Bilbo Baggins
The protagonist of The Hobbit, Bilbo initially seems content with his peaceful life in hobbit-town, but Tolkien hints that he secretly desires adventure and excitement (as is his birthright from his notoriously adventurous grandfather…
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Gandalf
The old wizard who recruits Bilbo for a quest, Gandalf is enormously wise, resourceful, and helpful to the dwarves during their journey to the Lonely Mountain, frequently saving their lives. At the same time, he…
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Thorin Oakenshield
The leader of the thirteen dwarves journeying to the Lonely Mountain. Thorin is the descendant of the King Under the Mountain who lost his throne when Smaug came and ousted the dwarves from their home…
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Smaug
A dragon who heard of the treasure amassed by the dwarves of The Kingdom Under the Mountain and then proceeded to attack and expel the dwarves from their former home, desolating the nearby city of…
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The Elvenking
The leader of the wood-elves, who imprisons Thorin and the dwarves and later marches to the Lonely Mountain to claim a part of the treasure after Smaug’s death (the elves have long believed that the…
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Minor Characters
Nori
One of the thirteen dwarves marching to the Lonely Mountain.
Dain
Thorin’s cousin, who leads an army of dwarves and eventually succeeds Thorin.
The Master
The corrupt, manipulative leader of Lake-town, who seeks only to prolong his own power for as long as possible.
Gollum
A disgusting, treacherous, and yet pitiful and lonely creature who is obsessed with the ring, and trades riddles with Bilbo.
The Great Goblin
Leader of the goblins who capture the dwarves in the Misty Mountains. He is killed by Gandalf.
Elrond
The elf-lord of the elves at Rivendell, and an ally to Gandalf and the dwarves. He reveals the history of the swords that Gandalf and Thorin take from the troll’s treasure-hole, and also reads the moon-writing on the map to the Lonely Mountain.
William, Bert, and Tom
Three dim-witted trolls who capture the dwarves.
Beorn
A friend of Gandalf’s, capable of turning into a bear, and a hater of goblins.
Oin
One of the thirteen dwarves marching to the Lonely Mountain. Good at making fire.
Gloin
One of the thirteen dwarves marching to the Lonely Mountain, also good at making fire.
Fili
One of the thirteen dwarves marching to the Lonely Mountain. The nephew of Thorin.
Kili
One of the thirteen dwarves marching to the Lonely Mountain. The nephew of Thorin.
Dwalin
One of the thirteen dwarves marching to the Lonely Mountain.
Balin
One of the thirteen dwarves marching to the Lonely Mountain. One of Thorin’s companions on the day Smaug claimed the Lonely Mountain, and a good friend to Bilbo.
Bifur
One of the thirteen dwarves marching to the Lonely Mountain.
Bofur
One of the thirteen dwarves marching to the Lonely Mountain.
Bombur
One of the thirteen dwarves marching to the Lonely Mountain, very fat and lazy.
Dori
One of the thirteen dwarves marching to the Lonely Mountain. Holds Bilbo on his back.
Ori
One of the thirteen dwarves marching to the Lonely Mountain.
Lord of the Eagles
The leader of a flock of giant eagles, he and his fellow eagles save Bilbo and the dwarves from the goblins, and later join the side of the men, elves, and dwarves against the goblins and wargs at the end of the Battle of the Five Armies.
Thrush
A magical bird that indicates the entrance to Smaug’s lair to the dwarves, and later, after overhearing Bilbo reveal Smaug’s weak spot, tells Bard about how to kill Smaug.
Rac
An old raven who communicates messages from Thorin to Dain.
Bard
The archer who kills Smaug, and a descendant of the rulers of the Dale. After Smaug’s death Bard becomes a leader once more, and eventually becomes the new Lord of Dale.
Radagast
Gandalf’s cousin, a wizard and an acquaintance of Beorn.
Bolg
The goblin who leads an army to the Battle of the Five Armies after the Great Goblin’s death.
