ProfessorJ. R. R. Tolkien’sworld of Arda is one of the most detailed and thought-out fantasy worlds in fiction. With a history spanning hundreds and thousands of years, it has already seen countless conflicts between the forces of good and evil before the beginning of Tolkien’s best-known work,The Lord of the Rings.In the early 2000s,Sir Peter Jacksonadapted the books into a trilogy of films that have become juggernauts of cinema and introduced a new generation of people to Tolkien’s world.
Tolkien drew from many sources when creating his legendarium, including history, Germanic mythology, the poemBeowulf, and his time in World War I. Thus, his stories display the wide spectrum of heroism, from noble warriors of ancient bloodlines to humble countryfolk standing alongside their friends.This list will rank the most heroic characters across theLord of the Ringstrilogybased on their actions, behaviors, and what they actually stand for.
Played by Sean Bean
The eldest son of the Steward of Gondor, Denethor (John Noble), Boromir (Sean Bean) is a hero to his people as he leads them in the fight against the orcs of Mordor. Yet, on his father’s orders, he heads north to Rivendell at the request of Elrond (Hugo Weaving), who has called a council to decide what is to be done with the One Ring. He joins the fellowship that will protect the ring bearer, Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), as he journeys to Mordor, but the power of the ring tempts Boromir to use it for his people.
Boromir is one of the best examples of the tragic herowho gives into darkness with the best of intentions. At heart, he is a man wholoves his country so deeply that he would lay down his life, and his desire to claim the ring was born from the idea of using it as a weapon to destroy Sauron (Alan Howard) and save his people. Boromir redeems himself in the end by battling against Saruman’s (Sir Christopher Lee) Uruk-hai to protect the hobbits Meriadoc Brandybuck (Dominic Monaghan) and Peregrin Tooke (Billy Boyd), though it costs him his life.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Played by David Wenham
While Denethor heaps praise upon Boromir for his courage and leadership abilities, he shows nothing but disdain towards his younger son, Faramir (David Wenham). Part of this contempt is due to Faramir’s friendship with the wizard Gandalf (Sir Ian McKellen), whom Denethor feared was trying to undermine his control of Gondor. For his part, Faramir does not let his father’s opinion distract him from his duty, and he leads a company of rangers to strike from the wilderness against the forces of Mordor.
Faramir’s character undergoes some alterationsin the adaptation process, but his heroic traits remain mostly intact. Unlike Boromir, Faramir allows Frodo to leave with the ring, demonstratinghis wisdom and ability to see the greater picturedespite immediate peril. This restraint set him apart as a leader who values duty over personal ambition.
Played by Sir Ian McKellen
One of the five wizards sent to combat Sauron’s evil, Gandalf the Grey traveled all over Middle-earth, watching for signs of Sauron and encouraging the free people to fight back in small ways. He was chosen to lead the fellowship on their journey to Mordor but perished when battling a Balrog. However,he was revived as Gandalf the Whiteand given the new task of rallying the kingdoms of men to fight Sauron’s hoards head-on.
While Gandalf may be an immortal being, his physical form means that he is limited in how much of his power he can use. Thus, his greatest power comes from how he cankindle hope in the darkest of moments and inspire mento fight through despair and stand defiantly against the forces of darkness. Arguably, this remarkable quality is best demonstrated not when Gandalf is leading men into battle, but in the quiet moments where he can calm a frightened hobbit with eloquent descriptions of how death is not the end.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
7Meriadoc Brandybuck
Played by Dominic Monaghan
When Frodo left The Shire to bring the One Ring to Rivendell, he was aided by two of his cousins, Merry and Pippin. Both of them joined the fellowship and were inseparable until Pippinused a Palantir, making Sauron believe he had the ring. As Gandalf brings Pippin to Minas Tirith, Merry offers his services to King Théoden (Bernard Hill) of Rohan.
Merry is an example of howcourage and heroics can come from unlikely sources. Though just an average hobbit in the beginning, Merry’s adventures see him develop a sense of honor and conviction that drives him to do what he can to aid in the war. His chance comes during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, where he wounds the Witch King of Angmar (Lawrence MakoareandAndy Serkis) so that Théoden’s niece, Éowyn (Miranda Otto), can kill him.
Played by Miranda Otto
After the death of their parents, Éowyn and her brother Éomer (Karl Urban) are raised by their uncle, King Théoden. Though he loved them both, Éowyn found herself feeling restricted by courtly life and longed to seek glory in battle. Thus, when Théoden rides to lift the siege of Minas Tirith, Éowyn follows, disguised as a man, and avenges her uncle by killing the Witch King of Angmar.
It takes tremendous courage to not only ride off to war for the first time but to stand against the greatest servant of Sauron and not give into fear. Yet one could argue that Éowyn’s most heroic moment comes after this victory whenshe meets Faramir in the House of Healing. When once all she wished for was a glorious death in battle, Éowyn chooses to live and work towards building a better future, showing thatthe greatest warriors are those who know when to put down their swords.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Played by Bernard Hill
As the forces of Saruman ravage Rohan, King Théoden does nothing to protect his people, as he is being controlled by his advisor, Grima Wormtongue (Brad Dourif), who has joined Saruman. Gandalf eventually arrives and uses his magic to restore Théoden’s mind, but not before his son is killed in battle. Though things look dire, Théoden leads his people in the defense of Helm’s Deep and later gives his life to save Minas Tirith from Sauron’s army.
Théoden represents the best attributes of a noble king, especially when compared to Denethor of Gondor. Unlike Denethor, who succumbs to hopelessness and abandons his people, Théoden masters his emotions and finds renewed strength in his responsibility as king. He cements himself as a man who faces fate with honor and bravery,more than worthy of standing alongside the great kings of the past.
4Bilbo Baggins
Played by Sir Ian Holm and Martin Freeman
Once a respected member of hobbit society, Bilbo Baggins’ (Sir Ian HolmandMartin Freeman) life changed when Gandalf sent him on an adventure with thirteen dwarves to reclaim their mountain from the dragon, Smaug (Benedict Cumberbatch). During his journey, Bilbo discovers two things: his courage and the One Ring, though at the time its powers were dormant. He spent the next sixty years in the Shire until, on his 111th birthday, he departed for Rivendell and left everything in the possession of his nephew, Frodo.
Bilbo’s quest to the Lonely Mountain was full of moments that forced Bilbo to step up, from rescuing the dwarves from the elf king’s palace to sneaking into Smaug’s lair, but two best represent his heroism. The first is whenhe gives the Arkenstoneto Bard (Luke Evans) in the hopes of preventing a war, though it costs him the friendship of Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage). The second comes decades later, when heovercomes the One Ring’s tempting powerand becomesthe first confirmed character to willingly relinquish it.
Viggo Mortensen
As the heir to Isildur (Harry Sinclair), Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) is the rightful King of Gondor. He spent most of his life in the north as one of the Dúnedain Rangers, patrolling the wilds and assisting Gandalf in the fight against Sauron’s forces. He joins the fellowship to protect Frodo, but breaks off to aid Merry and Pippin with Gimli the dwarf (John Rhys-Davies) and Legolas the elf (Orlando Bloom), leading Aragorn down the path to claiming his crown.
Aragorn embodies the mythological hero archetype that inspired Tolkien,drawing from legendary figures like King Arthur and Beowulf. He is a warrior-king who fights directly against evil, not for power or glory, but for duty and honor, even if he is at times reluctant to accept his birthright. Yet when the dust has settled, and Aragorn wieldsthe sword Andúril, forged from the fragments of Narsil, there is no denying that heearned his crown thanks to his kindness and selfless bravery, making him one of Tolkien’s most enduring characters.
2Frodo Baggins
Played by Elijah Wood
After losing his parents to a boating accident, Frodo was adopted by his uncle Bilbo, with whom he shares a birthday, and made his heir. Thus, the One Ring passed to him, but Frodo selflessly volunteers to carry it to Mordor, though every step causes its power to weigh heavier upon him. When Boromir tries to take the ring, Frodo breaks off from the fellowship with his friend, Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin), to continue alone, though new trouble emerges when they are followed by the ring’s previous owner, Gollum (Andy Serkis).
Unlike traditional heroes, Frodo’s strength comes not from martial power but fromresilience, endurance, and moral courage.He accepted the burden of ring-bearerbecause nobody else could do it, and to walk away would mean damning the world to darkness. Even as the ring whispers in his mind to give into despair and claim it for himself, Frodo stays the course and even retains his compassion through his attempts to empathize with Gollum.
1Samwise Gamgee
Played by Sean Astin
Before Frodo acquired the ring, Samwise Gamgee lived a humble life as the Baggins' gardener who wished nothing more than to tend to plants and marry Rosie Cotton (Sarah McLeod). Everything changes when Gandalf tasks Sam with accompanying Frodo to Rivendell, and when Frodo vows to take the ring to Mordor, Sam quickly adds his name to the fellowship. He sticks by Frodo’s side as they make their way into Mordor and keeps a watchful eye on Gollum, ever suspicious that he might try to steal back the One Ring.
Tolkien based Sam onordinary people thrust into a life of dangerduring the Great War, so it’s no surprise that he isone of the best characters in Middle-earth. Everything Sam does is out of love and loyalty to his friend, and not once does he think about abandoning the quest. Whether it’s facing down a spider-demon or supporting Frodo at his lowest moments, Sam demonstrates thatthe true mark of a hero is the strength of their heartand that even someone as humble as a gardener can accomplish the impossible.
NEXT:I Can’t Believe J.R.R. Tolkien Almost Retconned One of His Most Iconic Characters
