The Lord of The Rings - Main Characters

Main Characters

Protagonists:

  • Frodo Baggins, a well-to-do hobbit from the Shire, who inherits the One Ring from Bilbo. Frodo accepts the task of destroying the Ring in the fire of Mount Doom.
  • Samwise Gamgee, gardener and friend of the Bagginses, who accompanies Frodo on the quest to destroy the Ring.
  • Meriadoc Brandybuck, or Merry, Frodo's cousin and companion in the Fellowship.
  • Peregrin Took, Pip or Pippin, Frodo's cousin and companion in the Fellowship.
  • Gandalf, a wizard, who guides Frodo in his quest. He is a Maia, an angelic being sent by the godlike Valar to contest Sauron.
  • Aragorn, descendant of Isildur and rightful heir to the thrones of Arnor and Gondor. He becomes a loyal companion to Frodo.
  • Legolas Greenleaf, an elf prince, who aids Frodo and the Fellowship. Son of King Thranduil of Mirkwood
  • Gimli, son of Glóin, A representative of the Dwarves in the Fellowship.
  • Denethor, ruling Steward of Gondor and Lord of Minas Tirith.
  • Boromir, the eldest son of Denethor and member of the Fellowship. tempted by the power of the Ring he tries to take it from Frodo by force.
  • Faramir, younger brother of Boromir and not favoured by Denethor.
  • Galadriel, royal Elf, co-ruler of Lothlórien, and grandmother of Arwen Undómiel (Arwen Evenstar). Keeper of one of the three elven rings.
  • Celeborn, husband of Galadriel, co-ruler of Lothlórien, and grandfather of Arwen Undomiel.
  • Elrond, Lord of Rivendell and father to Arwen Undomiel.
  • Bilbo Baggins, Frodo's adoptive uncle.
  • Théoden, King of Rohan.
  • Éomer, the 3rd Marshal of the Mark, Théoden's nephew. Later King of Rohan after Théoden's death.
  • Éowyn, sister of Éomer, who disguises herself as a male warrior named Dernhelm to fight beside Théoden.
  • Treebeard, an Ent, who rescues Meriadoc and Pippin from orcs and who helps to turn the tide of battle.

Antagonists:

  • Sauron, the Dark Lord and titular Lord of the Rings, a fallen Maia who helped the Elves forge the Rings of Power long ago. He forged the One Ring in secret to control all the other Rings of Power.
  • The Nazgûl or Ringwraiths, nine servants of Sauron. Kings of old, they were enslaved to the One Ring through nine of the Rings of Power.
  • The Witch-king of Angmar, the Lord of the Nazgûl, and Sauron's most powerful servant, who commands Sauron's army.
  • Saruman, a corrupted wizard who seeks the One Ring for himself. Brainwashed by Sauron through use of the palantír. Like Gandalf, he is in fact a Maia, lesser (but still mighty) member of godlike kin of Valar.
  • Gríma Wormtongue, a servant of Saruman and traitor of Rohan, a go-between from Saruman to Théoden who poisons Théoden's perceptions with well placed "advice".
  • Gollum (named Sméagol in earlier life), who once possessed the Ring, which warped his mind and body and gave him unnaturally long life and poisoned his soul.
  • Various Orcs, soldiers of Mordor or Isengard. Those who play significant roles in the story include Uglúk, captain of the Uruk-hai of Isengard, Grishnákh, orc of Mordor and Uglúk's antagonist, Shagrat of Cirith Ungol, and Gorbag of Minas Morgul.
  • Shelob, a giant spider who dwells in the passes above Minas Morgul.
  • The Balrog, a fire-demon dwelling beneath the Mines of Moria awakened by the digging and mining of Dwarves.
  • The Haradrim, evil men south of Gondor. Allies with Sauron
  • Easterlings, men of the East of Middle-earth.
  • Corsairs of Umbar, enemies of Gondor

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