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Main characters

Protagonists:

• Frodo Baggins, bearer of the One Ring, given to him by Bilbo Baggins.
• Samwise Gamgee, gardener and friend of the Bagginses
• Meriadoc Brandybuck (Merry), Frodo's cousin
• Peregrin Took (Pip or Pippin), Frodo's cousin
• Gandalf, a wizard. He is a Maia, an angelic being sent by the god-like Valar to fight Sauron. He bears the Ring of Fire, one of the three Elven rings, given to him by Círdan of the Grey Havens.
• Aragorn, descendant of Isildur and rightful heir to the thrones of Arnor and Gondor
• Legolas Greenleaf, an Elf prince and son of King Thranduil of Mirkwood
• Gimli, son of Glóin
• Denethor, ruling Steward of Gondor and Lord of Minas Tirith.
• Boromir, the eldest son of Denethor
• Faramir, younger brother of Boromir
• Galadriel, Elf co-ruler of Lothlórien, and grandmother of Arwen Undómiel (Arwen Evenstar). Keeper of one of the three Elven rings.
• Celeborn, Elf co-ruler of Lothlórien, husband of Galadriel, and grandfather of Arwen Undómiel
• Elrond, Half-elven Lord of Rivendell and father of Arwen Undómiel. Keeper of another of the Elven rings.
• Bilbo Baggins, Frodo's adoptive uncle
• Théoden, King of Rohan
• Éomer, the 3rd Marshal of the Mark and Théoden's nephew. Later King of Rohan after Théoden's death.
• Éowyn, sister of Éomer, who disguises herself as a male warrior named Dernhelm to fight beside Théoden.
• Treebeard, oldest of the Ents

Antagonists:

• Sauron, the Dark Lord and titular Lord of the Rings, a fallen Maia who helped the Elves forge the Rings of Power long ago. Lieutenant of Morgoth in the First Age.
• The Nazgûl or Ringwraiths, men enslaved by Sauron when they accepted his treacherous gifts of 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 wizard who seeks the One Ring for himself. Corrupted by Sauron through the palantír. Like Gandalf, he is a Maia.
• Gríma Wormtongue, a secret servant of Saruman and traitor to Rohan, who poisons Théoden's perceptions with well placed "advice".
• Gollum, a river hobbit originally named Sméagol.
• Various Orcs, soldiers of Mordor or Isengard. Those who play significant roles in the story include Uglúk, captain of the Uruk-hai of Isengard, Grishnákh, orc of Mordor and Uglúk's antagonist, Shagrat of Cirith Ungol, and Gorbag of Minas Morgul.
• Shelob, a giant spider who dwells in the passes above Minas Morgul.
• The Balrog, a fire-demon dwelling beneath the Mines of Moria awakened by the digging and mining of Dwarves.
• The Haradrim, Men residing south of Gondor. Allies of Sauron.
• The Easterlings, Men of the East of Middle-earth who follow Sauron.
• The Corsairs of Umbar, enemies of Gondor.