The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Ainur: Immortal Spirits existing before Creation.These were the first beings made of the thought of God or Eru Ilúvatar. Click here for more information about the Ainur.

Dwarves: A small race of mountain dwellers who are great craftsmen known for their armor, architecture, and their work with mithril. For more information about Dwarves Click here.

Elves: A race similar to men, but immortal. All Elves are descendants of one of the races that came from the lands of Arda. Their history and language are complex and few know it. For more information about Tolkiens' Elves click here.

Ents: sometimes called tree herders, are the shepherds of the forest. Few now exist and they are still in search of the ent-wives (female ents) who departed for unknown regions because they could not reconcile their love of orchards and gardens with the ents love for the wild and mountains. For more information about Ents click here.

Hobbits: also known as Halflings, are a small race with very human characteristics. They love to have fun and live simple lives. They are best known for being short and having very hairy feet. For more information about Hobbits click here.

Humans: men and women who lived much like we would have in the middle ages. In the LOTR, there are several different races of humans present. These include the following: the Rohirrim, the men of Gondor, the Dunedain, Black Númenóreans, and Corsairs of Umbar.

Orcs (Orks): are miserable creatures who loath everything and everyone, including themselves, and make nothing beautiful. For more information about Orcs click here.

Wizards: sometimes called the Istari, are a group of five men who outwardly resemble men but have greater strength and mental power. It is believed that they might be immortal. For more information about the Istari click here.

The Fellowship of the Ring is the first of three books in the Lord of the Rings triology by J.R.R. Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit are set in a land called Middle Earth during the Age of Men. I want to make a small note here that The Hobbit tells the story of Bilbo Baggin's quest and how he comes to discover the One Ring. It is basically the prequel to The Lord of the Rings. However, we will not talk about it much here.

The Fellowship of the Ring opens with a party for Bilbo's 111th birthday which is an unnaturally long life even for a Hobbit. When Bilbo uses The Ring of Power (whose real identity is unknown to him) to make a grand exit from his party, Gandalf begins to suspect the rings' true identity. After confirming his suspicions, Gandalf tells Frodo that the Ring must be taken away from the Shire.

Frodo sets out from the Shire with three of his Hobbit friends-Sam, Merry, and Pippin (and another hobbit, Fatty Bolger, who is only mentioned in the book). They are pursued by the nine Ringwraiths, servants of Sauron, who take the form of terrifying Black Riders. Although it is not shown in the movie, the hobbits hit a couple of detours along the way but eventually they make it to the town of Bree.

This is where they meet Aragorn, a Ranger who roams the wilderness and who is the heir of the Kings of the ancient Men of Westernesse. That night, Aragorn advises the hobbits not to sleep in their rooms at the inn. In doing so, he saves their lives-for the first of many times. A letter Gandalf left at the inn months before advises the group to head for Rivendell, a realm of the Elves. Aragorn sets out with the hobbits the next day, and with his help they avoid the Black Riders for some time.

However, at the top of the hill Weathertop, the Company is forced to defend itself against the attacking Riders. Frodo is wounded during the skirmish. Frodo's wound plagues the hobbit as the Company makes its way eastward. Aragorn is greatly concerned about the power the wound might exert over Frodo. Near Rivendell they meet the Elf-lord Glorfindel, (in the movie it was Arwen who met them) who has been out looking for them. At the last ford before Rivendell, Frodo, riding Glorfindel's horse, outruns the ambushing Black Riders, who are swept away in a flood created by Elrond, the master of Rivendell (also created by Arwen in the movie).

During his stay in Rivendell, Lord Elrond and Gandalf heal his physical wound (although they are concerned that it will always pain him). Once Frodo is well again, a council of men, dwarves, elves, and Frodo is called to determine what must be done with the One Ring, During this Council, Frodo learns the full history of the Ring. Frodo accepts the burden of taking the Ring to the only place it can be destroyed-the place where it was forged. It promises to be a long, nearly impossible journey, as the Ring was forged in the Cracks of Doom, part of the fiery mountain Orodruin in the very heart of Sauron's realm of Mordor.

At the end of the meeting, the Council creates a group to help Frodo in his quest. In addition to Frodo, the Fellowship of the Ring includes Sam, Merry, Pippin, Aragorn, Gandalf, an Elf named Legolas, a Dwarf named Gimli, and a Man from the south named Boromir. For more information about the nine members of the Fellowship see the section about The Fellowship.

The book follows the Fellowship as they begin their quest to destroy the Ring of Power and to free Middle Earth of evil. Continue reading about The Fellowship of the Ring...

"Eight there are here, yet nine there were that set out from Rivendell. Tell me where is Gandalf? I much desire to speak with him." ~ Celeborn

During the council in Rivendell fighting and arguing broke out about what to do with the One Ring and who should do it. Frodo stepped up to be the ring's bearer but would he have to go alone? Of course not! Aragorn and seven others stepped up to join him and they became the nine members of the Fellowship of the Ring.

Aragorn
Race: Men of the Line of Numenor
Aliases: Long Shanks & Strider
Played by: Viggo Mortenson
About:

• Named after his ancestor Aragorn I
• Born March 1 in 2931 of the Third Age
• Son of Arathorn II & his wife Gilraen
• Through his ancestor Elendil Aragorn was a descendant of Elros Tar-Minyatur, Master Elrond's Half-elven twin brother and the first king of Númenor
• Descended from both of Elendil's sons, from Isildur through Arvedui, last King of Arthedain, and from Anárion through Arvedui's wife Fíriel

Continue reading about Aragorn...

Boromir
Race: Men
Aliases: Captain of the White Tower & High Warden of the White Tower
Played by: Sean Bean
About:

• Eldest son of Denethor II, Steward of Gondor
• Brother of Faramir
• Was honourable and noble and believed in the greatness of Gondor
• Widely admired as a commander in Gondor's army
• Heir apparent to the Stewardship of Gondor

Continue reading about Boromir...

Frodo Baggins
Race: Hobbit
Aliases: Mr. Underhill, Ring-bearer, Elf-friend, & Nine Fingered Frodo
Played by: Elijah Wood
About:

• Main protagonist in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings
• Shared the same birthday as Bilbo - September 22nd
• Inherited Sauron's Ring from Bilbo Baggins
• Undertook the quest to destroy the Ring of Power
• Adopted heir of Bilbo Baggins
• Parents Drogo Baggins and Primula Brandybuck had been killed in a boating accident when Frodo was 12

Continue reading about Frodo...

Gandalf
Race: Ainur
Aliases: The Grey Pilgrim, Gandalf the Grey, Gandalf the White, Mithrandir, & The White Rider
Played by: Ian McKellen
About:

• Wizard who is a member & later leader of the order of Istari
• Led the members of the Fellowship on their quest until his fall in the Mines of Moria
• The last of the wizars to appear in Milde-earth
• The Elf Círdan who met him on arrival nevertheless considered him "the greatest spirit and the wisest" and gave him the elven Ring of power called Narya, the Ring of Fire, containing a "red" stone for his aid and comfort
• Assisted Bilbo Baggins in his quest in The Hobbit

Continue reading about Gandalf...

Gimli Son of Glóin
Race: Dwarf
Aliases: Lockbearer & Lord of the Glittering Cave
Played by: John Rhys Davies
About:

• Dwarf warrior who aids Frodo on his quest
• Earns the name Elf-friend by befriending Legolas which helped overcome a longstanding enmity between Dwarves and Elves
• Member of Durin's Folk. He was an honourable, wise, and stalwart warrior, favouring the axe as his weapon
• Became deeply enamoured with the Elf-lady Galadriel & asked her for one of her golden hairs - she gave him three which he made into a necklace he wore

Continue reading about Gimli...

Legolas of the Woodland Realm
Race: Elf
Aliases: Greenleaf
Played by: Orlando Bloom
About:

• Son of Thraduil, King of the Woodland Realm of Northern Mirkwood
• Translation of his name means Greenleaf
• Lived about the Silvan Elves but was originally from Lindon and was actually a Sindar (Grey Elf)
• Legolas' mother is never mentioned
• Weapons of choice are bow & arrow as well as twin Elvish Long Knives he wears strapped to his back

Continue reading about Legolas...

Merriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck
Race: Hobbit
Aliases: Master of Buckland & Holdwine of the Mark
Played by: Dominic Monaghan
About:

• Described as "the most perceptive and intelligent" of the Hobbits
• He knew od the One Ring and its power of invisibility before Bilbo left the Shire
• Known for an innocent and teasing sense of humor
• Cousin to Frodo
• Esquire to Theoden & later knighted by King Eomer for his bravery in battle

Continue reading about Merry...

Peregrin "Pippin" Took
Race: Hobbit
Aliases: Thain Peregrin I & Razanur Tûk
Played by: Billy Boyd
About:

• Only son of Paladin Took II and wife Eglantine Banks although he had three older sisters
• Best friend and cousin to Meriadoc Brandybuck
• Pledged his service to Lord Denethor as repayment for Boromir's death in their protection and was made one of the Elite Guards of the Citadel
• Fought as part of the Army of the West which was led by Aragorn
• Near the end of his life, he passed on his title to his son Faramir Took and he and Merry returned to Rohan & Gondor where they stayed until their deaths

Continue reading about Pippin...

Samwise "Sam" Gamgee
Race: Hobbit
Aliases: Samwise Gardner, Banazîr Galbasi, & Mayor of the Shire
Played by: Sean Astin
About:

• Inherited the position of Frodo's gradner from his father, Hamfast "Gaffer" Gamgee
• As "punishment" for eavesdropping on Gandalf's conversation with Frodo, Sam was made Frodo's first questing companion
• Stayed with Frodo when the Felloship split up at the Falls of Rauros
• Was given soil & a seed from Lorien by Lady Galadriel which he later used to help rebuild & heal the Shire
• Inherited Bag End from Frodo when he left for the Undying Lands

Continue reading about Sam...

Although there are many elves mentioned in both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, we will only focus on a few here. In this section I focus on a few characters who appear in The Lord of the Rings book, and who are not members of the Fellowship of the Ring. For more information about Legolas, please see the section about members of the Fellowship.

Arwen Undómiel
Race: Half-Elven
Aliases: Lady of Rivendell & Queen of the Reunited Kingdom
Played by: Liv Tyler
About:

• Youngest child of Elrond & Celebrían
• Had twin brothers named Elladan and Elrohir
• Met Aragorn for the first time when he was 20 years old and moved to Rivendell for his own protection
• Granddaughter of Lady Galadriel of Lórien
• Promised herself to Aragorn on the mound of Cerin Amroth when Aragorn was 50 years old--Arwen was approximately 2,730 years old

Continue reading about Arwen...

Celeborn
Race: Elves
Aliases: Teleporno, 'The Wise', Lord of the Galadhrim, & Lord of Lothlórien
Played by: Marton Csokas
About:

• Husband of Lady Galadriel and Grandfather of Arwen & her brothers
• Co-Ruler of Lothlorien with Lady Galadriel
• Name means "(tall) silver tree"
• Shares his name with the Silver Tree which flourished in Tol Eressëa and was an ancestor to the White Trees of Númenor and of Gondor

Continue reading about Celeborn...

Lord Elrond
Race: Half-elven
Aliases: Half-elven
Played by: Hugo Weaving
About:

• One of the few mighty rulers of old that remained in Middle-earth in the Third Age
• Father of Elladan, Elrohir, and Arwen
• Name means Vault of Stars
• Over 6,000 years old when the events of The Lord of the Rings began
• Elrond's twin brother was Elros Tar-Minyatur, the first High King of Númenor
• Because they were descended from angelic beings who had come to Middle-earth many years ago, he along with his parents, his brother, and his children, were granted a choice between Elven or human fates by the godlike Valar. Elrond chose to travel into the West and live as an immortal Elf, while his twin Elros chose mortality

Continue reading about Lord Elrond...

Lady Galadriel
Race: Elf
Aliases: Alatáriel, Altáriel, Artanis, & Nerwen
Played by: Cate Blanchett
About:

• Royal Elf of both the Noldor and the Teleri
• Co-ruler of Lothlórien along with her husband, Lord Celeborn
• May have had powers of telepathy and could also forsee the future
• Grandmother to Arwen
• Guardian of the ring Nenya - one of the three Rings of Power given to the Elves
• Offered the One Ring by Frodo but she resisted the temptation

Continue reading about Lady Galadriel...

Glorfindel
Race: Elf
Aliases: Lord of the House of the Golden Flower of Gondolin
Played by: Jason Carter in The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth II (2006)
About:

• This character is not included in Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Lord of the Rings
• Name means golden haired
• Appears in the Silmarillion in the First Age of Middle-earth
• Led the Elvish forces of Rivendell, the Grey Havens, and Lothlórien against Angmar in the Battle of Fornost
• Sent by Elrond of Rivendell to help Frodo reach Rivendell when he was pursued by the Nazgûl

Continue reading about Glorfindel...

The Two Towers opens with the disintegration of the Fellowship, as Merry and Pippin are taken captive by Orcs after the death of Boromir in battle. The Orcs, having heard a prophecy that a Hobbit will bear a Ring that gives universal power to its owner, wrongly think that Merry and Pippin are the Ring-bearers.

Several other members of the Fellowship, including Gimli, Legolas, and Aragorn, resolve to pursue Merry and Pippin. They follow the hobbits' tracks through fields and forests, always on the lookout for Orcs. The group encounters the Riders of Rohan, led by Éomer.

The second half of The Two Towers rejoins Frodo and Sam just after they separate from the rest of the Fellowship and begin making their way to Mordor to destroy the Ring. As they travel, they meet the creature Gollum, whom they tame and force to be their guide to Mordor. Sam and Frodo are wary of Gollum-they know he owned the Ring before and wishes to regain it-but they desperately need someone to direct them to their destination.

They finally reach the Black Gate of the realm of Mordor and see Sauron's Dark Tower rising overhead. The Gate is well guarded, and the hobbits wonder how they will be able to get inside. Gollum directs them to a different, hidden path into Mordor, where the guards will likely be sparser. On the way, the hobbits are frightened by dark shapes flying overhead-the Nazgûl, the Black Riders of Sauron who are searching for the Ring.

Along the way, Frodo meets a band of Men led by Faramir, the younger brother of Boromir. The men are suspicious of the hobbits at first, believing they are responsible for Boromir's death. Frodo avoids telling Faramir that his brother betrayed the Fellowship by attempting to seize the Ring for himself, but Sam blurts it out. Faramir is shocked, but grateful to learn the truth, so he offers support to the hobbits' journey. Faramir's men nearly kill Gollum, who is caught as an intruder, but Frodo intercedes to save the creature.

Gollum leads Frodo and Sam up the mountain called Cirith Ungol and into tunnels inhabited by Shelob, a giant, deadly female spider. Shelob paralyzes Frodo with her sting, but Sam kills the spider. Frodo and Sam are separated, however, as Orc guards find Frodo and proceed to take him off to their headquarters, where they plan to search him for the Ring. Sam believes Frodo to be dead, so he accepts the responsibility of carrying the Ring by himself.

Surrounded by Orcs, the terrified Sam dons the Ring and finds that it enables him to understand the Orc language. Sam follows the guards who carry off the paralyzed Frodo. Upon hearing them mention that Shelob only devours living creatures, Sam is shocked to realize that his friend is alive. He chastises himself for taking the Ring for himself, unaware that he has actually saved the Ring and kept it from Sauron by taking it from Frodo. Sam realizes that Frodo is alive at the very moment when the guards enter Mordor, slamming the gates in Sam's face. Continue reading about The Two Towers...

Bilbo Baggins
Race: Hobbit
Aliases: Ring-bearer & Elf-friend
Played by: Ian Holm
About:

• Central character of Tolkien's The Hobbit
• "Won" the One Ring from Gollum in his cave while on his journey in The Hobbit
• Lived an extraordinarily long life for a hobbit due in part to the power of the One Ring
• Passed on the One Ring to Frodo upon his departure from the Shire on his eleventy-first birthday (111th)
• Was awarded passage into the undying lands for his part in bearing the One Ring

Continue reading about Bilbo...

Farmer Maggot
Race: Hobbit
Aliases: None
Played by: Cameron Rhodes
About:

• Only makes two quick cameos in Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Lord of the Rings but has a more substantial part in Tolkien's book
• Told Tom Bombadil (another book only character) that Frodo, Merry, Sam, & Pippin would be heading toward his house and might be in need of his aide
• Merry & Pippin love to pilfer his crops
• Was considered a wise and resourceful hobbit
• Joined with the returning hobbits in the scourging of the shire (a plot that was entirely eliminated from the film by Peter Jackson)

Continue reading about Farmer Maggot...

Fatty Bolger
Race: Hobbit
Aliases: Fatty
Played by: None
About:

• Cut from Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Lord of the Rings to keep the plot simple
• Knew Frodo had the One Ring
• Assisted Frodo in moving to Crickhollow to help draw the Nazgul away from the rest of the Shire
• Stayed behind in Crickhollow when the others left in hopes of getting a message to Gandalf should he arrive
• Attacked by the Nazgul because they believed him to be Frodo but escaped unharmed

Continue reading about Fatty Bolger...

Lord Denethor
Race: Men
Aliases: Steward of Gondor
Played by: John Noble
About:

• Son of Ecthelion II
• Widely considered a man of great will, foresight, and strength
• Married Finduilas, daughter of Prince Adrahil of Dol Amroth
• His wife bore him two sons (Boromir & Faramir) before dying an early death
• Never remarried after his wife's death, and became more grim and silent than before

Continue reading about Lord Denethor...

Éomer
Race: Men
Aliases: Éadig (epithet meaning "Blessed"), Third Marshal of the Riddermark, & King of Rohan (after Theoden's death)
Played by: Karl Urban
About:

• Son of Théodwyn and Éomund and belonging to the House of Eorl
• Adopted by Théoden, king of the Rohirrim, after his parents' death
• Has a major role in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields
• Appointed Ring of the Rohirrim with King Theoden's dying breath
• Under his leadership Rohan recovered from the hurts of the war and became a rich and fruitful land again during
• Brother of Eowyn

Continue reading about Eomer...

Éowyn
Race: Men
Aliases: Dernhelm & The White Lady
Played by: Miranda Otto
About:

• Daughter of Théodwyn and Éomund and belonging to the House of Eorl
• Adopted by Théoden, king of the Rohirrim, after her parents' death
• Disguises herself as a man so she can travel to Gondor to fight with her Uncle Theoden and her brother Eomer
• Kills the King of the Nazgul which "no man can kill"
• Later marries Faramir, Steward of Gondor


• Sister of Eomer

Continue reading about Eowyn...

Faramir
Race: Men
Aliases: Steward of Gondor (after the death of Lord Denethor), Prince of Ithilien, & Lord of Emyn Arnen
Played by: David Wenham
About:

• Youngest son of Lord Denethor II, Steward of Gondor
• Very close to his brother Boromir but alienated from his father who preferred Boromir
• Eager for knowledge, Faramir learned much from Gandalf about the history of the realm and about the death of Isildur
• Upon discovering Frodo (whom he had captured) carried the One Ring, Faramir was wise enough to realize that such a weapon was not to be used and if desired, should be resisted. With this knowledge, he also realized what his brother had to face, and wished that he had gone on the quest himself - knowing that Boromir would not have been able to resist the temptation to seize the Ring for himself
• Later marries Eowyn, the White Lady of Rohan

Continue reading about Faramir...

Gríma "Wormtongue"
Race: Men
Aliases: Worm and Wormtongue
Played by: Brad Dourif
About:

• Son of Gálmód
• Although not portrayed Peter Jackson's movie adaptation, Grima was originally a good and faithful servant
• Earned the nickname Wormtongue for his malicious words were like that of a serpent
• It is implied that Saruman had promised him Éowyn, the king's niece, as a reward for his services
• In the book, Return of the King, Gríma accompanied Saruman to the Shire, where Saruman sought revenge in petty tyranny over the Hobbits. This was edited out of the movie
• In both the film and the book, Grima is credited with killing Saruman though the location differs--in the book it was in the Shire and in the movie it was in Orthanc

Continue reading about Gríma "Wormtongue"...

Prince Imrahil
Race: Men
Aliases: Prince of Dol Amroth
Played by: None; Prince Imrahil was not portrayed in either Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings nor in Rankin/Bass' animated adaptation of the films.
About:

• Son of Prince Adrahil II
• Born in year 2955 of the Third Age
• Descended from the Númenorean Imrazôr and a Silvan Elf named Mithrellas
• During the War of the Ring, Prince Imrahil led a company of Swan Knights and 700 men at arms to Minas Tirith to help defend the City. Prince Imrahil led the sortie that rode to the aid of Faramir and the rearguard retreating from Osgiliath. During the siege of Minas Tirith he assisted Gandalf in leading the city's defence. Imrahil was the first to notice that Éowyn of Rohan had not been slain in the battle and he sent to the City for help. Soon after, Éomer and his Riders were outnumbered, and Imrahil rode to their aid.
• After the Battle of the Pelennor Fields Imrahil recognized that Aragorn was the rightful King of Gondor, but he agreed that it was wise for Aragorn to wait to enter the city, because his brother-in-law Denethor was strong-willed and proud. When Imrahil learned that Denethor was dead and Faramir dying, he suggested that Aragorn be summoned, remembering that the Kings of old were great healers. Though he entered the city as a healer Aragorn did not wish to contest the kingship during the war and Imrahil ruled Minas Tirith in the days after the siege had ended

Continue reading about Imrahil...

King Théoden
Race: Men
Aliases: Ednew, Lord of the Mark, & Tûrac (actual Rohirric name)
Played by: Bernard Hill
About:

• Second of five children
• Only son of King Thengel and Morwen of Lossarnach (a region of Gondor) which made him the heir to the throne
• Born in Gondor, where his family lived until Thengel became king of Rohan
• Very close to his sister, Théodwyn, who lived with him in Edoras which is part of the reason he adopted Eomer & Eowyn (her children) when she and her husband died
• In his later years he was controlled by Saruman through his advisor Grima Wormtongue
• Married to Elfhild, who died giving birth to their only child, Theodrid
• Theodrid was killed protecting Rohan from raiding orc parties during the time King Theoden was under the control of Saruman and Wormtongue

Continue reading about Théoden...

The Return of the King is the final chapter in the LOTR trilogy. The War for Middle Earth has come to a head. Everyone is depending on Frodo and Sam to destroy the Ring but no one is sure that they are even alive.

After the defeat of Saruman at Isengard, Pippin and Gandalf make a frantic trip to Gondor and the city of Minas Tirith to warn Lord Denethor of the pending attack. They do not receive a warm reception from Lord Denethor, the Steward of Gondor. However, Pippin pledges himself to the service of Gondor and the Stewart in repayment of his debt to Boromir for saving his life.

In the meantime Aragorn is having a confrontation of his own. Aragon takes Saruman's plantir to confront Sauron and to reveal that an heir of Ilendil is indeed alive and coming to claim his throne. Now that Aragorn has accepted his heritage and his destiny, he heads into the cursed mountains with Legolas and Gimli and some of his kin (Grey Rangers from the North) to call the oath breakers to fulfill their word and rest in peace. Without the aid of the living dead they will be woefully outnumbered and doomed to certain defeat.

As Frodo and Sam continue their journey into Mordor and Aragorn seeks reinforcements, the forces of Sauron attack Minas Tirith led by the Witch King of Angmar. These forces succeed in breaking down the city's gate, but at just that moment the Rohirrim arrive. Lady Eowyn, who is disguised as a young man, and Merry who was told to stay behind have secretly ridden among the men and join in the fight. Also joining the fight , a black pirates ship pulls into port and the forces of Mordor rejoice until they see that it is flying the banner of the King. The Witch King, which no man can kill, is slain by Lady Eowyn and Merry, which turns the tide and allows the forces of good to defeat them in the battle of the Fields of Pelennor. Faramir is wounded in the fighting and Denethor goes mad with grief thinking that he is dead. So he takes him to the tomb and tries to burn both of them alive on a funeral pier. Faramir is saved by Gandalf and Pippin but Lord Denethor is beyond help. Although Faramir was saved; he was almost dead so he lay unconcious in the houses of healing. There he was joined by Eowyn and Merry.

Touched by the extreme darkness and evil from slaying the Witch King, Merry and Eowyn seem beyond help. Aragorn first enters Gondor, not as her King, but as one seeknig to heal his friends. He brings Kingsfoil, a common weed, into the houses of healing and heals his friends.

Deciding that the best way to help Frodo and Sam would be to empty Mordor of as many foes as possible, Aragorn and Gandalf make plans to draw out the forces of Mordor at the Black Gates.

Eventually Frodo and Sam reach the fires of Mount Doom. As Frodo stares into the fires and looks at the Ring, his resistance finally fails and he seeks to claim the ring for himself at which time he puts the ring on his finger and disappears. Gollum then attacks Frodo and bites off his finger to obtain the Ring. In his joy of finally getting his precious ring back Gollum falls over the edge of the precipice and into the fires of Mount Doom where he and the Ring meet their demise together.

Once the Ring is destroyed, the forces of Mordor are easily defeated.

Ents
Treebeard
Race: Ent
Aliases: Fangorn, Eldest, & Tree Herder
Played by: John Rhys-Davies
About:

• Leader of the Istari
• Created by Ilúvatar at the behest of Yavanna as the Shepherds of the Forest or Tree-herders
• Oldest of the three remaining original Ents--Treebeard, Leaflock, and Skinbark
• Had once been friends with Saruman the White
• Called a meeting of the Entmoot - which lasted three days - who then decided to call an attack on Isengard and Saruman

Continue reading about Treebeard...

Wizards
Saruman
Race: Ainur
Aliases: Curunír, Curumo, Sharkey, Man of Skill, White Messenger, and Head of the White Council
Played by: Christopher Lee
About:

• Leader of the Istari
• Was corrupted by his desire for power
• Formed an alliance with Sauron
• Imprisoned Gandalf when he came to Orthanc seeking his help regarding the Ring of Power
• After his defeat by the Ents and hobbits, he moved to the Shire to ruin what the hobbits held most dear (this was edited out of the movie)
• Killed by Grima "Wormtongue"

Continue reading about Saruman...

Radagast
Race: Ainur
Aliases: Aiwendil and Radagast the Brown
Played by: Omitted from The Lord of the Rings movie, but will be played by Sylvester McCoy in The Hobbit (2012)
About:

• One of the Istari or Wizards who were sent by the angelic Valar to aid the Elves and Men of Middle-earth in their struggle against the Dark Lord Sauron
• Without his knowledge, he was used by Saruman to lure Gandalf to Orthanc in The Fellowship of the Ring
• Also unwittingly helped rescue Gandalf by sending Gwaihir the Eagle to Orthanc with news of the movements of Sauron's forces
• Had a strong affinity for - and relationship with - wild animals, and it seemed his greatest concern was with the kelvar and olvar (flora and fauna) of Middle-earth
• Was edited out of Peter Jackson's adaptations of The Lord of the Rings but will be portrayed in The Hobbit

Continue reading about Radagast...

Unclassified
Gollum/Sméagol
Race: Born a Stoor Hobbit, but was twisted and mutated by the Ring that he could no longer be considered a hobbit
Aliases: Gollum, Slinker, Sneak, Stinker, Smeagol, and Trahald ("true" Westron name)
Played by: Andy Serkis
About:

• Strangled his own relative, Déagol, because he wouldn't give Gollum the Ring when it was discovered. This was done on Gollum's birthday and continued to haunt him for the rest of his life.
• His own people gave him the name Gollum (because of the sound he made in his throat) before banishing him
• Lived on an island in the middle of a lake under the Misty Mountain until he left it to pursue Bilbo for stealing the Ring from him after which he lived in Moria
• Picked up the trail of The Fellowship and the Ring when they entered Moria and followed them from there
• Led Frodo and Sam to Mordor and then into Shelob's lair
• Died after biting Frodo's finger (which had the Ring on it) off at which point he fell into the lava in Mount Doom

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Sauron
Race: Ainur
Aliases: Annatar, Gorthaur the Cruel, Thû, The Necromancer, Aulendil, Mairon, Artano, & Zigur
Played by: Sala Baker
About:

• Primary antagonist in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings
• Revealed to be the same character as "the Necromancer" from Tolkien's earlier novel The Hobbit
• he is also revealed to have been the chief lieutenant of the first Dark Lord, Morgoth from The Silmarillion

• Taught the Elves the art of forging rings of great power
• Was behind the forging of the nine rings given to men, five given to the dwarves, and three given to the elves
• Secretly forged the One Ring to control them all. In order to make it powerful enough to control the others he had to power a great deal of his own power into the Ring
• Defeated by the Last Alliance of Elves and Men and was forced to live as a dark and shapeless evil after the loss of The One Ring, until he began to rise again inThe Third Age

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