Characters of the Lord of the Rings series.

Frodo Baggins, hobbit  : Growing up in the hobbits' peaceful land, the Shire, Frodo longed for adventure. When he inherits the all-powerful One Ring from his elderly relative, Bilbo Baggins, Frodo must set of to destroy it to neutralise its violent power. Despite being small and without magic powers, he is able to withstand the ring's temptations better than many others. He is the first to volunteer for the quest that leads to the formation of the fellowship.

Gandalf the Grey, wizard : This powerful, magical being has a soft spot in his heart for the simplicity of the hobbits. After learning that his mentor, Saruman, has gone over to the side of evil, Gandalf helps Frodo in the quest to destroy the ring. Although Gandalf appears to die in the Mines of Moria, wizards can be reborn in more powerful forms.

Samwise Gamgee "Sam", hobbit : Sam, a simple gardener, becomes a loyal ally to Frodo and promises Gandalf that he will protect his friend. When Frodo tries to flee the fellowship in a boat, for fear that the corrupting power of the ring will destroy them all, Sam nearly drowns trying to catch up with him. Frodo rescues Sam from the water and they set of together, with the ring, for Mount Doom.

Legolas, elf : An expert archer, Legolas puts aside his disdain for dwarfs and joins the fellowship. He and Gimli develop a first grudging respect and then real friendship that could be the seed of reconciliation between their feuding cultures.

Aragorn, human : Eons earlier, Aragorn's royal ancestor, Isildur, cut the ring from the hand of its creator, the evil Sauron. But instead of destroying the ring, Isildur became corrupted by its power and eventually lost it. Aragorn, heir to the throne, has avoided humans, living in the wilderness under the name Strider. Now he hopes to reverse his family legacy by helping Frodo on the mission to destroy the ring.

Arwen, elf : Daughter of elf leader Elrond, this immortal princess is in love with the human Aragorn, and is willing to become a mortal to spend her life with him. She saves a wounded Frodo from the Ringwraiths, and inspires Aragorn on his quest.

Gimli, dwarf : The gruff, axe-wielding Gimli feels the dwarfs' old animus towards the race of elves, but agrees to team up with one of them on the fellowship because he fears the power of the ring more. Gimli urges the group to take a shortcut through the Mines of Moria, where he is shocked to find an entire underground city of dwarfs has been destroyed.

Galadriel, elf : This forest queen offers shelter to the fellowship and encouragement to Frodo, who fears he is too weak to keep the ring. Frodo tries to leave the ring in Galadriel's care, but she rejects it, realising that Frodo can resist its lure better than she.

Elrond, elf : The immortal Elrond was present at the battle in which Aragorn's forefather chopped the ring from Sauron's hand. Centuries later, weary from a lifetime of war, he explains the ring's history and helps create the fellowship charged with destroying it. He is protective of his daughter, Arwen, and worried about her love for a human, Aragorn.

Theoden, human : King of the land of Rohan, Theoden has fallen under the spell of Saruman through a spy planted in his kingdom. Although he intends to do good, the bewitched ruler is not in control of his power.

Peregrin Took "Pippin" and Meriadoc Brandybuck "Merry", hobbits : These prankster friends become embroiled in the adventure when they run across Frodo and Sam during a pursuit by the wicked Ringwraiths. Later, in a fierce battle, they manage to steer the enemy away from Frodo but are captured themselves.

Bilbo Baggins, hobbit : Once, as a world traveller who explored the far reaches of Middle-earth in search of dragon gold, Bilbo happened upon a foul creature named Gollum, who possessed a magical ring that could make its wearer invisible. Bilbo retrieved the ring and kept it for decades. It begins to corrupt him in old age, so he surrenders it to Gandalf, who passes it to Frodo in hopes it can be destroyed.

Sauron, dark wizard : Long ago, this dark lord gave rings to all the rulers of Middle-earth, promising them unlimited power. But he himself had another ring, which controlled the others and would give him dominance over all life - until the ring was cut from his hand in battle. His spirit survives through the One Ring, which was lost for centuries. From his tower in the Land of Mordor, he has been gathering his evil forces to find the ring and take it back.

Saruman the White, wizard : Once a member of the Council of the Wise, this top-ranking wizard betrays Gandalf by succumbing to the temptations of Sauron. While using magic to thwart the fellowship, Saruman turns the lush countryside around his tower, Isengard, into an industrial furnace and builds an army of monsters.

Ringwraiths, former humans : These nine horsemen were powerful kings and sorcerors before being corrupted by power and forced to serve Sauron. They hide beneath black cloaks and travel in search of the ring, to return it to their master.

Orcs and Uruk-hai, goulish soldiers : The orcs are savage, mutated cannibals who attack only in darkness because the sun weakens them. Sauron has commanded them in vast armies, but his ally Saruman breeds hybrid orcs called Uruk-hai, which are fiercer, stronger and impervious to light.

Gollum, Stoor hobbit : Gollum was once a Hobbit-like creature named Smeagol. After discovering the One Ring, his obsession with its power transforms him into a withered, hissing wretch. He calls the ring "my precious" and spend years searching for it after Bilbo takes it from his lair. Gollum is tortured by Sauron's forces until he reveals Baggins' name, he later returns to chase Frodo and the ring.

Grima Wormtongue, human : This duplicitous adviser to the King of Rohan has pledged his allegiance to Saruman and serves as a spy in the kingdom.

Eowyn, human : Niece to King Theoden, she recognises a leader in Aragorn and she tests the warrior's love for the elf Arwen.