Introduction
The The Lord of the Rings series features a rich cast of characters. This guide covers everyone you need to know.
Main Characters
Main Characters:
- Frodo Baggins: Hobbit ring-bearer chosen to destroy the One Ring, showing extraordinary courage despite his small stature
- Gandalf: Wise wizard (Maia) who guides the Fellowship, returns as Gandalf the White after his sacrifice
- Aragorn: Ranger and heir to the throne of Gondor, becomes King Elessar after the War of the Ring
- Legolas: Elven prince of the Woodland Realm, master archer and member of the Fellowship
- Gimli: Dwarf warrior from Erebor, becomes unlikely friend to Legolas and member of the Fellowship
- Boromir: Noble of Gondor who succumbs to the Ring's temptation but dies protecting Merry and Pippin
- Samwise Gamgee: Frodo's loyal gardener and companion, the true hero who carries Frodo when he cannot go on
Supporting Characters
Supporting Characters:
- Meriadoc Brandybuck (Merry): Hobbit cousin of Frodo, becomes Knight of Rohan and Master of Buckland
- Peregrin Took (Pippin): Youngest member of the Fellowship, becomes Guard of the Citadel in Minas Tirith
- Éowyn: Shieldmaiden of Rohan who defeats the Witch-king, later marries Faramir
- Faramir: Noble brother of Boromir, resists the Ring's temptation and becomes Prince of Ithilien
- Théoden: King of Rohan, freed from Saruman's influence to lead his people in the War of the Ring
- Denethor: Ruling Steward of Gondor, driven to madness by grief and despair
- Elrond: Half-elven Lord of Rivendell, keeper of Vilya and leader of the White Council
- Galadriel: Mighty Elf-lady of Lothlórien, keeper of Nenya and one of the wisest in Middle-earth
- Treebeard: Oldest of the Ents, leads his people to destroy Isengard
Antagonists
Antagonists:
- Sauron: The Dark Lord, former servant of Morgoth who created the One Ring to dominate Middle-earth
- Saruman: White Wizard corrupted by power, seeks the Ring for himself and breeds the Uruk-hai
- The Witch-king of Angmar: Chief of the Nine Nazgûl, former king corrupted by a Ring of Power
- Gollum/Sméagol: Wretched creature corrupted by the Ring for centuries, both helps and hinders Frodo
- Grima Wormtongue: Saruman's spy who poisoned King Théoden's mind with his counsel
Character Development
One of the strengths of The Lord of the Rings is how characters grow and change throughout the series.
Character Relationships
The relationships between characters form the heart of the series, creating complex dynamics that drive the plot forward.
