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Main characters in The Lord of the Rings

For a more comprehensive list of characters see the navigation box The Lord of the Rings at the bottom of this article.

• Frodo Baggins, a well-to-do Hobbit of the Shire who inherits the One Ring.
• Samwise Gamgee, gardener for the Bagginses, who accompanies Frodo on the quest to destroy the Ring.
• Meriadoc Brandybuck, or Merry, Frodo's cousin and companion in the Fellowship.
• Peregrin Took, Pip or Pippin, Frodo's cousin and companion in the Fellowship.
• Gandalf, a Wizard who aids Frodo.
• Aragorn, heir of Isildur and rightful king of Arnor and Gondor.
• Legolas, the Elven prince who aids Frodo and the Fellowship. Son of King Thranduil, King of the Elves of Mirkwood.
• Gimli, son of Glóin, the Dwarf representative in the Fellowship.
• Boromir, the favoured son of Denethor, ruling steward of Gondor.

The following antagonists are also present:

• Sauron, the Dark Lord and titular Lord of the Rings, a fallen sorceror who helped the Elves forge the Rings of Power long ago. He forged the One Ring in secret to control all the other Rings of Power.
• The Nazgûl or Ringwraiths, nine servants of Sauron. Men of old, they were enslaved to the One Ring through the Rings of Power.
• The Witch-king of Angmar, the Lord of the Nazgûl, and Sauron's most powerful servant, who commands Sauron's army.
• Saruman, a corrupted Wizard who seeks the One Ring for himself.
• Gollum, a creature of Hobbit origin who formerly possessed the One Ring, which caused him to turn almost wholly evil and also gave him unnaturally long life.