This document provides descriptions of several key characters from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. It introduces Frodo Baggins, a hobbit who is entrusted with destroying the One Ring, and his companions on the quest, which include fellow hobbits Sam, Merry and Pippin, the wizard Gandalf, the man Aragorn, the elf Legolas, and the dwarf Gimli. It also describes Sauron, the dark lord who created the One Ring, and characters from Rohan and Gondor who become involved in the War of the Ring, including King Theoden, Eowyn and Faramir.

1. Frodo Baggins A young well-to-do hobbit. When he discovers that the magic ring left to him by
his eccentric "Uncle" Bilbo is the One Ring, he reluctantly takes on the quest to destroy it. Often
referred to as the Ringbearer.
Gandalf the Grey A wizard best known among hobbits for his fireworks and mischievous sense
of humor, but actually one of the greatest powers of Middle-earth. He reveals the truth about the
Ring to Frodo and acts as a guide and counselor. The leader of the Fellowship. Other names:
Stormcrow, Mithrandir, the Grey Pilgrim, the White Rider, Tharkûn, Olórin, Incánus, and
Gandalf the White.
Samwise "Sam" Gamgee A hobbit, Frodo's gardener at home, and his servant and friend on the
quest. Sam is very fond of stories about dragons and elves. A member of the Fellowship, he stays
with Frodo after it is broken.
Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck A young hobbit, one of Frodo's many cousins. A member of
the Fellowship. Friend of Treebeard the Ent and companion of King Théoden of Rohan.
Peregrin "Pippin" Took A young hobbit, one of Frodo's many cousins. A member of the
Fellowship. Later, a member of the Tower Guard of Minas Tirith.
Aragorn The heir of Isildur and the rightful king of Gondor, a mighty warrior and healer. He
was raised by the elves of Rivendell and now lives in exile as leader of the Dúnedain, the
Rangers of the North. The time has now come for him to reclaim the throne. He leads the
Fellowship after Gandalf's fall. Other names: Strider, Elessar, Elfstone, Dúnadan.
Legolas Son of Thranduil, king of the Mirkwood elves. He is a great archer with keen eyesight.
A member of the Fellowship. Close friend of Gimli the dwarf and companion of Aragorn.
Gimli Son of Glóin, a dwarf of the Lonely Mountain. A member of the Fellowship. Close friend
of Legolas the elf and companion of Aragorn. He falls in love with Galadriel.
Boromir (FR, TT) Son of Denethor, the Steward of Gondor. Sent to Rivendell to decipher a
prophetic dream, he joins the Fellowship. He believes that the Ring should be used as a weapon
against the Enemy and that trying to destroy it is foolish. He succumbs to the temptation of the
Ring and tries to take it from Frodo. He dies defending Merry and Pippin from orcs.
Sauron A powerful spirit of evil who now takes the form of a disembodied flaming eye, Sauron
represents the worst aspects of power — especially greed, cruelty, and the desire for domination.
He created the One Ring long ago as a weapon, lost it nearly three thousand years ago, and now
needs it to achieve his conquest of Middle-earth. Other names: the Enemy, the Dark Lord, the
Necromancer, the Eye, the Lord of the Rings.
The Nazgûl, Servants of the Enemy Once great kings, but Sauron gave nine rings to these men
and enslaved them under the One Ring. They are generals for his armies, but he also sends them
to capture Frodo and the Ring. The Witchking leads them. Other names: Black Riders,
Ringwraiths, the Nine.

2. Gollum An earlier Ringbearer. He carried the Ring, which gave him an unnaturally long life. He
was living on an island in an underground lake when he lost the Ring to Bilbo, but he wants it
back so badly that he has emerged to search for it. Although he fears Sauron and revealed the
Ring's location to him, he also becomes Frodo's guide into Mordor. Despite the Ring's corrupt
influence, Frodo still believes Gollum can be saved. Other names: Sméagol, Slinker, Stinker.
Bilbo Baggins (FR, RK) Frodo's much older cousin, considered the most eccentric hobbit in the
Shire, who adopted Frodo after the younger hobbit's parents died. He won the Ring from Gollum
in a riddle game 60 years before the start of the novel, and he passes it on to Frodo when he
leaves the Shire for good. The only person to have voluntarily given up the Ring.
Tom Bombadil (FR) A nature spirit of the ancient world who helps Frodo in the Old Forest and
on the Barrowdowns. The Ring has no effect on him. Other names: the Master, Eldest, Iarwain
Ben-adar, Forn, Orald.
Glorfindel (FR) An elf-lord, sent by Elrond to help Frodo reach Rivendell during the first stage
of the quest.
Elrond (FR, RK) Master of Rivendell, a place of refuge and healing. He hosts the Council that
decides to destroy the Ring. His halfelven lineage allows his daughter Arwen to choose between
the Undying Lands and mortality in Middle-earth.
Arwen Evenstar (FR, RK) Daughter of Elrond. She forsakes her elven immortality to betroth
herself to Aragorn, although her father will not allow them to marry unless Aragorn reclaims the
throne of Gondor. Other names: Undómiel.
Galadriel (FR, RK) Lady of the Golden Wood of Lothlórien, Galadriel rules one of the last
elven strongholds in Middle-earth. Very old and very wise, she gives the Fellowship shelter and
advice after Gandalf's fall. Her parting gifts to each member of the Fellowship become
immensely significant.
Saruman the White The head of the order of wizards. Although he was once the wisest, lust for
power has led him to side with Sauron. The magic of his voice can seduce or overwhelm the will
of most men. Saruman is obsessed with machinery, cutting down forests to fuel his engines and
forges. He hopes to take the Ring for himself and take Sauron's place as Lord of the Rings. Other
names: Saruman the Wise, Saruman of Many Colors, the Voice, Sharkey.
Éomer (TT, RK) Son of Éomund. Nephew of Théoden (King of Rohan) and Éowyn's brother.
Third Marshall of the Riddermark. Loyal captain of the horselords and a valiant warrior. He
suspects Wormtongue's treachery.
Théoden (TT, RK) King of Rohan, a nation of horsemen and warriors. Wormtongue has played
on his age and infirmity to keep the king and his warriors useless at home, but Gandalf counsels
him back to life and valor.

3. Éowyn (TT, RK) Niece of Théoden (King of Rohan). She serves her uncle in his old age, but she
desires to fight with a sword and die bravely. Many see her as an ice maiden — beautiful, but
chilled by despair. She falls hopelessly in love with Aragorn, then rides secretly into battle and
destroys the Witchking of the Nazgûl. Sister of Éomer.
Grìma Wormtongue (TT, RK) Counselor to Théoden, but actually an agent of Saruman, he
keeps Théoden weak so that Saruman can move his armies through Rohan uncontested.
Shadowfax The greatest horse in Middle-earth, this silver-grey stallion chooses to accept only
Gandalf as his rider.
Treebeard (TT, RK) The oldest mortal creature in Middle-earth. Treebeard is an Ent, one of the
shepherds of trees, and looks much like a stumpy old oak tree himself except that he can walk
and talk. He speaks for the natural world, which otherwise could not speak for itself. Other
names: Fangorn.
Quickbeam (TT) An Ent who entertains Merry and Pippin during the Entmoot. He is one of the
youngest Ents, and so moves and thinks closer to the speed of the shorter-lived hobbits; the other
Ents describe him as "hasty." Other names: Bregalad.
Shelob (TT) An ancient evil, Shelob is a giant spider whose webs block the pass of Cirith Ungol.
She embodies insatiable hunger and greed, but she has no interest in the Ring.
Faramir (TT, RK) Younger son of Denethor and brother of Boromir. Wiser and more learned
than his brother, although also an admirable warrior. Denethor constantly compares his sons, and
Faramir cannot seem meet his father's expectations. Nevertheless, Faramir resists the temptation
of the Ring where his brother could not, and he helps Frodo on his journey.
Denethor (RK) Steward of Gondor, father of Boromir and Faramir. He rules the realm of
Gondor and city of Minas Tirith in the generations-long absence of the True King. Once a wise
leader, his own pride and the deceptions of the Enemy have led him to madness and despair.
Beregond (RK) A member of the elite Tower Guard of Minas Tirith. He is devoted to Faramir
and befriends Pippin when the hobbit joins the guard.
Barliman Butterbur (FR, RK) The friendly yet frazzled and absent-minded innkeeper of the
Prancing Pony in Bree.