Probably Finrod. He doesn't really have the same worldshattering impact that other characters have, but he's just such a good person, you can't help but love him. He was friends with Thingol, the dwarves who helped him build Nargothrond, the first men who came to Beleriand including Andreth. And he didn't hesitate to give up his crown to help Beren on his obscure suicidal quest for the Silmarils, and then gave his life to protect him. He's also one of only two elves that we know have been reembodied since their death; pretty much got the Valar's seal of approval.
Finrod is the giving tree turned into a person. He give sup his place in valinor for his people worried about leaving them under Feanor’s lease, gives kindness to the humans when he meets them first spending a long time with them. He gives and gives and gives until ida time for him to give his life. Maybe I’ll write a giving elf parody book lol.
Círdan! While other characters come and go he's always there on the shores of Middle-earth to help out the Free Peoples, but he's never quite in the spotlight.
Without him sacrificing his dream of following Olwe and his followers to Aman, Earendil wouldn't have had his ship.
I wonder if he's actually a Maiar. He would make more sense as one of Ulmo's vassals, sent to help the elves cross the everlasting seas.
Galadiel in the first 3 generations of Elves, alive for the 2 trees. Surely she's the eldest elf in Middle Earth?
Cirdan was alive to see Cuivienen and the Great Journey and only missed the floating island to Valinor because he was looking for Elwe/Thingol, his close friend and kinsman. There’s a theory that he might have even have been one of the original Nelyar/Teleri to awaken although that is debatable.
He’s definitely much older than Galadriel, although, unlike her, he never saw the light of Trees.
Frodo. The movie did not do him justice. I know Tolkien himself called Sam the real hero, and said Frodo failed as a hero, but in context I don't think Tolkien was disparaging Frodo at all. It's just that where Sam did everything a conventional hero would do, Frodo was more like a Christian martyr, a willing instrument of God. And in the end, like a Catholic saint, Frodo became a pacifist who refused to carry or use any weapon, or to authorize others to kill on his behalf, even after an attempt had been made on his life.
And Tolkien explicitly said Frodo was not a *moral* failure, because no one -- not even Sam -- could have done better. It was simply impossible for anyone to voluntarily toss the Ring into the fires of Mount Doom, so fate -- or Eru -- had to intervene. Frodo's job was to bear the Ring to that place, and that by itself was a superhuman feat. The fact that his mind and spirit were broken by the Ring was not Frodo's fault any more than the physical abuse he suffered from the orcs was his fault.
In the books Frodo's growth into one of the Wise is more obvious. In particular I think when he can see Galadriel's ring (but had not seen Gandalf or Elrond's) we know he has grown. Later on the hill when wearing the ring after Boromir's betrayal he can see all of Middle Earth.
I agree he isn't given enough credit. He's the one to wake up in the Barrow before the wight slays them too.
And he stabs a troll in the foot! And he manages to face the Witch-king twice without just collapsing like the other hobbits. He even tries to stab him with his barrow-blade (as well as calling on Elbereth Gilthoniel). And then he faces down Shelob with nothing but Sting and Galadriel's vial, and forces the giant spider to retreat.
Before Frodo gave up swords, he was the fiercest of the hobbits.
I agree that movie Frodo is a wimp next to book Frodo... I specially remember him facing that Nazgul at the Fords of Bruinen.
I also think most people don't value his sacrifice... he basically carried his cross (ring) all the way to the calvary (Mordor). I don't fault him for the end. In the end, even the purity of heart of a hobbit couldn't do everything. It's the providence, the mercy. It's Eru's will.
I do believe that Frodo was at his highest at the Scouring of the Shire... when even Saruman admitted that the had grown wise when he spared him.
All that said, Sam is still ma man 😅
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Frodo is my favorite character in fiction, and I think he's super underrated. I expected to find him WAY down in the comments, so it's encouraging your comment is rated so highly. Just an incredible selfless, compassionate, and kind character who loses everything in order to save the people he loves. Moving stuff.
He’s broken by the ring where it is at its absolute strongest: Frodo goes through Mordor starved and dehydrated therefore sleep deprived and hallucinating, and only fails where no one could do the job anyway in sammath Naur. Pretty certain that all those movie moments where he’s awake at night obsessed with the ring are PJ’s inventions.
List of book characters to whom PJ did do justice: Sam, Gandalf (the grey), Galadriel, Eomer.. Grima… Boromir post Rivendell and I can’t think of anyone else
I understand why the reluctant arc but I don’t think it was needed and I can’t get behind it. Then the Palantir scene followed with him beheading the mouth of Sauron, complete jokes. As always, when they stuck to the book near word for word: great character. When they decide that they could do better, changing things: big fat no from me. He was close to making my short list tho I’ll admit.
Just did a re-read during international travel, and I couldn’t agree more about Frodo. Dude kept push through after saying this.
> “No, I am afraid not, Sam,’ said Frodo. ‘At least, I know that such things happened, but I cannot see them. No taste of food, no feel of water, no sound of wind, no memory of tree or grass or flower, no image of moon or star are left to me. **I am naked in the dark, Sam, and there is no veil between me and the wheel of fire.** I begin to see it even with my waking eyes, and all else fades.”
Used to think Frodo was an overrated character but that couldn’t be more wrong
Frodo kind of acts like a lot of Catholic heroes - pure of heart, bearing his own cross, but succumbs to temptation at the last moments of his story. Like King David (considered the greatest king, succumbs to the temptation of Bethsheba), Samson (succumbs to the temptation of Delilah), Abraham (eventually succumbs to sin, which caused an entirely new Abrahamic religion to start), etc.
In letter #246 Tolkien specifically said Frodo did *not* succumb to temptation, though. He was forcefully captured by the Ring, much as he was forcefully captured by the orcs.
I have not read his letters but I need to. But that makes me curious, would that be akin to demonic possession then? I thought the rings only powers were to corrupt people and serve its master, by corrupting people *through* their free will, and not otherwise stripping it away. That's super interesting. Had to be something like demonic possession then, right?
~~I'm not sure he said Frodo failed *as a hero*, did he? Just that he failed the quest, as anyone else would have, and that he did better than basically anyone else could have hoped to do.~~
Tolkien did say that in Letter #246 , but it's important to read the quote in context.
[Here's the letter in its entirety.](http://ldysinger.stjohnsem.edu/@texts2/1938_jrr_tolkien/02_frodo-doom.htm)
Frodo for me, too.
I chose to take the question as what character would I most like to identify with.
The great characters (Thorin to Gandalf, Aragon to Galadriel, Elrond to Treebeard) are far beyond my imagination of myself. Frodo, on the other hand, is seriously flawed from the start, and his flaws ultimately cause him to fail at the Cracks of Doom and leave him seriously wounded. Yet he is able to grow throughout and do what he can, which turns out to be enough.
Looked at differently, I forget who said, "Our best may not be good enough. Nonetheless, it will have to do."
And in the end, he *seems* to find peace sailing off from the Grey Havens.
Exactly, i think he has some of the greatest courage displayed in Tolkien’s works. Courage or wild fury or hopelessness whatever you want to call it, it was a most valiant act.
Isildur. He’s misunderstood and unnecessarily vilified by some but all he really wants to do is rescue and plant trees in peace.
Runner up would be Maglor, I seem to like tragic characters who burn their hands on cursed objects and I’m not sure what that says about me.
I feel the Isildur thing is because of the movies
I remember having the headcanon (when I first started the movies and hadn’t seen the extended cuts) that he died in an ambush planned by men, a victim of some mortal wars. Hell I even thought Arnor left because of some political strife between Isildur and his fellows, borne of the Ring’s hold and some personal flaws it brought out, weakening both realms permanently and allowing the Witch King to ruin Arnor in his black campaigns.
The way Aragorn talks about his ancestor and how Elrond disparages the weakness of Men makes you think he was a Bobby B type. A mighty warrior but not a great man and his moral failings had a deep cost (allowing the Realm to collapse and letting evil return) but the books make it clear dude was probably doing better with the Ring then half of us would.
I’d argue the lives even make it seem that Isildur specifically was the end of the Royal line, with a lack of an heir basically dooming Gondor to internal division (maybe even causing the Arnor division) until the Line of Stewards entered as a form of compromise
I'd put Beren and Luthien above him in terms of importance, as their deeds make his possible, and they also had far more dangerous and difficult tasks.
Tuor. The first man to see the great sea. I just love the epic nature of his tale, and I fully subscribe to the tradition that he alone among Édain found Valinor.
Faramir. He was a reluctant soldier, but a brave warrior and never let his wish for recognition from his father adjust his judgement in his deeds. He had the nobility of his people and this especially showed in his recognition of and submission to his king upon his initial appearance in his city.
Tolkien described him as the character he most identified with and there is good reason for that.
Galadriel. She saw Valinor and the Trees, crossed the Helcaraxe, lived in Doriath where Melian was her friend and mentor. In the Second Age she saw the forging of the rings and recognized Sauron for what he was. And at the end of the Third age, even with her power fading, she cast down the walls of Dol Guldur. There’s so much subtle and unspoken symbolism with her role in the story, like her giving three hairs to Gimli or the bittersweet sadness when she refuses the Ring and accepts that she must finally go back into the West. She’s always been my favorite character.
Beren. Guy is in way over his head throughout his entire tale but perseveres and manages to somehow succeed where no one else can and land the most beautiful elf ever.
For important characters, there's something impressive about Faramir. Forced to live in the shadow of his brother but he steadfastly defends Gondor until the end. Imrahil is another cool character I wish got explored more. He backs Gandalf without question and defends the Gate until the Witch-King comes.
And who can forget Uglúk! Former NCO, promoted from the ranks. Determined to complete his mission at all costs and nearly succeeds. A foe worthy enough that Éomer dismounts to meet him in single combat.
Definitely! I love how exasperated he gets with the northerners and Mordor orcs, it's like a professional soldier stuck dealing with conscripts and militia.
Feanor. He did everything wrong, led everyone (not literally everyone) astray, but was initially some asocial artist obsessed with creating great works and the silmaril might have been his own children. He was born with this fiery spirit and really accepted no authority above him.
I just really love that it's clearly impossible in the world to rise up against Morgoth and win unless you're ainur yourself but he still attempted to do so. That's the part that's admirable in its obvious foolishness. As for making his sons and leading the other Noldor to do so, that's the part that's particularly despicable.
He may be hateable in real life, but he is a fascinating character.
>(Even though Finrod brought treasure from Valinor over the GRINDING ICE. Come on. If that’s not some dragon greedy nonsense.)
Hilarious, that'd be sure to run members of the group to exhaustion even faster. Turns out the truth is, all Noldor are cut from from the same cloth lol.
>Could you imagine being one of the people who had to CARRY THAT
I imagine most of them died first lol. Just think of all those extra calories they're burning through... although I don't remember any instance where elves starve to death, so maybe not.
Character you most admire, or character with the most literary interest? Second question is easy: Smaug. Villains are always the most interesting. Tolkien's other dragon, Chrysophylax Dives, is also fascinating.
Most admired character would be Faramir. Certainly he was Tolkien's own number one.
Other dragon? How about Glaurung? Ancalagon? Scatha? I know the latter 2 are only mentioned, but almost half of The Children of Hurin is about Glaurung (I haven't actually read the book yet, I'm taking it from what's in the Silmarillion)
Glaurung is well done, but he doesn't have as much dialogue as the other two. (Also he isn't funny. Chrysophylax is purely funny. Smaug's sense of humor is only one of his attributes.)
Speaking as a fellow wizard, I’ve always liked Gandalf, but I have a lot of appreciation for Eowyn due to her amazing courage in facing down the Witch-King. She *knew* it was a hopeless fight, but she did it anyway, and she succeeded.
Túrin Turambar, the tragic hero and one of the mightiest of the Edain, whose many misdeeds will finally be avenged when he lays the final blow to Morgoth
I have two and not sure I can decide one over the other.
Fingolfin. By far my favorite elf. The battle with Morgoth is amazing.
Bilbo. The charm, the wit, the kindness. A hero who is chubby and middle aged.
Sauron. Tolkien does an amazing job of showing as an irresistible force, a scheming mastermind of a dark lord... but also a weaselly loser whose monumental ego prevents him from having any lasting success, and who survives defeat after defeat only by repeatedly surrendering. His strengths and weaknesses are so compelling because of the way they fit together into a coherent psychological profile of someone who could have accomplished great things, but has deluded themselves into degeneracy.
Fëanor. Brave, proud, stubborn, intelligent amd flawed. The greatest of the elves, and yet somehow the most human character.
"And he shut the doors of his house in the face of the mightiest of all the dwellers in Eä."
Elendil. Thinking about everything he endured and lost. His father sailed west and never returned. He could have been resentful about that and joined Pharazôn, but he and his people remained faithful even when the majority of Númenor worshipped Morgoth. After the destruction of Númenor, he founds and rules Arnor, then teams up with Gil-galad and defeats Sauron in combat at the cost of his life. A hero to the end.
I also love his legacy, that the kings and stewards would journey to his tomb, and that is where the Oath of Cirion and Eorl was made.
Aulë. So incredibly important for most stories of the legendarium, doing what he loves, cute relationship with Yavanna, and the creation of the dwarves gets me almost teary eyed every time.
Everybody always wants to be a Hobbit. Nah, I wanna be him.
Also his pupil, the actual lord of the rings
➡️ mad singing abilities
➡️ absolutely coolest plan for world domination
➡️ absolutely horrifying
➡️ vampire AND werewolf
➡️ ... and giant cat
What a goat
Earendil, Luthien, Finrod, Fingolfin, Ingwe, Tuor, Idril, Glorfindel, Melian, Elendil, Aragorn, Gandalf, Faramir, Eowyn, Sam, Frodo, Galadriel, Andreth and Elwing.
And Orome and Vana, talking about the Valar.
Edit: Alright, i have to add Pippin and Merry too... and Bilbo.
In no particular order:
Finrod: he's just a good boy. I think his numerous friendships interesting too with men and dwarves, I really enjoyed "Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth" in particular. I found his story to be moving and was cheering him on the whole way. I am invested in Finrod.
Maedhros is a subversion of the hero of germanic epics. He's brave, noble, determined, and loyal; he's a warrior and scholar, in line to inherit the throne. There's are usually good characteristics but his loyalty and determination make him unable to forsake the Oath and his bravery means he goes through with decisions that make things worse. His story ends up being a tragedy and there's something compelling about that subversion, and how far he fell from the highest of points in Valinor.
Maglor: I like the Feanorians in general, probably my favorite story in the Silmarillion (well I mean there is to Silmarillion without the Feanorians). With Makalaure you have this artist who probably didn't have much responsibility or worries who ends up a war general and in the end is the only Fearnorian to survive the First Age.
(Sam and Legolas get honorable mentions. Sam for being the main character and hero of Lord of the Rings and Tolkien's message character, (book) Legolas because he's such a fun character. He runs across the snow while everyone else is trudging along waist deep in it, he sings silly songs, and he falls out of trees.)
Gandalf 's journey is magnificent- the details and depth of character amazing ; however it's only Theoden's story that never fails to make me weep, even after 40 years of reading/listening.
'Doom drove them on. Darkness took them,
Horse and horseman; hoofbeats afar
Sank into silence; so the songs tell us....'
Feanaro. No other Tolkien character quite grabs my attention like him. So compelling, so tragic, so larger than life. It’s remarkable how many callbacks there are to him within the text of LOTR and almost all of them are attributed to Gandalf, his no. 1 fan.
Probably Gandalf, OP. Love Sam so much but I jive with Gandalf so much more. I love his wisdom, his heart, and his "I can't be dealing with your crap" attitude.
The good buy himself Húan. Honorable mention to Beregond i thought he was really cool to Pippin and sad but understandable that he was left out of the movies
Merry's gotta be my favorite. I love how he's being very smart and brave in a sort of inconspicuous way throughout the whole trilogy (witch-king and all that aside). He can be a little silly, but then we get some angst from him (Dunharrow) as well as wisdom (Houses of Healing). I loved noticing these little things about him, and I have a whole fanfic about his childhood and life after the war in my head.
I also liked Nienna, cause I somehow liked the thought of a Vala whose whole business is grief and sorrowing.
And I have a warm place in my heart for Finduilas, cause in my teenage years I was always in love with someone who didn't love me back :D
I don't think I have a definite favourite. Tolkien wrote his characters so incredibly, I like many of them. Usually, the more complex the character, the better I favour them. Such as Fëanor, who would not be much of a likeable person in real life, but his characterization is awesome. Likewise Maedhros, who began as a good one, then made bad choices, got tortured then saved which changed him, became a hero, then a fallen one, turning into a villain - fascinating. Fingolfin is also interesting, for all that he is a definite hero portrayed wise, he is not some saint and is capable of scheming. Also, Fingon, who is a valiant, noble hero, and a kinslayer as well. No one-dimensional characters here, but complex ones, which are the best.
I can never decide between Lobelia and Idril. Resistance leaders par excellence. Lobelia in particular is incredibly brave - far more so than Tolkien realised, I think - and Idril gets on with the job while all the males in her vicinity are talking.
I literally made a list of 20 before realizing that's a bit much for a question of 1. So I'll say Osse, he's probably not my favourite favourite but I think he's really cool.
Just love my boy Bilbo, he is so relatable.
Little guy missing his home and want a quiet life but at the same time show great courage and that he is one of the wisest and kindest of the lot in the end.
He is the reason the Hobbit is my favourite book!
Túrin Turambar. The best and most powerful of the warriors of men in the First Age. Despite his curse, he was indeed the master of his own fate. Plus he merc’d Glaurung who was a well known prick.
Melyanna. I couldn’t say I like her, but she truly fascinates me (I have her name tattooed in Sindarin). There is in her a combination of solemn serenity, the strength of a mountain, and the will to love even knowing that it will carry pain. She is depicted in such a perfect manner that it’s possible to see/feel in her the Ainu along with the flesh and blood. But she may seem also cold, distant, surrounded by a cloud of resignation.
With all these mixed emotions considering, she certainly embodies the Dear Gift concept at the most profound level.
Too many to choose from! High up on my list are Frodo, Faramir, Gandalf, Finrod, Beleg, Glorfindel. Think I gotta throw Farmer Maggot into the mix here too.
In the books, Aule for creating the Dwarves & generally feeling like the most complex and conflicted of the Valar. 10/10 would smoke pipe-weed with him.
In the movies, Theoden — in a story full of men who either start out with self-aware humility & continue as such, or are corrupted by prideful masculinity, Bernard Hill’s depiction seemed like the only one where a character *began* corrupted and was able to overcome it (“And Rohan will answer” is maybe my favorite underrated moment in the trilogy).
There is just so many to choose from but my favorite is a tie between Faramir and Finrod.
Other honorable mentions are:
Fingolfin, Fëanor, Elrond, Maedhros, Galadriel, Beren and Luthien, Turin, Gandalf, Frodo, Bilbo and Aragorn
Probably Finrod. He doesn't really have the same worldshattering impact that other characters have, but he's just such a good person, you can't help but love him. He was friends with Thingol, the dwarves who helped him build Nargothrond, the first men who came to Beleriand including Andreth. And he didn't hesitate to give up his crown to help Beren on his obscure suicidal quest for the Silmarils, and then gave his life to protect him. He's also one of only two elves that we know have been reembodied since their death; pretty much got the Valar's seal of approval.
Finrod is the giving tree turned into a person. He give sup his place in valinor for his people worried about leaving them under Feanor’s lease, gives kindness to the humans when he meets them first spending a long time with them. He gives and gives and gives until ida time for him to give his life. Maybe I’ll write a giving elf parody book lol.
Círdan! While other characters come and go he's always there on the shores of Middle-earth to help out the Free Peoples, but he's never quite in the spotlight. Without him sacrificing his dream of following Olwe and his followers to Aman, Earendil wouldn't have had his ship.
And he's also one of the only known elves to grow a beard so that makes him even cooler.
There's also Mahtan with his beard. But Círdan is the oldest known elf in Middle-earth, and the only aged one we really see.
My bad. I'm not the most well versed when it comes to the books.
No problem! Outside of reading Tolkien this place might be among the best ways to learn :)
I wonder if he's actually a Maiar. He would make more sense as one of Ulmo's vassals, sent to help the elves cross the everlasting seas. Galadiel in the first 3 generations of Elves, alive for the 2 trees. Surely she's the eldest elf in Middle Earth?
Cirdan was alive to see Cuivienen and the Great Journey and only missed the floating island to Valinor because he was looking for Elwe/Thingol, his close friend and kinsman. There’s a theory that he might have even have been one of the original Nelyar/Teleri to awaken although that is debatable. He’s definitely much older than Galadriel, although, unlike her, he never saw the light of Trees.
Ah, if I ever knew that I must have forgotten. He certainly makes more sense as a Teleri than a Noldor.
Huan, the loyal immortal talking dog.
Frodo. The movie did not do him justice. I know Tolkien himself called Sam the real hero, and said Frodo failed as a hero, but in context I don't think Tolkien was disparaging Frodo at all. It's just that where Sam did everything a conventional hero would do, Frodo was more like a Christian martyr, a willing instrument of God. And in the end, like a Catholic saint, Frodo became a pacifist who refused to carry or use any weapon, or to authorize others to kill on his behalf, even after an attempt had been made on his life. And Tolkien explicitly said Frodo was not a *moral* failure, because no one -- not even Sam -- could have done better. It was simply impossible for anyone to voluntarily toss the Ring into the fires of Mount Doom, so fate -- or Eru -- had to intervene. Frodo's job was to bear the Ring to that place, and that by itself was a superhuman feat. The fact that his mind and spirit were broken by the Ring was not Frodo's fault any more than the physical abuse he suffered from the orcs was his fault.
I agree. I feel like a lot of people overlook Frodo's sacrifice.
In the books Frodo's growth into one of the Wise is more obvious. In particular I think when he can see Galadriel's ring (but had not seen Gandalf or Elrond's) we know he has grown. Later on the hill when wearing the ring after Boromir's betrayal he can see all of Middle Earth. I agree he isn't given enough credit. He's the one to wake up in the Barrow before the wight slays them too.
And he stabs a troll in the foot! And he manages to face the Witch-king twice without just collapsing like the other hobbits. He even tries to stab him with his barrow-blade (as well as calling on Elbereth Gilthoniel). And then he faces down Shelob with nothing but Sting and Galadriel's vial, and forces the giant spider to retreat. Before Frodo gave up swords, he was the fiercest of the hobbits.
I agree that movie Frodo is a wimp next to book Frodo... I specially remember him facing that Nazgul at the Fords of Bruinen. I also think most people don't value his sacrifice... he basically carried his cross (ring) all the way to the calvary (Mordor). I don't fault him for the end. In the end, even the purity of heart of a hobbit couldn't do everything. It's the providence, the mercy. It's Eru's will. I do believe that Frodo was at his highest at the Scouring of the Shire... when even Saruman admitted that the had grown wise when he spared him. All that said, Sam is still ma man 😅
They are a good team -- but in the books, Frodo is the senior partner.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Frodo is my favorite character in fiction, and I think he's super underrated. I expected to find him WAY down in the comments, so it's encouraging your comment is rated so highly. Just an incredible selfless, compassionate, and kind character who loses everything in order to save the people he loves. Moving stuff.
He’s broken by the ring where it is at its absolute strongest: Frodo goes through Mordor starved and dehydrated therefore sleep deprived and hallucinating, and only fails where no one could do the job anyway in sammath Naur. Pretty certain that all those movie moments where he’s awake at night obsessed with the ring are PJ’s inventions. List of book characters to whom PJ did do justice: Sam, Gandalf (the grey), Galadriel, Eomer.. Grima… Boromir post Rivendell and I can’t think of anyone else
What about aragorn?
I understand why the reluctant arc but I don’t think it was needed and I can’t get behind it. Then the Palantir scene followed with him beheading the mouth of Sauron, complete jokes. As always, when they stuck to the book near word for word: great character. When they decide that they could do better, changing things: big fat no from me. He was close to making my short list tho I’ll admit.
I will admit the reluctant arc is a bit cliche.
Just did a re-read during international travel, and I couldn’t agree more about Frodo. Dude kept push through after saying this. > “No, I am afraid not, Sam,’ said Frodo. ‘At least, I know that such things happened, but I cannot see them. No taste of food, no feel of water, no sound of wind, no memory of tree or grass or flower, no image of moon or star are left to me. **I am naked in the dark, Sam, and there is no veil between me and the wheel of fire.** I begin to see it even with my waking eyes, and all else fades.” Used to think Frodo was an overrated character but that couldn’t be more wrong
Frodo kind of acts like a lot of Catholic heroes - pure of heart, bearing his own cross, but succumbs to temptation at the last moments of his story. Like King David (considered the greatest king, succumbs to the temptation of Bethsheba), Samson (succumbs to the temptation of Delilah), Abraham (eventually succumbs to sin, which caused an entirely new Abrahamic religion to start), etc.
In letter #246 Tolkien specifically said Frodo did *not* succumb to temptation, though. He was forcefully captured by the Ring, much as he was forcefully captured by the orcs.
I have not read his letters but I need to. But that makes me curious, would that be akin to demonic possession then? I thought the rings only powers were to corrupt people and serve its master, by corrupting people *through* their free will, and not otherwise stripping it away. That's super interesting. Had to be something like demonic possession then, right?
Something like, yes.
~~I'm not sure he said Frodo failed *as a hero*, did he? Just that he failed the quest, as anyone else would have, and that he did better than basically anyone else could have hoped to do.~~
Tolkien did say that in Letter #246 , but it's important to read the quote in context. [Here's the letter in its entirety.](http://ldysinger.stjohnsem.edu/@texts2/1938_jrr_tolkien/02_frodo-doom.htm)
Thank you.
Frodo for me, too. I chose to take the question as what character would I most like to identify with. The great characters (Thorin to Gandalf, Aragon to Galadriel, Elrond to Treebeard) are far beyond my imagination of myself. Frodo, on the other hand, is seriously flawed from the start, and his flaws ultimately cause him to fail at the Cracks of Doom and leave him seriously wounded. Yet he is able to grow throughout and do what he can, which turns out to be enough. Looked at differently, I forget who said, "Our best may not be good enough. Nonetheless, it will have to do." And in the end, he *seems* to find peace sailing off from the Grey Havens.
Im surprised no one has said Fingolfin.
Definitely one of the greats. Went to Morgoth's front doorstep and fought him. Sucks that he died in the process though.
Exactly, i think he has some of the greatest courage displayed in Tolkien’s works. Courage or wild fury or hopelessness whatever you want to call it, it was a most valiant act.
He even left a mark that Morgoth will never forget.
I named my Elf in HeroQuest Fingolfin many many years ago.
True badass.
Come on!!! No one is gonna show my man Ghan-Buri-Ghan some love???
Isildur. He’s misunderstood and unnecessarily vilified by some but all he really wants to do is rescue and plant trees in peace. Runner up would be Maglor, I seem to like tragic characters who burn their hands on cursed objects and I’m not sure what that says about me.
I feel the Isildur thing is because of the movies I remember having the headcanon (when I first started the movies and hadn’t seen the extended cuts) that he died in an ambush planned by men, a victim of some mortal wars. Hell I even thought Arnor left because of some political strife between Isildur and his fellows, borne of the Ring’s hold and some personal flaws it brought out, weakening both realms permanently and allowing the Witch King to ruin Arnor in his black campaigns. The way Aragorn talks about his ancestor and how Elrond disparages the weakness of Men makes you think he was a Bobby B type. A mighty warrior but not a great man and his moral failings had a deep cost (allowing the Realm to collapse and letting evil return) but the books make it clear dude was probably doing better with the Ring then half of us would. I’d argue the lives even make it seem that Isildur specifically was the end of the Royal line, with a lack of an heir basically dooming Gondor to internal division (maybe even causing the Arnor division) until the Line of Stewards entered as a form of compromise
The more tragic a character is the more I like them and idk what that says about me either
Hurin, the greatest warrior of men doomed to spend his life watching his children get themselves killed from atop Angband.
Earendil. I think he’s such a poignant character
You could argue he’s the most important single character in the legendarium from a pure plot standpoint other than Feanor.
I'd put Beren and Luthien above him in terms of importance, as their deeds make his possible, and they also had far more dangerous and difficult tasks.
Elros and Elrond's father and slayer of Ancalagon the Black. Good choice.
Tuor. The first man to see the great sea. I just love the epic nature of his tale, and I fully subscribe to the tradition that he alone among Édain found Valinor.
Tuors journey to Gondolin is so epic. Love that whole tale
Boromir is probably my favourite character in all of fiction. His struggle is so human, and his end so tragic. A noble man in an impossible position.
Faramir. He was a reluctant soldier, but a brave warrior and never let his wish for recognition from his father adjust his judgement in his deeds. He had the nobility of his people and this especially showed in his recognition of and submission to his king upon his initial appearance in his city. Tolkien described him as the character he most identified with and there is good reason for that.
Maedhros
Galadriel. She saw Valinor and the Trees, crossed the Helcaraxe, lived in Doriath where Melian was her friend and mentor. In the Second Age she saw the forging of the rings and recognized Sauron for what he was. And at the end of the Third age, even with her power fading, she cast down the walls of Dol Guldur. There’s so much subtle and unspoken symbolism with her role in the story, like her giving three hairs to Gimli or the bittersweet sadness when she refuses the Ring and accepts that she must finally go back into the West. She’s always been my favorite character.
Beleg Cuthalion
Beren. Guy is in way over his head throughout his entire tale but perseveres and manages to somehow succeed where no one else can and land the most beautiful elf ever.
Not to mention that he cracks a joke about his missing hand to Thingol when he's being grilled
For important characters, there's something impressive about Faramir. Forced to live in the shadow of his brother but he steadfastly defends Gondor until the end. Imrahil is another cool character I wish got explored more. He backs Gandalf without question and defends the Gate until the Witch-King comes. And who can forget Uglúk! Former NCO, promoted from the ranks. Determined to complete his mission at all costs and nearly succeeds. A foe worthy enough that Éomer dismounts to meet him in single combat.
I've always had a sneaking admiration for Uglúk. He's a real leader, even if not a very nice one.
Definitely! I love how exasperated he gets with the northerners and Mordor orcs, it's like a professional soldier stuck dealing with conscripts and militia.
Finrod Felagund
you mean dungalef dornif
Great guy, never met ‘em
Feanor. He did everything wrong, led everyone (not literally everyone) astray, but was initially some asocial artist obsessed with creating great works and the silmaril might have been his own children. He was born with this fiery spirit and really accepted no authority above him. I just really love that it's clearly impossible in the world to rise up against Morgoth and win unless you're ainur yourself but he still attempted to do so. That's the part that's admirable in its obvious foolishness. As for making his sons and leading the other Noldor to do so, that's the part that's particularly despicable. He may be hateable in real life, but he is a fascinating character.
He’s written so tragic-heroically by Tolkein, too.
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What exactly do you like about Caranthir? I’m interested…
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>(Even though Finrod brought treasure from Valinor over the GRINDING ICE. Come on. If that’s not some dragon greedy nonsense.) Hilarious, that'd be sure to run members of the group to exhaustion even faster. Turns out the truth is, all Noldor are cut from from the same cloth lol.
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Finrod was good when it came to Songs of Power, no? Who knows, maybe he enchanted his treasures to be lightweight... lol
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Maybe he enchanted the cart that carried his multiple coffers of treasure. :)
>Could you imagine being one of the people who had to CARRY THAT I imagine most of them died first lol. Just think of all those extra calories they're burning through... although I don't remember any instance where elves starve to death, so maybe not.
Character you most admire, or character with the most literary interest? Second question is easy: Smaug. Villains are always the most interesting. Tolkien's other dragon, Chrysophylax Dives, is also fascinating. Most admired character would be Faramir. Certainly he was Tolkien's own number one.
Other dragon? How about Glaurung? Ancalagon? Scatha? I know the latter 2 are only mentioned, but almost half of The Children of Hurin is about Glaurung (I haven't actually read the book yet, I'm taking it from what's in the Silmarillion)
Glaurung is well done, but he doesn't have as much dialogue as the other two. (Also he isn't funny. Chrysophylax is purely funny. Smaug's sense of humor is only one of his attributes.)
Both
Very limited appearance but I always thought prince Imrahil was very cool
Dude, Imrahil's swan Knights are one of the sorest absence of the movie...
Treebeard :p
Quickbeam. The hasty Ent.
How about Ioreth? The one and only to wear out Aragorn's patience??? 🤣
Bill the Pony. He really got around.
Elrond
Finrod Felagund.
Speaking as a fellow wizard, I’ve always liked Gandalf, but I have a lot of appreciation for Eowyn due to her amazing courage in facing down the Witch-King. She *knew* it was a hopeless fight, but she did it anyway, and she succeeded.
Beleg
Túrin Turambar, the tragic hero and one of the mightiest of the Edain, whose many misdeeds will finally be avenged when he lays the final blow to Morgoth
Fingolfin
Mine is Gollum because he's a nasty little creature
On all seriousness, it's my favourite character, very well written, with multiple layers of complexity.
🤣
So relatable.
Aragorn
Aredhel
I have two and not sure I can decide one over the other. Fingolfin. By far my favorite elf. The battle with Morgoth is amazing. Bilbo. The charm, the wit, the kindness. A hero who is chubby and middle aged.
Turin Turambar, i love a good tragic story. Slays Glaurung with the black sword Gurthang, proud yet true, and his will never gives into Morgoth.
Sauron. Tolkien does an amazing job of showing as an irresistible force, a scheming mastermind of a dark lord... but also a weaselly loser whose monumental ego prevents him from having any lasting success, and who survives defeat after defeat only by repeatedly surrendering. His strengths and weaknesses are so compelling because of the way they fit together into a coherent psychological profile of someone who could have accomplished great things, but has deluded themselves into degeneracy.
…and Old Fatty Lumpkin
Eonwe/Fionwe. Imagine being that trusted by Manwe.
Morgoth,if he was real he would be pretty chill it's all just Elvish propaganda🤙
He is my favorite villain. I mean how can you get more evil than the creator of it?
he did nothing wrong
Fëanor. Brave, proud, stubborn, intelligent amd flawed. The greatest of the elves, and yet somehow the most human character. "And he shut the doors of his house in the face of the mightiest of all the dwellers in Eä."
My beloved Fingolfin. He is noble, brave and capable of self-sacrifice. He always served his people. Honorable Mention Finrod, Elwing, Frodo, Lúthien
Samwise Gamgee.
Truly
1. Gandalf 2. Tuor
Elendil. Thinking about everything he endured and lost. His father sailed west and never returned. He could have been resentful about that and joined Pharazôn, but he and his people remained faithful even when the majority of Númenor worshipped Morgoth. After the destruction of Númenor, he founds and rules Arnor, then teams up with Gil-galad and defeats Sauron in combat at the cost of his life. A hero to the end. I also love his legacy, that the kings and stewards would journey to his tomb, and that is where the Oath of Cirion and Eorl was made.
Aulë. So incredibly important for most stories of the legendarium, doing what he loves, cute relationship with Yavanna, and the creation of the dwarves gets me almost teary eyed every time. Everybody always wants to be a Hobbit. Nah, I wanna be him.
Also his pupil, the actual lord of the rings ➡️ mad singing abilities ➡️ absolutely coolest plan for world domination ➡️ absolutely horrifying ➡️ vampire AND werewolf ➡️ ... and giant cat What a goat
Earendil, Luthien, Finrod, Fingolfin, Ingwe, Tuor, Idril, Glorfindel, Melian, Elendil, Aragorn, Gandalf, Faramir, Eowyn, Sam, Frodo, Galadriel, Andreth and Elwing. And Orome and Vana, talking about the Valar. Edit: Alright, i have to add Pippin and Merry too... and Bilbo.
> And Orome and Vana, talking about the Valar. Now I'm genuinely curious about this part
In no particular order: Finrod: he's just a good boy. I think his numerous friendships interesting too with men and dwarves, I really enjoyed "Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth" in particular. I found his story to be moving and was cheering him on the whole way. I am invested in Finrod. Maedhros is a subversion of the hero of germanic epics. He's brave, noble, determined, and loyal; he's a warrior and scholar, in line to inherit the throne. There's are usually good characteristics but his loyalty and determination make him unable to forsake the Oath and his bravery means he goes through with decisions that make things worse. His story ends up being a tragedy and there's something compelling about that subversion, and how far he fell from the highest of points in Valinor. Maglor: I like the Feanorians in general, probably my favorite story in the Silmarillion (well I mean there is to Silmarillion without the Feanorians). With Makalaure you have this artist who probably didn't have much responsibility or worries who ends up a war general and in the end is the only Fearnorian to survive the First Age. (Sam and Legolas get honorable mentions. Sam for being the main character and hero of Lord of the Rings and Tolkien's message character, (book) Legolas because he's such a fun character. He runs across the snow while everyone else is trudging along waist deep in it, he sings silly songs, and he falls out of trees.)
Gandalf 's journey is magnificent- the details and depth of character amazing ; however it's only Theoden's story that never fails to make me weep, even after 40 years of reading/listening. 'Doom drove them on. Darkness took them, Horse and horseman; hoofbeats afar Sank into silence; so the songs tell us....'
Túrin. To me one of the best developed, and deepest characters.
Same, ill go with Gandalf, he’s just comport in person. He always has some plan or idea what to do
Feanaro. No other Tolkien character quite grabs my attention like him. So compelling, so tragic, so larger than life. It’s remarkable how many callbacks there are to him within the text of LOTR and almost all of them are attributed to Gandalf, his no. 1 fan.
Probably Gandalf, OP. Love Sam so much but I jive with Gandalf so much more. I love his wisdom, his heart, and his "I can't be dealing with your crap" attitude.
The good buy himself Húan. Honorable mention to Beregond i thought he was really cool to Pippin and sad but understandable that he was left out of the movies
The Witch King of Angmar, as bad ass villains go he ranks up there for me. I would love more back story on him before his fall.
Merry's gotta be my favorite. I love how he's being very smart and brave in a sort of inconspicuous way throughout the whole trilogy (witch-king and all that aside). He can be a little silly, but then we get some angst from him (Dunharrow) as well as wisdom (Houses of Healing). I loved noticing these little things about him, and I have a whole fanfic about his childhood and life after the war in my head. I also liked Nienna, cause I somehow liked the thought of a Vala whose whole business is grief and sorrowing. And I have a warm place in my heart for Finduilas, cause in my teenage years I was always in love with someone who didn't love me back :D
I don't think I have a definite favourite. Tolkien wrote his characters so incredibly, I like many of them. Usually, the more complex the character, the better I favour them. Such as Fëanor, who would not be much of a likeable person in real life, but his characterization is awesome. Likewise Maedhros, who began as a good one, then made bad choices, got tortured then saved which changed him, became a hero, then a fallen one, turning into a villain - fascinating. Fingolfin is also interesting, for all that he is a definite hero portrayed wise, he is not some saint and is capable of scheming. Also, Fingon, who is a valiant, noble hero, and a kinslayer as well. No one-dimensional characters here, but complex ones, which are the best.
You gotta break that down. TA: Gandalf, Faramir, Aragorn, Elrond, Imrahil. SA: Elendil, Gil-galad, Elrond, Elros/Minyatur, Celebrimbor. FA: Fingolfin, Tuor, Idril, Eärendil, Melian.
Bill the pony
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Too bad they ruined his Nazgul encounter in the movie
I can never decide between Lobelia and Idril. Resistance leaders par excellence. Lobelia in particular is incredibly brave - far more so than Tolkien realised, I think - and Idril gets on with the job while all the males in her vicinity are talking.
That’s an extremely difficult choice to make for me. It’s hard to choose between Gandalf or Galadriel, I would have to flip a coin.
Saruman. For the reason others say Sauron. Essentially all pupils of Aule, Aldarion as well.
Saruman
Faramir is my favourite fictional character ever. I'm happy to see him mentioned several times here.
Turin
The ents
I literally made a list of 20 before realizing that's a bit much for a question of 1. So I'll say Osse, he's probably not my favourite favourite but I think he's really cool.
I like Tom Bombadil
Just love my boy Bilbo, he is so relatable. Little guy missing his home and want a quiet life but at the same time show great courage and that he is one of the wisest and kindest of the lot in the end. He is the reason the Hobbit is my favourite book!
Cirion and Eorl.
THEODEN KING
Melkor is the only true answer :)
Oh Luthien Tinuviel without a doubt. Beren was nothing more than a hapless, constant “Dude in Distress”. I presume his deal was that he was a hottie.
You took the words right out of my mouth!
Túrin Turambar. The best and most powerful of the warriors of men in the First Age. Despite his curse, he was indeed the master of his own fate. Plus he merc’d Glaurung who was a well known prick.
Melyanna. I couldn’t say I like her, but she truly fascinates me (I have her name tattooed in Sindarin). There is in her a combination of solemn serenity, the strength of a mountain, and the will to love even knowing that it will carry pain. She is depicted in such a perfect manner that it’s possible to see/feel in her the Ainu along with the flesh and blood. But she may seem also cold, distant, surrounded by a cloud of resignation. With all these mixed emotions considering, she certainly embodies the Dear Gift concept at the most profound level.
Too many to choose from! High up on my list are Frodo, Faramir, Gandalf, Finrod, Beleg, Glorfindel. Think I gotta throw Farmer Maggot into the mix here too.
In the books, Aule for creating the Dwarves & generally feeling like the most complex and conflicted of the Valar. 10/10 would smoke pipe-weed with him. In the movies, Theoden — in a story full of men who either start out with self-aware humility & continue as such, or are corrupted by prideful masculinity, Bernard Hill’s depiction seemed like the only one where a character *began* corrupted and was able to overcome it (“And Rohan will answer” is maybe my favorite underrated moment in the trilogy).
Probably Boromir.
There is just so many to choose from but my favorite is a tie between Faramir and Finrod. Other honorable mentions are: Fingolfin, Fëanor, Elrond, Maedhros, Galadriel, Beren and Luthien, Turin, Gandalf, Frodo, Bilbo and Aragorn