The Fellowship of the Ring

The Fellowship of the Ring

by

J.R.R. Tolkien

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The Fellowship of the Ring Characters

Frodo Baggins

The favored nephew of the famous Bilbo Baggins, Frodo is a hobbit who loves his home in the Shire too much to give in to itching feelings for adventure in the wider world. However… read analysis of Frodo Baggins

Gandalf the Grey

Despite his humble appearance as an elderly man in a grey cloak and drooping hat, Gandalf is one of the most powerful beings on Middle-earth. A member of the Istari, Gandalf’s knowledge and… read analysis of Gandalf the Grey

Aragorn / Strider

Disguised as a seemingly suspicious and dangerous wanderer called Strider, Aragorn is in truth the heir to the thrones of Gondor and Arnor—his ancestors, Elendil and Isildur, fought Sauron in the War of theread analysis of Aragorn / Strider

Samwise (Sam) Gamgee

A gardener like his father the Gaffer, Sam is a humble hobbit who is fiercely loyal to his friend and employer Frodo. Caught listening in to Gandalf and Frodo’s plans to take Sauronread analysis of Samwise (Sam) Gamgee

Boromir

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 Elrondread analysis of Boromir
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Sauron

The antagonist and titular character of The Lord of the Rings series. The tyrannical Dark Lord Sauron of Mordor gained almost infinite power in the Second Age, his mastery over Middle-earth checked only by the… read analysis of Sauron

Bilbo Baggins

An elderly and kindly hobbit who gained fame and fortune after his exploits in helping to defeat the dragon Smaug (as detailed in The Hobbit). Bilbo is unaware of his ring’s true power… read analysis of Bilbo Baggins

Galadriel

A wise and seemingly ageless elf who rules over the elf-forest of Lothlórien alongside her husband, Celeborn. Galadriel possesses the powerful elven ring of power, Nenya, which likely contributes to her ability to… read analysis of Galadriel

Saruman the White

A wise and noble wizard, and head of the Istari. Gandalf greatly relies on Saruman’s counsel in many matters until he learns of Saruman’s treachery—the White Wizard has been corrupted by his ambitions to… read analysis of Saruman the White

Gollum / Smeagol

A miserable and treacherous creature who has been obsessed with re-claiming the Ring ever since he lost it to Bilbo during the events of The Hobbit. Gollum follows the Fellowship from Rivendell to Amon… read analysis of Gollum / Smeagol

Tom Bombadil

A comical yet powerful and ancient figure who reigns over the domain of the Old Forest bordering the Shire. He is the husband of Goldberry and is partial to bursting into song. He saves Frodoread analysis of Tom Bombadil

The Balrog

An ancient and powerful demon wreathed in flames and darkness who was awakened by the dwarfs when they dug too deep in search of the precious metal mithril. The balrog pursues the Fellowship during… read analysis of The Balrog

Shadowfax

Too wild and noble to be tamed by anyone but Gandalf, Shadowfax is the silver-gray Lord of all Horses who hearkens back to the great Mearas horses of past ages. Gandalf takes Shadowfax from… read analysis of Shadowfax

Elendil

A mighty High King of Númenor, and Aragorn’s ancestor, who fought alongside Gil-Galad against Sauron in the War of the Last Alliance. Although he died in battle, with his sword Narsil breaking… read analysis of Elendil

Isildur

Son of Elendil, and Aragorn’s ancestor, Isildur triumphed over Sauron by cutting the One Ring from his hand in the final stages of the Siege of Barad-dûr. He then refused to destroy the… read analysis of Isildur
Minor Characters
Meriadoc (Merry) Brandybuck
A distant cousin and great friend of Frodo’s, Merry is an unusually perceptive hobbit whose loyalty to Frodo earns him a place as one of the nine companions in the Company of the Ring.
Peregrin (Pippin) Took
A distant cousin and great friend of Frodo’s, Pippin is a kind but reckless young hobbit whose loyalty to Frodo earns him a place as one of the nine companions in the Company of the Ring.
Legolas Greenleaf
An elf-prince from Mirkwood and a member of the Company of the Ring, Legolas is an expert archer and a swift runner who is agile and light on his feet. Despite their initial distrust of one another due to historic racial tensions, Legolas and Gimli form a strong friendship.
Gimli
A dwarf (the son of Glóin) and a member of the Company of the Ring, Gimli is courageous and stalwart in battle where he adeptly wields his axe. He overcomes his mistrust of elves to become firm friends with Legolas and a great admirer of Galadriel.
Elrond
Of elvish and mortal heritage, Elrond is the Lord of Rivendell (an elf-haven hidden West of the Misty Mountains). He is Arwen’s father, and a powerful ally of Gandalf’s who founds the Company of the Ring.
Celeborn
A wise and seemingly ageless elf who rules over the elf-forest of Lothlórien with his wife, Galadriel. The Lord and Lady of Lórien offer refuge and respite to the Fellowship after they flee Moria without Gandalf.
The Black Riders / Ringwraiths / Nazgûl
Nine fallen mortal kings who seek the One Ring for their master, Sauron. The Nazgûl take the form of cloaked black riders as they pursue Frodo and the Fellowship, hunting them using their enhanced senses attuned to the Ring.
Goldberry / The River-daughter
Goldberry is the wife of Tom Bombadil. Her beauty and kindness greatly restore Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin after their terrifying encounter with Old Man Willow. Like her husband, Goldberry’s origins are unclear; she possesses natural magic and may be immortal.
Glorfindel
A powerful elf-lord who is present at the Council of Elrond. Earlier, Elrond sends him to find and protect Aragorn and the hobbits (Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin) on the road as they approach Rivendell.
Gildor Inglorien
The leader of a company of elves that Frodo, Sam, and Pippin chance upon as they travel from Hobbiton to Buckland. This encounter saves the hobbits from an approaching Black Rider; Gildor offers them safe company for the night, and shares advice with Frodo concerning his journey to Rivendell.
Farmer Maggot
An unusually astute hobbit who catches Frodo, Sam, and Pippin on his farmland after they lose their way taking a shortcut to the Buckleberry Ferry. Farmer Maggot helps the hobbits hide from the Black Riders by taking them to the Ferry in his wagon.
Fredegar (Fatty) Bolger
A rather rotund hobbit and friend of Frodo’s who stays in Frodo’s Buckland residence as a decoy to distract the Black Riders.
Haldir
Leader of the elves who guard Lothlórien’s borders, Haldir guides the Fellowship to where Galadriel and Celeborn reside at Caras Galadhon.
Old Man Willow
A malevolent willow tree in the Old Forest who lures travelers to him, spelling them to sleep before strangling them with his branches or trapping them in his trunk.
Gwaihir the Windlord
Lord of the Giant Eagles, Gwaihir rescues Gandalf from his imprisonment by Saruman at Orthanc and carries the wizard to Rohan.
Barliman Butterbur
A man of Bree, Butterbur is the innkeeper at the popular Prancing Pony. He warns Frodo against the suspicious character Strider, and after a lapse in memory he remembers to deliver Frodo a letter that Gandalf had left in his care some weeks ago.
Bill Ferny
An unscrupulous man of Bree who has allied with Sauron and the Black Riders. Aragorn and the hobbits purchase a neglected pony from Ferny after the hobbits’ ponies flee their stables due to the presence of Black Riders.
Arwen Undomiel / Evenstar
Of elvish and mortal heritage, Elrond’s daughter and Galadriel’s granddaughter Arwen is romantically tied to Aragorn.
Glóin
Present at the Council of Elrond, Glóin is the father of Gimli, an old friend of Bilbo’s, and one of the thirteen dwarfs who marched to the Lonely Mountain in the events of The Hobbit.
Erestor
An elf-lord who attends the Council of Elrond, Erestor suggests that the Ring is given to Tom Bombadil, but the Council rejects this idea.
Ham (The Gaffer) Gamgee
An elderly hobbit, and Sam’s father, who has tended the gardens next door at Bag End for most of his life.
Lobelia and Othello Sackville-Baggins
Greedy and obnoxious hobbits who have long desired to inherit their relative Bilbo’s hobbit hole at Bag End. They purchase Bag End when Frodo sells up under the pretense of moving to Buckland.
Balin
One of the thirteen dwarfs who marched to the Lonely Mountain in the events of The Hobbit, Balin has not been heard from since he led a company of dwarfs to reclaim their ancestral homeland of Moria.
Gil-Galad
A glorious and ancient elven High King of Ñoldor who fought alongside Elendil against Sauron in the War of the Last Alliance. Elrond was Gil-Galad’s herald in the that war.
Elbereth Gilthoniel
An ancient elvish deity whom the elves revere in name and song. Frodo and Legolas invoke her name as protection against the Black Riders.
Bandobras “Bullroarer” Took
A legendary hobbit (and ancestor of Bilbo, Frodo, and Pippin) who could ride a horse and slew the orc leader in the Battle of Greenfields.
Deagol
A hobbit-like boy, and cousin and best friend of Smeagol. He was briefly a Ring-bearer until Smeagol murdered him to take the Ring, gradually transforming into the creature known as Gollum.
Folco
A hobbit, and friend of Frodo's.