pdf Hobbit Character Guide - Baker & Taylor

Character GuideTHE FELLOWSHIPAragorn (aka Strider)Representing the race of men in the Fellowship, Aragorn is heir to the Kingdom of Gondor. As a Ranger, he is a warriorwho is well equipped to serve and protect his countrymen and Frodo.BoromirA man of noble background fighting to protect his people from the Dark Lord, Sauron. Boromir sees his appointment tothe Fellowship as a way to do this, but he is tempted by the power of the Ring.Frodo BagginsThe bearer of the Ring. After receiving the Ring from his cousin, Bilbo Baggins, this brave hobbit must travel far fromhome to the Crack of Doom in order to destroy it.Gandalf the GreyThis wise and powerful wizard knows the history and power of the One Ring and plays a crucial role in the struggleagainst the Lord of the Rings. Gandalf guides Frodo and the rest of the Fellowship on their perilous quest.GimliThe council of Elrond chooses Gimli, an energetic, axe-wielding warrior, to represent the dwarves in the Fellowship.LegolasLegolas’s archery skills and physical prowess make this elf a worthy asset to the Fellowship.Meriadoc Brandybuck (aka Merry)Not one to be left out, the hobbit Merry finagles a spot as a member of the Fellowship. Like Pippin, he adds a touch ofmerriment to their serious mission while at the same time aiding his friend Frodo.

Peregrin Took (aka Pippin)A hobbit who is a family friend of Frodo’s, the fun-loving Pippin helps keep the Fellowship in high spirits on their longjourney.Samwise GamgeeSam, a gardener by profession, grows from a simple-minded hobbit into Frodo’s most trusted and loyal companion andfriend as he accompanies the Ringbearer on his quest.FRIENDS OF THE FELLOWSHIPBilbo BagginsAs told in The Hobbit , Bilbo obtained the Ring from Gollum and kept it in his possession for a number of years beforepassing it on his young cousin Frodo.Denethor IIThe father of Faramir and Boromir, Denethor is the last Ruling Steward of Gondor. Deeply depressed after Boromir’sdeath, he attempts to burn both himself and Faramir in a pyre; Faramir is saved by Pippin, Gandalf, and Beregond.ElrondFather of Arwen, son-in-law of Galadriel and Celeborn, and founder and master of Rivendell, which becomes one of thegreatest elven refuges during the time of the War of the Ring, this wise elf holds the greatest of the Three Elven Rings,Vilya.ÉomerThe nephew of King Théoden and brother of Éowyn, Éomer is an accomplished and loyal captain of Rohan.Éowynis shieldmaiden of Rohan, niece of Théoden, and sister of Éomer. Her love for Aragorn is unrequited, but she plays apivotal role in the Battle of Pelennor Fields.EntsThe Ents, among the original inhabitants of Middle-earth, are essentially spirits inhabiting trees. They look like a crossbetween men and the trees they reside in. Their personalities also reflect the nature of their trees. Ents are slow-thinkingand slow to act, but they are powerful beings capable of cracking rocks and moving huge quantities of earth quickly andeasily.FaramirBrother of Boromir, less favored son of Denethor II, and captain of the Rangers of Ithilien, Faramir is healed by Aragornafter his father nearly cremates him. He later falls in love with Éowyn.Galadriel (aka the Lady of Lórien)The majestic elf queen of Lothlórien, wife of Celeborn, rules with benevolence and grace. She aids the Fellowship withspecial gifts and sound counsel, products of her power and wisdom.ThéodenThe seventeenth King of Rohan, uncle of Éowyn and Éomer, Théoden falls under the spell of his counselor Gríma, anagent of Saruman, but is healed by Gandalf.Treebeard (aka Fangorn)The guardian of Fangorn Forest, Treebeard is the oldest surviving Ent and the oldest living being in Middle-earth. He isresponsible for leading the other Ents to fight Saruman in the War of the Ring.

FOES OF THE FELLOWSHIPBalrog of Khazad-dûmBalrogs are spirits of fire who bear whips of flame and are cloaked in darkness. Many died long ago in the Great Battle; thefew that survived hid underground, including one in the depths of the dwarf-dwelling of Khazad-dûm. When the dwarvesfled, Sauron filled Khazad-dûm with orcs and trolls. The Balrog rules over these creatures in a reign of terror.GollumOriginally called Sméagol, this hobbit became an unrecognizable and disfigured creature under the power of the OneRing. Many years after the War of the Ring, Sméagol murdered his cousin Déagol to gain possession of the Ring, thenretreated from the world with it. When he lost the Ring under the Misty Mountains, Bilbo Baggins recovered it. Since thattime, Gollum has followed the Ring, trying to win it back.Gríma (aka Wormtongue)A man of Rohan, chief counselor to King Théoden, and agent of Saruman. Gríma enfeebles the king and passes informationabout Rohan on to Saruman; Éowyn was to have been his prize. Gríma flees to Isengard when Gandalf revivesThéoden and is eventually killed by hobbits.Nazgûl (aka the Ringwraiths or the Dark Riders)These nine were once powerful kings of men, but they became Sauron’s principal servants of evil when he gave each ofthem a ring that he controls. They are strongest at night, when their power nearly exceeds Gandalf’s.OrcsThese fierce warriors dwell in lands controlled by Sauron and are involved in many conflicts with the inhabitants ofMiddle-earth. Orcs are adept with many weapons, including bows, spears, and swords. Weakened by the sun, they livemainly underground. With an affinity for blood and raw flesh, orcs often eat men, ponies, and their own kind.Saruman the WhiteOnce a great and powerful wizard, the secretive Saruman may have been corrupted by the Dark Lord, Sauron.SauronThe Dark Lord and maker of the One Ring that holds power over all the others, Sauron is the most powerful being in Middle-earth.The evil lord has put much of his own strength into the One Ring, and as long as it still exists, Sauron cannot befully destroyed.ShelobShelob is a great spider who guards an entrance to Mordor and lives on men, elves, and orcs trapped in her lair. WhenGollum guides Frodo and Sam to her, she paralyzes Frodo and is stabbed by Sam.TrollsTrolls are very large, strong, thick-skinned creatures who hoard treasure, kill for pleasure, and eat all types of raw flesh.As Sauron gains control over them, the trolls become increasingly dangerous, and Sauron enhances their senses withwickedness. Trolls turn to stone when exposed to sunlight.Uruk-HaiA strain of orcs bred by Sauron, Uruk-Hai are almost as tall as men and are not weakened by sunlight. They are preferredin battle by Sauron and Saruman.