Boromir: "Is it not a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt for so small a thing? So small a thing!" - J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring II:10 |
- For "The Lord of the Rings" (a title of Sauron), see Sauron.
The Lord of the Rings, also called "The Downfall of the Lord of the Rings and the Return of the King", by J. R. R. Tolkien, is one of our primary sources, is set in Middle-earth, and is an English translation of material from The Red Book of Westmarch. It was published in three volumes: The Fellowship of the Ring (29 July 1954), The Two Towers (11 November 1954), and The Return of the King (20 October 1955). The setting is Middle-earth in the years Third Age 3018-3019.
Characters[]
Primary Characters[]
- Frodo Baggins, a Hobbit of The Shire, the hero and main protagonist
- Samwise "Sam" Gamgee, a Hobbit, Frodo's gardener, friend, and main companion
- Gandalf the Grey, an itinerant wizard, a primary mover behind the action, and secret keeper of Narya (one of the three elven rings)
- Aragorn, a wandering man of the Dúnedain people, secret heir of kings
- Sauron, aka "The Lord of the Rings", a fallen Maia and maker of the One Ring, self-styled "King of Middle-earth" and lord of Mordor (and other black lands), the main antagonist and mover of action
- The One Ring, an artifact of evil, the primary "MacGuffin" and a legitimate character in it's own right
Supporting Characters[]
The Fellowship of the Ring[]
- Frodo
- Sam
- Gandalf
- Aragorn
- Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck, a Hobbit, Frodo's cousin
- Peregrin "Pippin" Took, a Hobbit, also Frodo's cousin
- Boromir, a man of Gondor, elder son of Denethor (Steward of Gondor)
- Legolas, Sindarin Elf, son of Thranduil (King of the Woodland Realm)
- Gimli, a Dwarf of the Lonely Mountain, son of Glóin (a companion of Bilbo)
Other Supporting Characters[]
- Tom Bombadil, a nature spirit, "master" of the Old Forest
- Elrond, Lord of Rivendell and keeper of Vilya (one of the three elven rings)
- Galadriel, Noldorin Elf, Lady of Lórien, and keeper of Nenya (one of the three elven rings)
- Théoden, a man, King of Rohan
- Éowyn, a woman, niece of Théoden
- Éomer, a man, nephew of Théoden
- Denethor, a man, father of Boromir and Faramir, and Steward of Gondor
- Faramir, a man, son of Denethor
- Treebeard (Fangorn) the Ent
Other Villains[]
- The nine Nazgul or Ring-wraiths, undead men, the primary minions of Sauron
- Saruman the White, Chief of the Wizards, now a black traitor to the Free Peoples
- Gollum, a Hobbit, once keeper of The One Ring and a slave to it's power
- the Balrog, a demon of Morgoth
- Shelob, a demon in the form of a giant spider
Plot[]
The Quest of Mount Doom and the War of the Ring. Read the book.