WHO’S WHO and
WHAT’S WHAT in
Lord of the
Rings:The film (and book) of the moment in the U.K.
THE RINGS
“Three Rings for the Eleven-kings under the sky
Seven
for the Dark Lords in their halls of stone,
Nine
for mortal Men doomed to die.
One
for the Dark Lord on his dark throne,
in
the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One
ring to rule them all. One ring to find them.
In
the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.”
BILBO BAGGINS
GOODIES
|
BILBO BAGGINS |
The story begins as Gandalf the Grey goes to Bilbo’s
111th birthday party. Bilbo Baggins is one of the most famous and
long-lived hobbits in the Shire’s history. He is the main character in “The
Hobbit” (book which precedes The Lord of the Rings, the Fellowship of the Ring)
where he took part in an adventure, led by Gandalf, returning to the Shire with
the ring. At the beginning of Lord of the Rings, he gives all his possessions
to Frodo before travelling to Rivendell, where he plans to write a book in
peace and tranquillity.
FRODO BAGGINS
Frodo Baggins was adopted by Bilbo and came to live at ‘Bag End’ in the Shire. He is given the ring by his uncle and, although it looks no more than a harmless gold band to him, it is a dangerous and heavy burden. Accompanied by his loyal friends Sam, Merry and Pippin, Frodo travels to Rivendell to find out what he must do with the ring.
GANDALF
THE GREY
Gandalf is the only wizard to have ever shown
interest in the Hobbits, and he works to protect them – especially Bilibo
Baggins, with whom he has shared many adventures. Gandalf leads the fellowship
out of Rivendell, as he knows where and when the ring must be destroyed.
ELROND
Lord of the
Elves – he found Rivendell and made it into a safe place for his people. He
calls a meeting at Rivendell between the representatives of all the free
Peoples of Middle-earth, to decide what must be done with the ring which Frodo
carries.
ARWEN THE LADY GALADRIEL
“The Elf Princess”
Elrond’s daughter – she will live forever. Arwen is destined to leave
Middle-earth and sail to the undying lands in the West. However, she is in love
with Strider, a mortal man. She must
choose between her love for her people and
her love for him.
She is effectively the queen of all elves. She possesses great
magic and she can see the future. She can see into the very hearts of men –
sensing their strengths, their weaknesses and their darkest thoughts. She shows
Frodo visions of what may happen if he does not finish the quest to destroy the
ring.
THE FELLOWSHIP OF
THE RING
SAMWISE GAMGEE
Quiet solid and dependable, Sam has always been the perfect
companion for his best friend and ‘master’, Frodo Baggins. Sam refuses to be
left behind when Frodo sets off on his quest.
MERIADOC
BRANDYBUCK (MERRY)
Merry is one of Frodo’s best friends, and is known
for his mischievous, cheeky nature. He cannot stay away from any possibility of
adventure – especially one which may involve a little bit of danger.
PEREGRIN TOOK (PIPPIN)
Merry’s cousin – the youngest of the 4 Hobbits in
the fellowship of the ring. He has lived in the Shire his whole life, and never
set foot outside it’s boundaries. He is best friends with Merry, and they are
hardly out of each others company. Pippin is probably the least prepared for
the danger and darkness they are to meet on their quest, but he is prepared to
stick with his friends and fight for the destruction of the ring.
(STRIDER)
ARAGORN
Heir to the throne of Gondor, Strider is a ranger of the North. He tells Frodo that the hobbits are in terrible danger and that they must follow him into the wild. He is a close friend of Gandalf the Grey. He was brought up by Elrond and fell in love with his daughter, Erwen. He must fight with Frodo against the powers of evil.
BOROMIR
A brave, human warrior of Gondor. He is the heir of a great kingdom – though he does not intend to claim his throne. He joins the Fellowship, proving his strength and courage as the fellowship comes under attack.
GIMLI
He is sent to represent dwarves at the
council in Rivendell. He is a stout-hearted and loyal dwarf, a great warrior.
He always wears full armour and carries a number of weapons. His axe has made
short work of many Orc necks and
proves invaluable as the fellowship sets off on it’s quest.
LEGOLAS
Legolas is chosen to represent the Elvs in the fellowship. He
carries the keen senses of his people and is lethal with his bow and arrow.
Together with Gandalf, Boromir, Aragorn and Gimli; he swears his loyalty to
Frodo. With the hobbits Sam, Merry and Pippin – bringing their party to nine,
the group is named … THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING.
SARUMAN THE WHITE
BADDIES
He was once the head of the Council of Wise, he is
now just another wizard who has succumbed to the lure of power. The greatest of
the Istari brotherhood. He has devoted his life to the study of the Rings of
Power. His sole mission is to attack the Fellowship and capture the ring for
his master. He HATES Gandalf, who has so far managed to stop him getting the
ring.
ORCS “They
were once elves”
Orcs are not a natural part of Middle-earth. Elves were captured, tortured and mutilated in the dungeons of the Dark Lord, until they had been transformed from the most beautiful and noble of creatures into a ruined and terrible new form of life: Orcs. They are now violent creatures of evil. They are the foot soldiers of Sauron – hated by every other race in Middle-earth.
URUK-HAI
Orcs crossed with goblin-men. Saruman the White has created a race of creatures to rival Sauron’s army of Orcs. They are taller and straighter than men, have huge muscles, black-blooded, considerably more intelligent than the normal Orcs. They are a fearsome fighting breed.
THE NAZGUL or THE BLACK RIDERS
“The 9 servants of Saruman”
The Nazgul were once great kings of men who were promised eternal life through the rings. However, their greed blinded them and one by one they fell under the power of the rings. Their bodies were taken over by the Dark Lord’s evil until they were no longer human; they are now faceless and formless – no weapon can harm them except for those made by the elves.
PLACES in MIDDLE – EARTH
At
the core of the story in The Fellowship
of The Ring are the cultures that make up Middle-earth: Hobbits, Dwarves,
Humans, Elves, Wizards, Trolls, Ents, Orcs, Ringwraiths and Uruk-Hai.
Each culture has its own rich way of life, its own customs, myths, ways of
dress and even style of fighting. Each is fully developed in The Fellowship of The Ring, creating the
essence of a living, breathing world just beyond our own.
THE SHIRE
HOBBITON
A pretty rural village in the Shire, to the North West of Middle Earth. Home to Frodo and Bilbo Baggins.
MORDOR
The
realm of the Dark Lord Saron in the far south-east of Middle -
Earth
BREE
A
town of men and hobbits on the eastern border of the Shire, at the crossing of
2 main roads. Bree is surrounded by a thick hedge and a great gate, which
controls those who enter and exit. The favourite meeting place in the town is
the Prancing Pony Inn, the areas
oldest pub where travellers stop and exchange news.
RIVENDELL
Lies at the foot of the misty mountains. It is a hidden refuge which is protected against all things evil by the Elves.
THE MISTY MOUNTAINS
A
towering mountain range which run from the frozen Northern Waste to the Gap of
Rohan.
KHAZAD – DUM
The greatest of the Dwarf-halls. Carved into the rock beneath the Misty Mountains.
RIVER ANDUIN
A
great river which flows from The Grey
Mountains to the Bay of Belfalas.
LOTHLORIEN - “The Golden Wood”
Just
east of the Misty Mountains, beside the River Anduin. Home to the Wood Elves –
almost invisible to the wood’s visitors. At the heart of the Golden Wood lies Caras Galadhon, the CITY where Lady
Galadriel has her royal hall.
EDORAS
Capital
of Rohan – kingdom of the horse-lords. Lies
between Eriador and Gondor
ISENGARD
Fortress
which guards the Gap of Rohan and is
occupied by the wizard Saruman the
White.
MINAS TIRITH
Borders the land of Mordor. In the kingdom of Gondor in the south-east of Middle – Earth.
The
official Lord of the Rings Website
Let
me know if this article was useful and if J.R.R Tolkein’s story is now any less
confusing!
My e-mail address = snuffkin_b@hotmail.com