The Fellowship of the Ring

The Fellowship of the Ring

by

J.R.R. Tolkien

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The son of Denethor and brother of Faramir, Boromir is a proud man and mighty warrior who is set to inherit his father’s role as Steward of Gondor. Present at the Council of Elrond, Boromir argues for the men of Gondor to take the Ring and wield its power against Sauron. He is reluctant to believe Elrond and Gandalf’s advice that the Ring cannot be controlled by any but Sauron. Elrond names him a member of the Company of the Ring, and he becomes increasingly obsessed by thoughts of the Ring as the Company progresses toward Mordor. Boromir appears unwilling to enter the elf-forest of Lothlórien, for he has heard disturbing rumors about the psychic powers of the Lady Galadriel who dwells there. Indeed, he is unusually quiet after he meets her, perhaps shaken by the knowledge she has learned about his desires and ambitions. Boromir experiences a challenging relationship with Aragorn after he learns of the Ranger’s lineage, as he respects Aragorn yet doubts his ability to lead the realm of Gondor. The key difference between the two warriors is Boromir’s desire for power and prestige. His extreme sense of duty to Gondor causes him to make rash decisions and to ignore other matters unrelated to his home. Boromir is ultimately corrupted by the Ring and tries to take it from Frodo, which results in the breaking of the Fellowship.

Boromir Quotes in The Fellowship of the Ring

The The Fellowship of the Ring quotes below are all either spoken by Boromir or refer to Boromir. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Good vs. Evil Theme Icon
).
Book 2, Chapter 2 Quotes

“If Gondor, Boromir, has been a stalwart tower, [the Rangers] have played another part. Many evil things there are that your strong walls and bright swords do not stay. You know little of the lands beyond your bounds. Peace and freedom, do you say? The North would have known them little but for us.

[…] Travellers scowl at us, and countrymen give us scornful names. 'Strider' I am to one fat man who lives within a day's march of foes that would freeze his heart, or lay his little town in ruin, if he were not guarded ceaselessly. Yet we would not have it otherwise. If simple folk are free from care and fear, simple they will be, and we must be secret to keep them so. That has been the task of my kindred, while the years have lengthened and the grass has grown.”

Related Characters: Aragorn / Strider (speaker), Boromir
Page Number: 242
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 2, Chapter 3 Quotes

“Slow should you be to wind that horn again, Boromir,” said Elrond, “until you stand once more on the borders of your land, and dire need is on you.”

“Maybe," said Boromir. "But always I have let my horn cry at setting forth, and though thereafter we may walk in the shadows, I will not go forth as a thief in the night.”

Related Characters: Boromir (speaker), Elrond (speaker)
Page Number: 272
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 2, Chapter 6 Quotes

"And now we must enter the Golden Wood, you say. But of that perilous land we have heard in Gondor, and it is said that few come out who once go in; and of that few none have escaped unscathed."

"Say not unscathed, but if you say unchanged, then maybe you will speak the truth," said Aragorn. "But lore wanes in Gondor, Boromir, if in the city of those who once were wise they now speak evil of Lothlórien [...] only evil need fear it, or those who bring some evil with them.”

Related Characters: Aragorn / Strider (speaker), Boromir (speaker), Galadriel
Page Number: 329
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 2, Chapter 8 Quotes

[Aragorn’s] own plan, while Gandalf remained with them, had been to go with Boromir, and with his sword help to deliver Gondor. For he believed that the message of the dreams was a summons, and that the hour had come at last when the heir of Elendil should come forth and strive with Sauron for the mastery. But in Moria the burden of Gandalf had been laid on him; and he knew that he could not now forsake the Ring, if Frodo refused in the end to go with Boromir. And yet what help could he or any of the Company give to Frodo, save to walk blindly with him into the darkness?

Related Characters: Frodo Baggins, Gandalf the Grey, Aragorn / Strider, Boromir
Related Symbols: The One Ring, The Shards of Narsil / Anduril
Page Number: 359
Explanation and Analysis:

The travellers sat still without moving or speaking. On the green bank near to the very point of the Tongue the Lady Galadriel stood alone and silent. As they passed her they turned and their eyes watched her slowly floating away from them. For so it seemed to them: Lórien was slipping backward, like a bright ship masted with enchanted trees, sailing on to forgotten shores, while they sat helpless upon the margin of the grey and leafless world.

Related Characters: Frodo Baggins, Aragorn / Strider, Samwise (Sam) Gamgee, Boromir, Meriadoc (Merry) Brandybuck, Peregrin (Pippin) Took, Legolas Greenleaf, Gimli, Galadriel
Page Number: 367
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 2, Chapter 10 Quotes

"We of Minas Tirith have been staunch through long years of trial. We do not desire the power of Wizard-lords, only strength to defend ourselves, strength in a just cause. And behold! in our need chance brings to light the Ring of Power. It is a gift, I say; a gift to the foes of Mordor. It is mad not to use it, to use the power of the Enemy against him. The fearless, the ruthless, these alone will achieve victory. What could not Aragorn do? Or if he refuses, why not Boromir? The Ring would give me power of Command. How I would drive the hosts of Mordor, and all men would flock to my banner!"

Related Characters: Boromir (speaker), Frodo Baggins, Gandalf the Grey, Aragorn / Strider, Sauron
Related Symbols: The One Ring
Page Number: 36
Explanation and Analysis:
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Boromir Quotes in The Fellowship of the Ring

The The Fellowship of the Ring quotes below are all either spoken by Boromir or refer to Boromir. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Good vs. Evil Theme Icon
).
Book 2, Chapter 2 Quotes

“If Gondor, Boromir, has been a stalwart tower, [the Rangers] have played another part. Many evil things there are that your strong walls and bright swords do not stay. You know little of the lands beyond your bounds. Peace and freedom, do you say? The North would have known them little but for us.

[…] Travellers scowl at us, and countrymen give us scornful names. 'Strider' I am to one fat man who lives within a day's march of foes that would freeze his heart, or lay his little town in ruin, if he were not guarded ceaselessly. Yet we would not have it otherwise. If simple folk are free from care and fear, simple they will be, and we must be secret to keep them so. That has been the task of my kindred, while the years have lengthened and the grass has grown.”

Related Characters: Aragorn / Strider (speaker), Boromir
Page Number: 242
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 2, Chapter 3 Quotes

“Slow should you be to wind that horn again, Boromir,” said Elrond, “until you stand once more on the borders of your land, and dire need is on you.”

“Maybe," said Boromir. "But always I have let my horn cry at setting forth, and though thereafter we may walk in the shadows, I will not go forth as a thief in the night.”

Related Characters: Boromir (speaker), Elrond (speaker)
Page Number: 272
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 2, Chapter 6 Quotes

"And now we must enter the Golden Wood, you say. But of that perilous land we have heard in Gondor, and it is said that few come out who once go in; and of that few none have escaped unscathed."

"Say not unscathed, but if you say unchanged, then maybe you will speak the truth," said Aragorn. "But lore wanes in Gondor, Boromir, if in the city of those who once were wise they now speak evil of Lothlórien [...] only evil need fear it, or those who bring some evil with them.”

Related Characters: Aragorn / Strider (speaker), Boromir (speaker), Galadriel
Page Number: 329
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 2, Chapter 8 Quotes

[Aragorn’s] own plan, while Gandalf remained with them, had been to go with Boromir, and with his sword help to deliver Gondor. For he believed that the message of the dreams was a summons, and that the hour had come at last when the heir of Elendil should come forth and strive with Sauron for the mastery. But in Moria the burden of Gandalf had been laid on him; and he knew that he could not now forsake the Ring, if Frodo refused in the end to go with Boromir. And yet what help could he or any of the Company give to Frodo, save to walk blindly with him into the darkness?

Related Characters: Frodo Baggins, Gandalf the Grey, Aragorn / Strider, Boromir
Related Symbols: The One Ring, The Shards of Narsil / Anduril
Page Number: 359
Explanation and Analysis:

The travellers sat still without moving or speaking. On the green bank near to the very point of the Tongue the Lady Galadriel stood alone and silent. As they passed her they turned and their eyes watched her slowly floating away from them. For so it seemed to them: Lórien was slipping backward, like a bright ship masted with enchanted trees, sailing on to forgotten shores, while they sat helpless upon the margin of the grey and leafless world.

Related Characters: Frodo Baggins, Aragorn / Strider, Samwise (Sam) Gamgee, Boromir, Meriadoc (Merry) Brandybuck, Peregrin (Pippin) Took, Legolas Greenleaf, Gimli, Galadriel
Page Number: 367
Explanation and Analysis:
Book 2, Chapter 10 Quotes

"We of Minas Tirith have been staunch through long years of trial. We do not desire the power of Wizard-lords, only strength to defend ourselves, strength in a just cause. And behold! in our need chance brings to light the Ring of Power. It is a gift, I say; a gift to the foes of Mordor. It is mad not to use it, to use the power of the Enemy against him. The fearless, the ruthless, these alone will achieve victory. What could not Aragorn do? Or if he refuses, why not Boromir? The Ring would give me power of Command. How I would drive the hosts of Mordor, and all men would flock to my banner!"

Related Characters: Boromir (speaker), Frodo Baggins, Gandalf the Grey, Aragorn / Strider, Sauron
Related Symbols: The One Ring
Page Number: 36
Explanation and Analysis: