User:TheGySom/Characters in Lord of the Rings
There are a number of significant characters in the Lord of the Rings series.
Main Characters
Frodo Baggins
Frodo Baggins is a primary character in Lord of the Rings . He is a hobbit in J.R.R. Tolkien's world of Middle-Earth and the son of Drogo Baggins and Primula Brandybuck, who both drowned in a boating accident. He was adopted by Bilbo Baggins, because Bilbo said, "we can celebrate out birthday-parties comfortably together." They were both born on the same day. He aquires the One Ring from his Uncle Bilbo and begins an epic journey to Mordor. In Tolkien's timeline he lived from 2968 to 3021 of the third age of Middle-earth.
In Peter Jackson's film adaptations of Lord of the Rings, Frodo is played by Elijah Wood.
Gandalf
Gandalf was a wizard in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. To the Elves and Men of Gondor he was known as Mithrandir, the Grey Pilgrim. "To the east he goes not." At the conclusion of the War of the Ring he accompanied Frodo, Bilbo, Elrond, and Galadriel on a sea voyage to the Undying Lands in the west.
He is one of the five Istari, angelic spirits sent by the Lords of the West in human form to motivate the inhabitants of Middle-earth to resist the evil of Sauron. In the West he was the Maia known as Olorin, and once served the Vala Manwe.
In Peter Jackson's film adaptations of Lord of the Rings, Gandalf is played by Ian McKellen.
Gollum
Gollum (also known as Smeagol) was of a hobbitlike race, and a bearer of the One Ring for many years.
In his early days, Smeagol lived in a community of a type of hobbits, who unlike most were water-folk. Once on a trip, his friend Deagol found a ring in the bottom of a pool; Smeagol coveted it, and murdered Deagol. Smeagol later found he could become invisible by wearing the ring, and put this ability to evil uses such as eavesdropping and stealing. He was exiled from the community because of this, and he sought refuge under the Misty Mountains after some time, because of his developed hate for both the Sun and moon, eventually turning into the creature known as Gollum.
Gollum eventually became both both an antagonist and cause for many of the events that occurred in the books. The ring was taken from him by Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit, and after overcoming his fear of sunlight he tracked Baggins in an attempt to get it back. He became sidetracked, as he was summoned to the land of Mordor by the Dark Lord Sauron. There, he was forced to tell what he could of Baggins, bringing about many of the events in The Fellowship of the Ring. Some time after his release from Mordor, Gollum was found in the Dead Marshes by Aragorn, who took him to Mirkwood and left him in the custody of Thranduil and the elves. When Gollum escaped, Legolas was sent to Rivendell to inform the Council of Elrond.
Gollum then meets up with Frodo on his journey to destroy the ring, and becomes his servant and guide. His desire for the Ring causes him to wait, and journey with Frodo for the time present. After much scheming and foiled plans to recapture the ring, Gollum attacked Frodo at the Cracks of Doom, biting off Frodo's finger, and taking the ring for his own. When dancing wildly with delight, he slipped, and fell into the chasm along with the ring.
In Peter Jackson's film adaptations of Lord of the Rings, Gollum is played by Andy Serkis
Sauron
Sauron is the evil Dark Lord who is the main antagonist of the Lord of the Rings series. Sauron was originally a servant of the fallen valar Morgoth. In the second age Sauron created the rings of power: nine for men, seven for the dwarves and three for the elves. Then, unknown to the bearers of these rings, he created another ring to rule them all. He used this ring to control Middle-earth.
An alliance of men and elves rose to challenge Sauron at the base of Mount Doom. Amidst the battle, Isildur's father was slain by Sauron himself, and Isildur picked up his father's sword and severed off his fingers. The One Ring was removed from Sauron's body and his body vaporized, but he was however not completely vanquished since Isildur would not destroy the One Ring when given the chance. Sauron later attempts to regain his power and his ring, but he is thwarted by the efforts of Frodo Baggins and the Fellowship of the Ring who finally manage to destroy the ring by throwing it into the fires of Mount Doom.
Secondary Characters
Aragorn
Aragorn II, son of Arathorn, is also known as Strider to the Hobbits and men of Bree. He is chief of the Rangers, and as the foster son of Elrond of Rivendell, sets out on many adventures of knights-errantry under various names. Gandalf left a letter for Frodo Baggins to penetrate his guise, but the letter was delayed and the two nearly failed to meet. An old rhyme about All that is gold does not glitter establishes Strider as Aragorn.
It is revealed in The Return of the King that Aragorn is the rightful heir to the land of Gondor, In his family's absence the kingdom was ruled by a long line of stewards in the king's name, and his return was nearly thwarted by the arrogance of the last steward Denethor. He tried to kill his son Faramir and then committed suicide, throwing himself on a burning pyre which he set himself.
The handover of power was accomplished peacefully, upon Faramir's recovery. Aragorn died peacefully on March 1st of the year 120 of the Fourth Age.
The return of the king to Middle-earth was a long-hoped-for event. The decay and other problems facing the land are attributed to people who "had never heard of the king" or had rebelled against his rule.
In Peter Jackson's film adaptations of The Lord of the Rings, Aragorn is played by Viggo Mortenson.
Bilbo Baggins
Bilbo, main character of The Hobbit, was a pivotal character in Lord of the Rings.
Through much of the beginning of his life, he lived a quiet life in Hobbiton, a hobbit village. Indeed, Tolkien initially portrays him as timid and businesslike, but he draws upon deep resources of courage and fortune to emerge an unlikely hero.
He was the son of Bungo Baggins and Belledonna Took, and master of Bag End after his father. Bilbo never married, but rather adopted his nephew Frodo Baggins as his heir.
In The Hobbit he along with 13 dwarves and a wizard went on a difficult adventure and defeated a dragon, with the help of a magic ring.
In The Lord of the Rings, Bilbo left Frodo in custody of The Ring before beginning his travels again. In his absence, Frodo received his inheritance of Bag End.
Boromir
Boromir is a human character in the book series Lord of the Rings. He is the captain of Gondor, brother to Faramir, and son of Denethor II.[1]
Though it is revealed during the introduction of Boromir that his intention is to use the One Ring for the purposes of power, it is later revealed that his father, Denethor II, had tasked him the quest of bringing the ring back to Minas Tirith before even setting out. Unfortunately, during the ambush at Amon Hen by orcs, after Boromir subsequently tried (and failed) to entice Frodo to journey towards Minas Tirith, he was slain in battle. His repentance for the treachery of wanting the ring was to protect both Merry and Pippin to the death, being finally brought down by arrowfire. [edit] Films
In Peter Jackson's film adaptations of Lord of the Rings, Boromir is played by Sean Bean.
Gimli
Gimli, son of Gloin, is a dwarf in The Lord of the Rings. He joins the Fellowship of the Ring at the Council of Elrond. He left Middle Earth with Legolas in the year 1541 of the Fourth Age.
In Peter Jackson's film adaptations of The Lord of the Rings, Gimli is played by John Rhys-Davies, who was actually the tallest member of the main cast in real life.
Legolas
Legolas is an elf from Mirkwood. He is initially sent to Rivendell to bring the news that Gollum had escaped from Mirkwood. Legolas ended up joining the Fellowship of the Ring, and participating in various battles in the War of the Ring. He left Middle Earth with Gimli in the year 1541 of the Fourth Age. His father was Thranduil.
In Peter Jackson's film adaptations of The Lord of the Rings, Legolas is played by Orlando Bloom.
Meriadoc Brandybuck
Meriadoc Brandybuck, Master of Buckland (usually just called Merry) is a Hobbit from Middle-earth. He was a first cousin of Peregrin Took (Pippin), and also held several different relations to Frodo Baggins.
In the books, Merry is often described as one of the smartest Hobbits - indeed, he is a great lover of cartography and seafaring. Merry and Pippin were captured by a band of Orcs from Isengard as the Fellowship rested near Amon Hen. However, the duo escaped into Fangorn Forest, where they encountered an Ent named Treebeard, whom they convinced to attack Isengard. They soon ran into King Théoden, who led them back to the rest of the Fellowship after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. He victoriously faced the Witch-King of Angmar along with Éowyn. He returned to the Shire after the destruction of the One Ring, and was buried in Rath Dínen after his death. [edit] Films
In Peter Jackson's film adaptations of Lord of the Rings, Merry is played by Dominic Monaghan.
Peregrin Took
Peregrin Took, better known as Pippin, is one of the four Hobbits who helped Frodo leave the Shire secretly in The Lord of the Rings. He had more curiosity than was good for him, which twice endangered the Fellowship of the Ring. He threw a stone down the well in Moria, which alerted the Orcs and aroused the Balrog. In The Two Towers, he stole from Gandalf the palantir which he had saved from the waters of Saruman's destroyed fortress, and looking into it was interrogated by Sauron.
Gandalf healed him and forgave him, carrying him on horseback to the fortress-city of the last Steward of Gondor, where he entered into the service of the city and was instrumental in preventing the murder of Faramir.
In Peter Jackson's film adaptations of Lord of the Rings, Pippin is played by Billy Boyd.
Samwise Gamgee
Samwise Gamgee is the servant and companion of Frodo in The Lord of the Rings. He was caught eavesdropping on a conversation between Frodo and Gandalf about rings, dragons and Elves and "punished" by Gandalf by being ordered to accompany Frodo on his quest.
Minor Characters
Arwen
Arwen Undomiel was the daughter of Elrond Half-Elven and Celebrian. She married Aragorn in 3019 T.A., choosing to live and die as a mortal rather than leave Middle Earth. Arwen died in the year 121 of the Fourth Age.
In Peter Jackson's film adaptations of The Lord of the Rings, Arwen is played by Liv Tyler.
Denethor
Denethor II, son of Ecthelion, is the last steward of Gondor in The Lord of the Rings. He resented being only a steward and wanted his son Boromir to become king, but that was a position reserved for Aragorn. Upon learning of Boromir's untimely death, he went crazy and tried to burn his son Faramir alive; thwarted in this by his page Peregrin, he leaped onto the fiery bier and ended his life in flames.
In Peter Jackson's film adaptations of Lord of the Rings, Denethor is played by John Noble.
Elrond
Elrond Half-Elven was master of Rivendell in The Lord of the Rings. His daughter, Arwen, was betrothed to his ward, Aragorn, whom he sent on many journeys of knight-errantry. Elrond presided over the council which chose the Fellowship of the Ring and assigned Frodo the quest of Mordor.
In Peter Jackson's film adaptations of Lord of the Rings, Elrond is played by Hugo Weaving.
Éowyn
Éowyn is the niece of King Theoden in The Lord of the Rings. It was she who killed the Witch-King of Angmar and his fell beast during the Battle of Pelennor Field. Her femininity was an advantage in the clash, as it had been prophesied that no man could kill the Witch-King. She was helped by Merry, who struck the Witch-King with a blade forged by the men of Westernesse and enchanted for use against the forces of Angmar.
In Peter Jackson's film adaptations of Lord of the Rings, Éowyn is played by Miranda Otto.
Faramir
Faramir is the younger son of Denethor, a seemingly less masterful man than his hardier brother Boromir. Yet he inspires more trust and loyalty, and he is instrumental in helping Frodo and Sam on their quest to Mordor.
He understands about The Ring, and yet has no desire for it: "Not even if I found this thing on the side of the road ..."
The movie version portrays Faramir as desirous of the Ring, one of several distortions of the original story. (This might be the reason Tolkien's son ended his consulting relationship with the movie director - see Christopher Tolkien). In the film adaptation Faramir is played by David Wenham.
Morgoth Bauglir
Morgoth Bauglir is a fictional character created by author J.R.R. Tolkien and is an inhabitant of Middle-Earth. He is the first Dark Lord and the main antagonist in the book "The Silmarillion"[1] and is mentioned in passing in "Lord of the Rings". The name "Morgoth Bauglir" means "Black Enemy" in the fictional Sindarin tongue.
Previously known as Melkor, he was the most powerful of the Ainur, until he turned to the darkness and became Morgoth, the ultimate enemy of Arda. It is from him that all evil in Middle-Earth is ultimately derived. Sauron, once one of the Maiar of Aulë, switched allegiances and became Morgoth's principal lieutenant.
Morgoth was the main agent of evil during the events of "The Silmarillion", and his influence continued to linger in Middle-earth even after he was cast into the void. His example was used to provide later ages with cautionary tales, warning against pride, wrath, envy, lust for power, and greed and the destruction these can bring down on oneself and others.
Theoden
Theoden was king of Rohan in The Lord of the Rings. When he became old, he fell under the sway of his advisor Grima, called by others Wormtongue and secretly in the service of the traitor Saruman. Gandalf helped him to see the light, and strengthened, he pardoned his nephew Eomer and sprang into battle at a crucial moment; see Battle of Helm's Deep.
Treebeard
Treebeard is one of the most unusual characters in The Lord of the Rings book series. He is a tree-being known as an Ent, an intelligent and emotionally sensitive being with free will just like a human. He is known to be one of the oldest living beings in all of Middle-Earth, at least several thousands of years old.
Treebeard was master of Fangorn Forest, and it was Merry and Pippin's good fortune to meet them after escaping from the orcs who had brought them so far north.
