Lord Of The Rings

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Lord of the Rings is a book that transcends its genre. It is a fantasy book in a fantasy setting, however the quality of writing and prose makes it stand out as a classic. It is a massive story that is well told and will capture the imagination of most people. Albeit a bit slow in parts it is still one of the books I have ever read.

Aragorn, or Strider is a member of the elusive and enigmatic Rangers. He was cared for by the Elves in Rivendell after the death of his father. His lineage is faultless, and despite his unassuming ways, and his desire not to achieve his inheritance, he is destined to be great. His role in Lord of the Rings is initially one of guide and advisor; as the story moves along his role becomes more important and dangerous.

Out of all of the characters in the books he seems to have the least character flaws - for me, he is a great man capable of much, yet quiet and humble.

Boromir, son of Denethor comes from a prestigious line of Stewards of Gondor - the Stewards have ruled in Gondor while the House of Isildur remains heirless. He is a man of honor, who fights for right, but most of all fights for Gondor.

When I read the book I always got the feeling that Boromir's heart was in the right place, but his alliegances were more for Gondor than the Fellowship - despite this, he always was a solid and honorable man, even when faced with temptation.

There is much written about Frodo - son of Drogo, and related to Bilbo Baggins, he is an amazing character. Full of courage and fiercely devoted to his family and friends, he faces much with determination. Despite his size, he has the heart of a King and the courage of a Wizard. Frodo is the central character to the book, and is probably the most complex - his struggles both inner and outer, are interesting and varied, and perhaps a metaphor for life in general.

When I look at all the books I've read there are only a few 'heroes' that simply fulfill everything that the writer intended - Frodo has flaws and strength and the complexity of character is perfect.

As mentioned in 'Wizards' below - Gandalf is a maiar and a messenger sent to help in the quest against the Dark Lord. His power is immense, yet his compassion matches his power. He is like the Grandfather to all the members of the Fellowship and his guiding light keeps the Fellowship moving forward, when darkness seems to engulf them.

Gandalf is an amazing character - from the first time I read about him, I knew how important he was both to the plot, but also as a unique balancing character - almost like a narrator in a way, moving the plot along, but not really influencing much....

Gimli is the son of Gloin (who participated in the quest with Bilbo to the Lonely Mountains). Gimli is first seen at Rivendell as the Fellowship forms - he is a strong and able dwarf, who realizes the importance of the quest and will do everything in his power to ensure it succeeds.

What is interesting for me is that Tolkien uses Gimli as a tool to explore prejudice - his dealings with Legolas, who should be his enemy are often enlightening.

Merry, or Meridaoc Brandybuck is a typical hobbit. He is full of life and loves his ale, pipe and food. His inquisitiveness often gets him and Pippin in trouble - but despite this he is a valuable member of the Fellowship.

For me Merry (and Pippin) are the comic relief for the Fellowship - in the darkest times, they can always somehow manage to break the mood.

Amazon Price: $18.95 (as of 12/24/2009)

Sam Gamgee is another Hobbit - just like Pippin and Merry he loves his food and ale. However, out of all the characters in Lord of the Rings, he is perhaps the one who is always going to be there for you. He is strong and tenacious, but above all is selfless. This quality is perhaps his shining light and sets him aside from most of the characters.

There really is something endearing about Sam - everyone would love a friend like Sam - he's humble, loyal and above all selfless - he's one of my favorite characters.

Peregrin Took, or Pippin is similar to Merry - he always seems to be up to mischief. Like Merry he often seems more interested in food and drink than what is happening around him.

Merry and Pippin are more like twins - they seem to think alike and do alike - they are both important characters, but also comic relief.

Orcs are strange ape like creatures who are the main component of the Dark Lord's army. Legends say that they were once Elves who were corrupted by Melkor. They prefer the dark, and shun the daylight. The Uruk-Hai, the elite Orcs adapted to the daylight.

Out of all the creatures in Lord of the Rings, the Orc is perhaps the scariest for me - it's probably because they are the most human-like creature, in terms of the way they act and the way they are so cruel - they seem to contain all that is bad about humanity.

Balrogs are spirits made entirely from fire. They are man-like, but fire and shadow surrounds them. The are armed with huge burning whips. These creatures are terrifying, but thankfully few remain; those that do dwell in remote and dangerous places.

What is strange is that the Balrog is 'my kinda' creature. It is fearsome, and frightening, but there's something majestic about it.

Dragons, or fire-drakes are essentially large flying fire-breathing lizards. They are terrifying and dangerous creatures that like to hoard treasure. Smaug is a prime example, and even though he doesn't appear in the Lord of the Rings, he terrorized Middle Earth in the Hobbit.

The Dragon is perhaps the most well known mythical creature of all time; it lives in the minds and imaginations of millions of people. Having lived in Wales, the Dragon holds a special meaning for me, and despite Tolkien's portrayal, I still see the dragon as an honorable and noble creature.

Nazgul (or ring wraiths) were once men. They were each given one of the Nine Rings of Power but were corrupted by them. The One Ring holds sway over the Nazgul and give Sauron the power to command over the Nazgul, making them his most powerful, dark and evil servants.

These are perhaps the scariest individuals in the book; they often make me think of dark stories I was told in boyscouts, about monster that roam around the woods stealing the souls of teenage boys - I still shudder thinking about it!

Shelob, the descendant of Ungoliant is a giant spider who dwells in a cave close to Mordor. She preys on the unsuspecting traveler who happens to stray into her web.

I hate small spiders at the best of times, so just the thought of a Giant Spider sends shivers down my spine. It's perhaps the alien quality they have that inspires the most fear.

Trolls are large monsters who are renowned for their lack of intelligence. They cannot abide in sunlight and turn to stone should they be caught in it. They are fierce and strong, and it takes many men to bring one down.

Funnily enough the Troll reminds me of some of the jocks I knew in school. Very sporty, but they had the brains of a plank - they lived by use of might and by bullying us little geeks.

Wargs are wolves that are aligned to the Dark Lord. Often they are used as steeds for Goblins to assist in battle or to help search for slaves and food. They are an intelligent and ferocious race and are a danger to all who cross their path.

When I used to play AD&D (Shhhh don't tell anyone) my character used to have a wolf as a companion - this was partly inspired by the Warg as I like the fierce nature and the fact they worked with other sentient beings.

Shadowfax is Gandalf's steed. Initially he was borrowed from King Theoden, but eventually became a permanent gift after Gandalf performed a priceless service for the King. Shadowfax is the fastest of all the horses, and has the ability to know when he is needed and always be where he is needed.

After living in America for a while, I imagine that Shadowfax would be the number one Budweiser horse of all time!

Ents are tree-like people known as the herders of trees. They are tree-like in appearance, but are ferocious warriors when needed. They possess great intelligence and patience. They are one of the oldest races in Middle Earth.

There's something cool about Ents - they possess more experience and knowledge than most races, and yet seem gentle. They are courageous and can be very fearsome - they are one of my favorite races in Middle Earth.

Woses are an ancient primitive tribe often called the Wild Men of the Woods. They are elusive people who do not normally come into contact with society.

When I think of the Wose, I tend to imagine them looking like Tom Hanks when he get's stranded on an island in Castaway! They have a wildness that is similar, and while intelligent they seem to have a hint of insanity.

The Great Eagles are gallant and honorable creatures who are friends to Man and Elves. They are sentient beings who are able to speak - compared to normal eagles they are massive.

For me there is something majestic about an Eagle; the Eagles in Lord of the Rings have this quality, but they also seem to posses something that is akin to royal blood - they are honorable and reliable.

Dwarves are small in stature but large in heart. Both males and females are bearded, making differentiation between the sexes often difficult. Thet are skilled miners, wood-workers and metal workers. Their famed mithril (a special silver) is used in the highest quality armor. They are grumpy and distrustful, especially of Elves.

There's something about a dwarf that is special - perhaps due to the seven dwarves of Disney fame, they seem to hold a special place in my heart, despite their grumpiness.

Elves are an ancient and immortal race that can only normally die in battle. As they tire of the land, they sail to the Undying Lands. They have a profound connection to nature, and live in the great forests. They are generally peaceful, but have a mutual distrust of the Dwarves.

Elves have a quality similar to Peter Pan; they are ancient yet seem childlike and innocent. Despite this, they posses great intelligence and compassion. Out of the races of Middle Earth, they are perhaps the one I'd like to be the most.

Rangers or Watchers are an enigmatic race of man. They are descended from teh Dunedain and live of the land. They are more in tune with land, animals and fauna than normal man, and as such have more respect within the Elven communities.

If I can't be an elf, then I'd be a ranger. There's something mysterious about the Rangers, something that sets them aside (and perhaps above) other men.

A general misconception is that Wizard were men with magic talents. In fact, Wizards are spiritual beings (Maiar) sent to Middle-Earth by the Valar as messengers to help in the struggle against Sauron - in the simplest terms they could be classed as 'living' angels. Their powers are limited due to being living - this is part of their mission - they were sent to assist the people of Middle-Earth, not destroy Sauron on their own.

Wizards are perhaps the most enigmatic of races of Middle Earth - the power they possess is incredible, as is the trust that they have been given. While I admire their power, I'd never want to be one!

While Hobbits are very small, generally only three and a half feet, they are perhaps the most courageous of all races. They are worldly people who farm and live of the land. They love their ale and smoking pipe weed - but most of all they love their food. They are an insignificant race normally, but turn out to be a very important race.

For me these are the 'Irish' race of Middle Earth - they are full of fun and mischief, and somehow you can't help but like them.

There's a lot of debate about exactly what a goblin is. In most cases, the agreement is that the Goblin is in fact a type of Orc - in the same manner that there are different types of Man, then there are different types of Orc. The Goblin has always been seen as an inferior race, relying on numbers and guile to achieve any success.

From my roleplaying days I always laughed at the number of Goblins my game-master used to chuck at us - they were more of a pain than any real danger.