Gimli Character Analysis in The Two Towers

Gimli the dwarf is the playful and volatile companion of Aragorn and Legolas as they hunt down the orcs who’ve kidnapped Merry and Pippin. Gimli is frantic to recover the hobbits and is overwhelmed with joy and frustration to find them jovial and unharmed when they’re reunited. Though he is easily insulted and quick to draw his axe, Gimli also has a passionate love of beauty—both that of Galadriel and of the caverns of Helm’s Deep.

Gimli Quotes in The Two Towers

The The Two Towers quotes below are all either spoken by Gimli or refer to Gimli. 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:

‘Let me think!’ said Aragorn. ‘And now may I make a right choice, and change the evil fate of this unhappy day!’ He stood silent for a moment. ‘I will follow the Orcs,’ he said at last. ‘I would have guided Frodo into Mordor and gone with him to the end; but if I seek him now in the wilderness, I must abandon the captives to torment and death. My heart speaks clearly at last: the fate of the Bearer is in my hands no longer. The Company has played its part. Yet we that remain cannot forsake our companions while we have strength left. Come! We will go now. Leave all that can be spared behind! We will press on by day and dark!’

Related Characters: Aragorn (speaker), Frodo Baggins, Meriadoc “Merry” Brandybuck, Peregrin “Pippin” Took , Gimli, Legolas

Related Symbols: The Ring

Page Number and Citation: 11

Explanation and Analysis:

‘It is hard to be sure of anything among so many marvels. The world is all grown strange. Elf and dwarf in company walk in our daily fields; and folk speak with the Lady of the Wood and yet live; and the Sword comes back to war that was broken in the long ages ere the fathers of our fathers rode into the Mark! How shall a man judge what to do in such times?’

‘As he has ever judged,’ said Aragorn. ‘Good and ill have not changed since yesteryear; nor are they one thing among Elves and Dwarves and another among Men. It is a man’s part to discern them, as much in the Golden Wood as in his own house.’

Related Characters: Éomer (speaker), Aragorn (speaker), Legolas, Gimli, Galadriel

Page Number and Citation: 33

Explanation and Analysis:

‘You have not said what you know or guess, Aragorn, my friend,’ he said quietly. ‘Poor Boromir! I could not see what happened to him. It was a sore trial for such a man: a warrior, and a lord of men. Galadriel told me that he was in peril. But he escaped in the end. I am glad. It was not in vain that the young hobbits came with us, if only for Boromir’s sake.’

Related Characters: Gandalf (speaker), Boromir, Peregrin “Pippin” Took , Meriadoc “Merry” Brandybuck, Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas

Related Symbols: The Ring

Page Number and Citation: 104

Explanation and Analysis:

‘I have spoken words of hope. But only of hope. Hope is not victory. War is upon us and all our friends, a war in which only the use of the Ring could give us surety of victory. It fills me with great sorrow and great fear: for much shall be destroyed and all may be lost. I am Gandalf, Gandalf the White, but Black is mightier still.’

He rose and gazed out eastward, shading his eyes, as if he saw things far away that none of them could see. Then he shook his head. ‘No,’ he said in a soft voice, ‘it has gone beyond our reach. Of that at least let us be glad. We can no longer be tempted to use the Ring. We must go down to face a peril near despair, yet that deadly peril is removed.’

Related Characters: Gandalf (speaker), Sauron, Frodo Baggins, Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas

Related Symbols: The Ring

Page Number and Citation: 108-109

Explanation and Analysis:

Gimli Character Timeline in The Two Towers

The timeline below shows where the character Gimli appears in The Two Towers. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...the hobbits, mourns the collapse of the Fellowship and weeps over Boromir’s body. Legolas and Gimli find him there, also summoned—too late—by the sound of Boromir’s horn. The three companions plan... (full context)

...a lament for Boromir, asking the West, South, and North Winds for news of him. Gimli declines to sing a final verse about the East Wind, to which Aragorn agrees that... (full context)

...would find it hard to leave Sam behind even if he intended to leave alone. Gimli thinks it’s strange that Frodo would leave without the rest of the Company, but Aragorn... (full context)

Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli must now decide whether to follow Frodo and Sam across the river or rescue Merry... (full context)

...The orcs are quick and tireless, trampling down anything in their way. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli must follow them on foot. They resolve to press on through the day and into... (full context)

...Pippin ran away from the trail and left the brooch for him as a sign. Gimli is heartened—Pippin is alive and has “the use of his wits, and of his legs,... (full context)

Gimli wishes for a phial of light like the one Galadriel gave Frodo, but Aragorn argues... (full context)

Legolas wakes up Aragorn and Gimli, claiming that something strange awaits them by the forest and that they’re called to it.... (full context)

...orcs were taking the other way, but Legolas can’t see any hobbits among them. Though Gimli is wary of being attacked by the riders, Aragorn decides to wait and ask them... (full context)

...entranced by the mention of Galadriel, then accuses them of being sorcerers and asks why Gimli and Legolas don’t speak for themselves. (full context)

Gimli insists that the rider give his name first. The man says he is Éomer son... (full context)

...heir of Isildur and demands, “Will you aid me or thwart me? Choose swiftly!” To Gimli and Legolas, watching amazed, Aragorn seems to have grown in stature before their eyes. In... (full context)

...burned by the Rohirrim. By nightfall, they have found no sign of the hobbits, and Gimli believes their bodies were burned with the orcs. He remembers that Elrond was against the... (full context)

The Three Hunters make camp and Aragorn warns Gimli against cutting living wood from Fangorn to start a fire. When they do build a... (full context)

At dawn, the Three Hunters search the ground for signs of the hobbits. Gimli is still certain that the old man they saw the previous night was Saruman, but... (full context)

...hill, Legolas sees a bent old man wearing gray rags and leaning on a staff. Gimli suddenly shouts that the old man is Saruman and urges Legolas to prepare his bow... (full context)

...friends, claiming he wishes to speak with them, and begins to climb up the hill. Gimli again urges Legolas to shoot, but Legolas drops his bow when the old man tells... (full context)

Gimli lunges for the old man with his axe, demanding to know where the hobbits are.... (full context)

...that they’ve met again as “the great storm is coming, but the tide has turned.” Gimli laughs to see Gandalf dressed in white rather than grey and Gandalf answers that he... (full context)

...Ring was almost revealed to Sauron and helped to protect it by fighting Sauron mentally. Gimli asks how Frodo is, but Gandalf doesn’t know. Frodo was saved from danger that time,... (full context)

Gandalf confirms for Gimli that it was Saruman that they saw at the edge of their fire the night... (full context)

...that though Mordor has Nine Riders, they have One White Rider, Gandalf. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli agree to follow him to Rohan. (full context)

Before they depart, Legolas and Gimli ask what happened to Gandalf after they parted. He tells his story: he fell a... (full context)

...a seagull cry, his heart will no longer rest in the forests of his home. Gimli asks if there is a message for him, and Legolas wonders why he would want... (full context)

...ride to war rather than lead the women away to safety, and Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli will accompany him. (full context)

...a gift. Gandalf chooses Shadowfax, whom Théoden gives him happily, along with armor for Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas. (full context)

As they set off, Gimli complains again about riding and fighting from horseback. Éowyn stands alone in the doorway of... (full context)

...forces set behind the Deeping Wall, a twenty-foot battlement set with slits for shooting through. Gimli and Legolas stand on top of the wall and anticipate the battle to come, wishing... (full context)

...beams and stones. A dozen orcs, hiding among the dead, attempt to ambush Éomer, but Gimli beheads two and the rest flee. Éomer thanks Gimli for his aid. Returning to his... (full context)

...Helm’s Deep when the orcs gain entry through the culvert where the stream flows out. Gimli and Legolas leap down to meet them. Together with the men of Westfold, they press... (full context)

...badly, but Legolas still has hope since Aragorn is with them. Aragorn tells Legolas that Gimli was swept away from him by the enemy, and Legolas calls it “evil news”—he wanted... (full context)

...reached the Hornburg and was last seen fighting in the mouth of the Deep with Gimli. Aragorn finds Théoden and reports that, while they have supplies to shelter in Helm’s Deep,... (full context)

That morning, Théoden and Gandalf reunite, along with Aragorn, Legolas, and Erkenbrand. Éomer and Gimli, who had been driven back into the Deep, emerge also, Gimli announcing his final number... (full context)

...wants to talk to the trees; he senses wrath from them, but only towards orcs. Gimli urges him not to, explaining that he doesn’t love trees. The dwarves find the same... (full context)

Gandalf laughs and greets Merry, then Gimli happily chides him for making the Three Hunters worry for the hobbits’ safety while they... (full context)

Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas remain behind with the hobbits, who lead the way into Saruman’s guard-house for... (full context)

...hobbits gathered that there was a great battle happening and worried about Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. Later that night led by Treebeard, the ents broke the dams and poured water into... (full context)

The hobbits spent a lonely night on the arch and woke to a peaceful morning. Gimli wonders how Wormtongue got into the tower with Saruman. Pippin explains that he arrived on... (full context)

Saruman flatters and offer help to Théoden, who hesitates before Gimli breaks the silence and calls Saruman a liar. Saruman addresses Théoden again, asking to make... (full context)

...introduces him to the Three Hunters. Legolas praises Fangorn forest and asks permission to bring Gimli there. Treebeard is wary of a dwarf with an axe but agrees once he hears... (full context)

Gimli Character Analysis

Gimli Quotes in The Two Towers

Book 3, Chapter 1 Quotes

Book 3, Chapter 2 Quotes

Book 3, Chapter 5 Quotes

Gimli Character Timeline in The Two Towers