the Ring back into the open, but Sauron ensnared him through his use of the Seeing-stone of Orthanc and Saruman became his servant. Saruman raised an army of Orcs and subverted the land of Rohan through his minion Wormtongue, but still searched for the Ring in hopes of betraying Sauron and claiming his power.

* [[You Can't Make an Omelette]]: Discussed. <small>[[Kirk Summation|"He who breaks a thing to discover what it is has left the path of wisdom."]]</small>

A man of Rohan who was seduced by Saruman's promises of power, Wormtongue was King Théoden's advisor. He used clever words and "leechcraft" to wear down the aging king's mind, weakening the kingdom and allowing Saruman's armies to run rampant.

* [[Treacherous Advisor]]

The nine Nazgûl were kings of Men to whom Sauron gave nine Rings of Power in the Second Age. Seduced by power, they fell into evil, and eventually passed into a state of undeath. The Nazgûl, or Ringwraiths, are extensions of Sauron's will who exist only to do his bidding. They are his most terrible servants, and the greatest among them--known variously as the Black Captain, the Lord of the Nazgûl, and many other names--rules Minas Morgul as the Dark Lord's right hand.

* [[Was Once a Man]]

* [[The Ageless]]: Like the Elves they were supposedly created from, but it isn't fully clear.

* [[Was Once a Man]]: The origin that made it into the books is that they were once elves. This is only one possibility, though, and [[Flip-Flop of God|it kept changing right up until Tolkien's death]]--he didn't like the implications that had for their eternal souls, even though he did not want evil to be capable of independent creation, which would have conflicted with his Christianity.

* [[All Trolls Are Different]]: Tolkien's trolls are giant-like monsters with rocky hides and beast-like intelligence. (The talking trolls in ''[[The Hobbit]]'' may or may not have been artistic license on Bilbo's part.) They permanently turn to stone when exposed to sunlight. The exceptions are Sauron's Olog-hai, more intelligent trolls that are immune to sunlight.

* [[Smash Mook]]

A general term for Mannish cultures not related to the Dúnedain, referring to their relative lack of sophistication; essentially barbarians. In the Third Age, most of them have been seduced and/or enslaved by Sauron, whom they worship as a god-king. Unlike the Orcs, enemy Men are not evil by nature; they evoke sympathy from their enemies (but still die in droves) and are treated fairly in defeat. The Men of Darkness fall into various cultural groups:

* [[Worthy Opponent]]: The Easterlings and Haradrim were seen this way by the Gondorians. The Dunlendings also end up seeing the Rohirrim this way after their fair treatment in defeat.

* [[Ass in Ambassador]]: After meeting with Aragorn, he essentially demands his surrender.

* [[Smug Snake]]

* [[Achilles Heel]]: Her underside is not as tough as the rest of her body; when she gives up trying to paralyze Sam with her venom and decides to crush him, he shoves Sting into her guts. The book emphasizes that unlike dragons, Shelob has no weak spots save for her eyes. Sam is only able to pierce her skin and tissue because she unwittingly slams on his blade with her own, massive strength.

* [[Weakened by the Light]]

An ancient demon who fled deep underground after the Wars of Beleriand in the First Age, the unnamed Balrog was awakened from its torpor in the Third Age when the dwarves of Moria [[Dug Too Deep]] for mithril. The monster killed the dwarves' king and drove them out of their halls into exile. Centuries later, the Balrog, now known as Durin's Bane, was encountered by the Fellowship as they traveled through Moria. Gandalf held off the Balrog on the Bridge of Khazad-dûm and both fell into an abyss. After a pitched battle that lasted for days, the wizard slew the demon, but died from his wounds shortly after. Gandalf came [[Back From the Dead]]; the Balrog didn't.

{{reflist}}