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Samwise Gamgee

2008-07-30T16:42:13Z

Jeandré: /* Notes */changed age formatting per Tolkien Gateway:Standards#Dates

{{hobbit
| image=[[Image:Peter Jackson's Samwise Gamgee.jpg|250px]]
| name=Samwise Gamgee
| othernames=[[Banazîr]]
| birth=[[April 6]], [[Third Age 2980|T.A. 2980]]
| death=Unknown, after [[Fourth Age 61]]
| parentage=[[Hamfast Gamgee]] and [[Bell Goodchild]]
| location=[[the Shire]]
| gender=Male
| hair=
|}}
<center>{{quote|I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things, Sam|[[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] to Sam at the downfall of [[Sauron]].}}</center>

'''Samwise Gamgee''' ([[Third Age]] April 6, 2980{{ref|1}} - [[Fourth Age]] 61; [[Shire Reckoning]]: 1380 - 1482; 99 years old when he sailed into the [[West]]) was [[Frodo Baggins]]' servant and the only original member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] to remain with him till the very end of the journey to [[Mount Doom]].

== History ==
A gardener by trade, Sam seemed to be a simple [[Hobbit]] of plain speech. However, his love for [[Elves]], his gift for poetry, and his belief that the world contains greater wonders than most hobbits are aware of (all nurtured by his tutor [[Bilbo Baggins]]) set him apart from the beginning. It was Sam who first introduced the theme of the Elves' sailing from [[Middle-earth]], a subtle foreshadowing of Bilbo and Frodo's final journey across the Sea. He lived with his father, Hamfast Gamgee, better known as "[[The Gaffer]]", on [[Bagshot Row]] in the [[Shire]], close to [[Bag End]]. Sam's mother was [[Bell Goodchild]]; he had five siblings: [[Hamson Gamgee|Hamson]], [[Halfred Gamgee|Halfred]], [[Daisy Gamgee|Daisy]], [[May Gamgee|May]], and [[Marigold Gamgee|Marigold]].

As "punishment" for eavesdropping on [[Gandalf|Gandalf's]] conversation with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] regarding the dangers of the [[One Ring]], Sam was made Frodo's first companion on his journey to [[Rivendell]] in the beginning of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''. Sam saved Frodo's life more than once during the quest to destroy the Ring, and he accompanied him all the way to [[Mount Doom]].

After [[Shelob]] attacked and seemingly killed Frodo, Sam took the Ring, intending to complete the quest. Because he held the Ring for a time, he is considered one of the [[Ring-bearers]].

After the [[War of the Ring]], he married [[Rose Cotton|Rose "Rosie" Cotton]] back in the Shire. They had thirteen children: [[Elanor Gardner|Elanor the Fair]], [[Frodo Gardner|Frodo]], [[Rose Gardner|Rose]], [[Merry Gardner|Merry]], [[Pippin Gardner|Pippin]], [[Goldilocks Gardner|Goldilocks]], [[Hamfast Gardner|Hamfast]], [[Daisy Gardner|Daisy]], [[Primrose Gardner|Primrose]], [[Bilbo Gardner|Bilbo]], [[Ruby Gardner|Ruby]], [[Robin Gardner|Robin]], and [[Tolman Gardner|Tolman]]. After [[Will Whitfoot]] resigned his post as [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] (the largest town in the Shire and the "unofficial capital"), in Fourth Age 7, Sam was elected Mayor of the Shire for seven consecutive 7-year terms.

After his wife died in Fourth Age 62, Sam entrusted the [[Red Book of Westmarch|Red Book]] to Elanor and left Middle-earth to sail across the Sea and be reunited with Frodo in the [[Undying Lands]], (though it should be noted that as they were both born mortals, they would still eventually die a mortal death).

== Name ==
[[J.R.R. Tolkien]] took the name from ''Gamgee Tissue'', a surgical dressing invented by a 19th century [[Birmingham]] surgeon called Joseph Sampson Gamgee. "Gamgee" became the colloquial name in Birmingham for cotton wool. Here, Tolkien describes why he had chosen that name for his character:
{{quote|The choice of Gamgee was primarily directed by alliteration; but I did not invent it. It was caught out of childhood memory, as a comic word or name. It was in fact the name when I was small (in Birmingham) for 'cotton-wool'. (Hence the association of the Gamgees with the Cottons.) I knew nothing of its origin.|''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]''}}

It is possible that Tolkien may have subconsciously recalled Dr. Gamgee (who died in 1886 but is commemorated by a plaque at the Birmingham Medical Institute, only yards from Tolkien's childhood home) but he claimed to be genuinely surprised when, in March 1956, he received a letter from one Sam Gamgee, who had heard that his name was in ''The Lord of the Rings'' but had not read the book. Tolkien replied on March 18:
{{quote|Dear Mr. Gamgee,It was very kind of you to write. You can imagine my astonishment when I saw your signature! I can only say, for your comfort, I hope, that the 'Sam Gamgee' of my story is a most heroic character, now widely beloved by many readers, even though his origins are rustic. So that perhaps you will not be displeased at the coincidence of the name of this imaginary character of supposedly many centuries ago being the same as yours.|''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]''}}

He proceeded to send Mr Gamgee a signed copy of all three volumes of the book. However, the incident sparked a nagging worry in Tolkien's mind, as he recorded in his journal:
{{quote|For some time I lived in fear of receiving a letter signed 'S. Gollum'. That would have been more difficult to deal with.|''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography]]''}}

In [[Appendix F]] of ''The Lord of the Rings'', it is mentioned that the [[Westron]] form of Sam's name is '''Banazîr Galbasi''' (''also spelled Galpsi''). ''Banazîr'' comes from elements meaning "halfwise" or "simple". ''Galbasi'' comes from the name of the village ''Galabas''. The name ''Galabas'' uses the elements ''galab-'', meaning "game", and ''bas-'', corresponding somewhat to "-wich" or "-wick". Tolkien's English translation, ''Samwís Gamwich'', could have come to ''Samwise Gamgee'' in modern English.

The [[Sindarin]] version of Samwise is '''[[Perhael]]'''.

== Portrayal in Adaptations ==
[[Image:Rankin-Bass' Samwise Gamgee.jpg|thumb|left|Samwise Gamgee as portrayed in [[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King]].]]
In [[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]], released in [[1978]], [[Michael Scholes]] was the voice of Sam. [[Roddy McDowall]] voiced the character in the 1980 animated film of ''[[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King]]''.

In the [[1981]] BBC radio [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|serial of ''The Lord of the Rings'']], Sam is played by [[William Nighy]].

In ''[[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]]'', Sam is played by [[Sean Astin]].

In ''[[Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring (game)|Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', [[Scott Menville]] provided the voice for Sam in all but the X-box version; there, [[Cliff Broadway]] took over. The role of Sam is gretly diminished: after being caught eavesdropping by Gandalf, Sam is to be Frodo's companion, but he does not appear again until Frodo reaches [[Farmer Maggot]].

== Commentary ==
Sam Gamgee is by many regarded as the "true hero" of Tolkien's story. Tolkien himself expressed this view in one of his letters: Sam is referred to as the "chief hero", and special emphasis is placed on Sam's "rustic love" for Rosie{{ref|2}}. The quest to destroy the Ring only succeeds because of Sam, who repeatedly saves Frodo from disaster (such as rescuing him at [[Cirith Ungol]] and carrying him up [[Mount Doom]]). He was one of three Ring-bearers strong enough to surrender the Ring voluntarily.

The relationship between Frodo and Sam is, in many respects, at the center of ''The Lord of the Rings''. To the modern reader, it seems archaic, as it is extremely class-oriented. Sam's humbleness and "plain speaking" is frequently emphasised in contrast to Frodo's "gentility", and he often shows deference to Frodo, calling him "Mister Frodo" or "Master". At the same time, a strong bond of love and trust grows between them, portrayed most poignantly during the events of Cirith Ungol, where Sam vows to return to his (apparently) dead master, to be reunited with Frodo in death.

[[Tolkienists]] regard Sam as Frodo's ''[[wikipedia:Batman (army)|batman]]''. In the British Army, a batman was an orderly who acted as the personal servant of an officer. It was a role with which Tolkien (who served as an Army officer in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I First World War]) would have been extremely familiar. Sam undertakes all of the typical roles of a batman — he runs errands for Frodo, he cooks, he transports him (or at least carries him), and he carries his luggage. Tolkien confirmed this interpretation when he wrote in a private letter that:
{{quote|My Sam Gamgee is indeed a reflexion of the English soldier, of the privates and batmen I knew in the 1914 war, and recognized as so far superior to myself|''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]''}}

Compare to the relation between [[wikipedia:Don_Quixote|Don Quixote]] and his squire [[wikipedia:Sancho Panza|Sancho Panza]], and the gradual "Quixotization" of Sancho.

== Notes ==
# {{note|1}} In the second edition of ''The Lord of the Rings'', Sam's year of birth was added to ''[[The Tale of Years]]''; it was, however, [[Third Age 2963|T.A. 2963]]. This contradicts both the ''[[Longfather Tree of Master Samwise]]'' and a later entry in ''The Tale of Years''. The incorrect date has been corrected in the [[The Lord of the Rings (50th Anniversary Edition)|50th anniversary edition]]. See also ''[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]]'', page 716.
# {{note|2}} ''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]'', [[Letter 131]]

{{sequence
|prev=[[Frodo Baggins]]
|next=[[Frodo Baggins]]
|list=[[Ring-bearer]] [[March 13]], [[Third Age 3019|T.A. 3019]] - [[March 14]], 3019}}{{fellowship}}

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Gamgee]]
[[Category:Ring-bearers]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]

[[de:Samweis Gamdschie]]

Frodo Baggins

2008-07-30T16:39:50Z

Jeandré: /* See also */changed age formatting per Tolkien Gateway:Standards#Dates

{{Hobbit
| image = [[Image:Natalia Volodeva - Frodo Baggins.jpg|250px]]
| name = Frodo Baggins
| othernames = See ''[[#Names|Names]]'' below
| birth = [[September 22]], [[Third Age 2968|T.A. 2968]]
| death = Date unknown, [[Valinor]]
| parentage = [[Drogo Baggins]] + [[Primula Brandybuck]]
| location=[[Bag End]], [[Hobbiton]]; [[Valinor]]
| race = [[Hobbits]]
| gender = Male
| height =Taller than most Hobbits
| hair = Brown
}}
'''Frodo Baggins''' was a [[Hobbit]] of the [[Third Age]], the most famous of all Hobbits in the histories for his leading role in the [[Quest of the Ring]]. During this epic quest, he bore the [[One Ring]] to [[Mount Doom]] and there destroyed it, giving him renown like no other [[Hobbit|Halfling]] throughout [[Middle-earth]]. He is also peculiar for being, as a [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]], one of the three Hobbits who sailed from Middle-earth to [[Aman]], there to die in peace.

==History==
''Main Article: [[History of Frodo Baggins]]''

Frodo was born to [[Drogo Baggins]] and [[Primula Brandybuck]] on September 22nd, [[Third Age 2968]]. He spent much of his youth at [[Brandy Hall]] in [[Buckland]], the home of his mother's family. He was considered something of a rascal, particularly by [[Farmer Maggot]] from whom Frodo stole mushrooms. In 2980, when Frodo was only twelve years old, he lost both his parents who took a boat out onto the [[Brandywine River]] and drowned. With no siblings, Frodo was taken in by the [[Brandybucks]] to live at [[Brandy Hall]] until his cousin, [[Bilbo Baggins]], adopted him and made Frodo his heir.

===War of the Ring===
[[Image:Rob Alexander - Lure of Expedience.jpg|thumb|left|275px|''Lure of Expedience'' by [[Rob Alexander]].]]Frodo was entrusted with the keeping of the [[One Ring]] when Bilbo left for [[Rivendell]] after the [[Bilbo's Birthday Party|celebration]] of his 111th birthday. [[Gandalf]] warned Frodo that the Ring must never be used and should be kept secret. (At the time, he was not yet certain that it was a [[Rings of Power|Ring of Power]].) Frodo kept the Ring hidden for seventeen years, until T.A. 3018, when Gandalf returned to confirm that it was indeed the [[One Ring]]. Gandalf sent him away with [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam Gamgee]], who was Frodo's gardener and eventually his dearest friend. Together with [[Peregrin I Took|Peregrin Took]], [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]] and later [[Aragorn II|Strider]], they made it to the [[Rivendell|House of Elrond]]. There, at Elrond's Council, it was decided that the Ring must be destroyed by casting it into the [[Crack of Doom]]. A [[Fellowship of the Ring|Fellowship]] was formed to protect Frodo as the [[Ring-bearer]]. His quest to destroy the Ring forms a large portion of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''. Eventually, he succeeded in throwing the Ring into [[Orodruin]].

Two years after the Ring was destroyed, still troubled by the wounds he received during the War of the Ring, Frodo and Bilbo as Ring-bearers were given the right to travel to [[Valinor]] where, though remaining mortal, they might rest and be healed, together with [[Gandalf]], [[Elrond]] and [[Galadriel]]. They boarded a ship from the [[Grey Havens]] and passed over the sea on September 29, T.A. 3021. Having no children of his own, Frodo left his estate and passed on the [[Red Book of Westmarch|Red Book]] to [[Samwise Gamgee]] who followed Frodo across the sea 61 years later, following the death of his wife [[Rose Cotton|Rose (nee) Cotton]].

==Etymology and Translations==
[[Image:Elizabeth Wyeth - Frodo's Journal.jpg|thumb|left|''Frodo's Journal'' by Elizabeth Wyeth.]]
The name ''Frodo Baggins'' is an English translation of his [[Westron]] name '''Maura Labingi'''. The name ''Maura'' has the element ''maur-'' (wise, experienced), which Tolkien equivalated to the Germanic element ''frod-'' of the same meaning. Frodo's name in [[Sindarin]] was '''''Iorhael''''' ("old-wise").

In the German translation he is called ''Frodo Beutlin'', in Spanish, ''Frodo Bolsón'', in French, ''Frodon Sacquet'', in Norwegian, ''Frodo Lommelun'', in Danish, ''Frodo Sækker'', in Faroese, ''Fróði Pjøkin'' in Finnish, ''Frodo Reppuli'' and in Dutch, ''Frodo Balings''. In one of three Polish translations he is called ''Frodo Bagosz'', but he keeps his original name in the other two.

== Frodo's Struggles ==
[[Image:Olanda Fong-Surdenas - Corruption.jpg|thumb|''Corruption'' by [[Olanda Fong-Surdenas]].]]
Notably, Frodo Baggins never actually killed anything in the course of the ''Lord of the Rings''. He did, however, stand up to fight against some formidable adversaries. He foolishly attempted to fight the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]], and he stabbed a [[troll]] in the foot in [[Moria]] to keep it from forcing open a door.

Frodo was wounded several times in the ''Lord of the Rings''. The first came when he tried to fight the Nazgul at Weathertop and was stabbed with a [[Morgul blade]]. He was later knocked out by an orc's thrown spear in Moria, but the [[mithril]] armor [[Bilbo]] had given him saved his life. He was poisoned by [[Shelob]] in the pass of [[Cirith Ungol]] and later questioned by orcs in the tower. Finally, [[Gollum]] bit off his finger to obtain the [[One Ring]] as they struggled inside [[Mount Doom]].

==Description and Equipment==
Frodo's only real description is Gandalf's, and he is declared a "stout fellow with red cheeks." He was a tall hobbit, and fairer than most of his kind, with a cleft chin, a bright eye, and a perky personality.

Frodo carried a small Elven sword (actually a dagger) called [[Sting]] and wore a coat of Dwarven chainmail made of [[Mithril]] under his clothes, both given to him by Bilbo. At [[Lothlórien]], [[Galadriel]] gave him an Elven cloak that blends him in with the natural surroundings and a phial carrying the light of the star [[Eärendil]] to aid him on his quest.

== Adaptations ==
In [[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]] ([[1978]]), Frodo was voiced by [[Christopher Guard]]. [[Billy Barty]] was the model for Frodo, as well as Bilbo and Sam, in the live-action recordings Bakshi used for rotoscoping.

In [[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King]] ([[1980]]), made for television, the character was voiced by [[Orson Bean]], who had previously played Bilbo in [[Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit]].

In the 1981 BBC radio serial of The Lord of the Rings, Frodo is played by [[Ian Holm]], who later played Bilbo in [[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]] (2001-03).

In Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings, Frodo is played by [[Elijah Wood]].

On stage, Frodo was portrayed by [[James Loye]] in the three-hour stage production of The Lord of the Rings, which opened in Toronto in [[2006]], and was brought to London in [[2007]]. In the United States, Frodo was portrayed by Joe Sofranko in the Cincinnati productions of The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002), and The Return of the King (2003) for Clear Stage Cincinnati. In Chicago, Patrick Blashill played Frodo in the Lifeline Theatre production of The Two Towers in 1999.

==Names==
* Frodo Baggins - ''fród'' means "wise by experience" in [[Old English]]. Baggins may have been a reference to [[Bag End]] or may come from "bagging" which means "eating between meals" in northern England.
* [[Ring-bearer]] - he bore [[the One Ring]] to [[Mount Doom]].
* [[Elf-friend]] - given to him by [[Gildor Inglorion]].
* [[Mr. Underhill]] - used during his stay in the [[Prancing Pony]] to conceal his identity.
* [[The Halfling]] - a name used for him from [[Boromir]]'s dream.
* [[Master]] - given to Frodo by both [[Samwise Gamgee]] as Sam was his gardener, and [[Gollum]], as Frodo was the Master of the Precious.
* Nine-fingered Frodo\Frodo of the Nine Fingers - given to Frodo after Gollum bit off his finger.
* Deputy Mayor of [[Michel Delving]] - he was the Deputy from November 3019 through Mid-Year's Day in 3020
* Bronwe athan Harthad - a name given to Frodo by Gandalf in an early version of [[The Lord of the Rings]], revealed in [[The History of Middle-earth]]. It means "Endurance beyond Hope".
* [[Daur]] - comes from ''[[taur]]'' which translates to "noble" and was given to Frodo at the [[Field of Cormallen]].
* [[Iorhael]] - the [[Sindarin]] name for Frodo which comes from [[ior]] meaning "old" and [[hael]] meaning "wise,"
* [[Maura Labingi]] - the Hobbit name for Frodo.
* [[Bingo Baggins]] - Frodo's name in the early drafts of [[The Lord of the Rings]].

==The Line of Frodo==

<code>
[[Balbo Baggins]] = [[Berylla Boffin]]
|
------------------------
| |
[[Mungo Baggins|Mungo]] Largo [[Baggins Family|Baggins]] = [[Tanta Hornblower]]
(grandfather of Bilbo) |
[[Fosco Baggins|Fosco]] = [[Ruby Bolger]]
|
--------------------------------------------
| | |
[[Dora Baggins|Dora]] [[Drogo Baggins|Drogo]] = Primula Brandybuck [[Dudo Baggins|Dudo]]
| |
'''Frodo''' [[Daisy Baggins|Daisy]] = [[Griffo Boffin]]
</code>

==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of Frodo Baggins|Images of Frodo Baggins]]
*[[Timeline of Frodo Baggins]]
{{sequence
|prev=[[Bilbo Baggins]]
|next=[[Tom Bombadil]]
|list=[[Ring-bearer]] [[September 22]], [[Third Age 3001|T.A. 3001]] - [[September 26]], [[Third Age 3018|3018]]}} 
{{sequence
|prev=[[Tom Bombadil]]
|next=[[Samwise Gamgee]]
|list=[[Ring-bearer]] September 26, 3018 - [[March 13]], [[Third Age 3019|3019]]}} 
{{sequence
|prev=[[Samwise Gamgee]]
|next=[[Gollum]]
|list=[[Ring-bearer]] [[March 14]], 3019 - [[March 25]], 3019}}{{fellowship}}

[[Category:Baggins]]
[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Ring-bearers]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]

[[de:Frodo Beutlin]]
[[fi:Frodo Reppuli]]

Bilbo Baggins

2008-07-30T16:35:59Z

Jeandré: /* Genealogy */changed age formatting per Tolkien Gateway:Standards#Dates

{{Hobbit
| image = [[Image:Ian Holm as Bilbo.jpg|250px]]
| name = Bilbo Baggins
| othernames =
| birth = September 22, [[Third Age 2890|2890 T.A.]]
| death = Not known
| parentage= [[Bungo Baggins]] and [[Belladonna Took]]
| location = [[Bag End]], [[Hobbiton]], [[Rivendell]]
| race = [[Hobbits]]
| gender = Male
| height = Between 3' and 3'6"
| hair = Brown
| eyes =
}}
{{quote|In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole and that means comfort.|[[The Hobbit]], "[[An Unexpected Party]]"}}

'''Bilbo Baggins''' was a hobbit who lived in the Shire during the final years of the Third Age. His adventure with the dwarves Thorin and company was related in 'The Hobbit' (originally known as 'There and Back Again'). It was during this adventure that Bilbo Baggins obtained the [[One Ring]] of [[Sauron]] from the creature [[Gollum]]. Bilbo was noteworthy as the first [[ring-bearer]] in the history of [[Middle-earth]] to give up the [[One Ring]] voluntarily; he surrendered the ring to [[Frodo Baggins]] at [[Gandalf]]'s request.

== History ==
===Early Life and Adventures===
Bilbo Baggins was born on [[September 22]], [[Third Age 2890|2890]] of the [[Third Age]], the son of Bungo [[Baggins family|Baggins]] and [[Belladonna Took]]. To the eyes of his neighbors, he seemed just like his father - a solid, sensible, unadventurous and respectable hobbit. In [[Third Age 2941|2941]], he reluctantly joined [[Gandalf]], [[Thorin Oakenshield]] and his twelve [[Dwarves]] on the [[Quest of Erebor|quest]] to reclaim the [[Lonely Mountain]] (and its sizeable hoard) from the [[Dragons|dragon]] [[Smaug]]. Gandalf had convinced Thorin that Bilbo was the right hobbit to be a burglar for them, despite Bilbo's feeble objections. Thus the hobbit became part of the [[Thorin and Company|company]].

[[Image:Donato Giancola - The Hobbit - Expulsion.jpg|300px|thumb|left|''Expulsion'' by [[Donato Giancola]].]]Bilbo, out the door early without a pocket handkercheif, aroused doubts in his dwarvish comrades when they fell in with some [[trolls]]. Bilbo was sent to check them out, and only got captured. He escaped the trolls but was helpless to prevent all the dwarves from being captured. Gandalf, however, came in the nick of time and saved them all with his voice imitations. Upon the discovery of the troll-cave and the swords of Gondolin, Bilbo discovered [[Sting|a small blade]] and bore it with him ever after.

Eventually they came to Rivendell, where Bilbo was enchanted with the [[Elves]]. After their stay there, the company entered the [[Misty Mountains]]. Bilbo and the dwarves were captured by [[goblins]], but saved by Gandalf once more. However Bilbo, carried by [[Dori]], was dropped in the escape. Wandering in the dark passages, he picked up a strange [[One Ring|golden ring]], and came to the lake of [[Gollum]]. Gollum, desiring to eat the hobbit but not willing to face his blade, engaged in a riddle contest. If Bilbo won, according to the predetermined rules, Gollum would lead him to safety. If Gollum won, however, Bilbo would submit to be eaten.

[[Image:Michael Hague - Riddles in the Dark.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Riddles in the Dark'' by [[Michael Hague]].]]Bilbo won the contest by accident, wondering outloud as he fingered the ring he had picked up, "What have I got in my pocket?" Gollum mistook this for a question, and Bilbo decided to stick to it. Gollum lost, but went back to his little island to take the ring Bilbo had picked up (as it was a magic ring) to turn himself invisible and kill the hobbit anyway. But of course the ring was not there, and Gollum, enraged, suddenly guessed that Bilbo had it. He chased Bilbo, but Bilbo unwittingly used the ring and escaped his notice. Gollum led Bilbo to the eastern door of the goblin-tunnels, through which Bilbo departed in safety and rejoined his fellow adventurers. But he said nothing of the ring.

===Across Rhovanion===
The company had not journeyed long when they were chased and treed by [[wargs]]. Gandalf kept them at bay with pyrotechnical pinecones, but eventually goblins came and set the trees to fire. Even Gandalf had begun to despair, but the [[Eagles]] of [[Gwaihir]] came to rescue them, bringing them first to the eyry, then to the [[Carrock]]. Bilbo did not enjoy his experience of being carried by his rescuers, apparently suffering from a fear of heights.

From the Carrock they came to [[Beorn]]'s [[Beorn's Hall|Hall]]. Gandalf took only Bilbo at first, but with his story introduced the dwarves in pairs, convincing Beorn to house them for a time. Eventually, Beorn even gave them mounts and set them on their way to [[Mirkwood]]. Bilbo alone (save for perhaps Gandalf) noticed that Beorn still followed them in bear-form. Gandalf turned back at the edge of Mirkwood, and left them to brave the perils on their own.

Bilbo "helped" the dwarves by climbing a tree midway through the wood, and declaring he could see only trees, not realizing they were at the bottom of a bowl formation. Later, when the dwarves were taken by spiders, Bilbo rescued them with his ring and little blade, which he named ''[[Sting]]'' after its first kill. Calling the spiders names, he lured them away and came back around to help with the battle between the dwarves and spiders. Eventually, the company won with no serious injuries, but was later captured when intruding on the feasts of [[Wood-elves]]. Bilbo, with his ring, escaped notice and thus capture. He followed the elves into the [[Halls of Thranduil]], where the dwarves refused to tell their errand to [[Thranduil]] King and were locked up. Later, getting used to the elven halls and with the aid of his magic ring, he devised a plan for the dwarves to escape. It worked, with the dwarves being packed away in barrels and launched into the [[Forest River]]. Poor Bilbo was forced to cling to the barrels, invisible, and grew cold and wet. Upon reaching [[Lake-town]], he had an awful cold, despite the feigned hospitality of the [[Master of Lake-town]] and the people of that town.

===Encounter with the Dragon===
On their way again, the party came to the [[Lonely Mountain]], where they followed the instructions of the map to find the secret entrance. Bilbo, and the dwarves, were unable to open it. Bilbo sat days on the [[doorstep]], thinking, and before long autumn waned. Soon the dwarves began to grumble against the hobbit, but Bilbo finally solved the riddle of the thrush knocking at the last light of Durin's Day. The dwarves found that he was right, and with the key managed to open the passage.

Bilbo was, of course, elected to enter the passage first, taking only [[Balin]] with him. Soon Balin halted, but Bilbo went on, finding Smaug's lair and stealing a single jewelled cup before returning. But he did ill in this, for when Smaug awoke he ravaged the mountain. Despite their grumbling, the dwarves had begun to rely on Bilbo's advice for their course of action, and agreed to wait. Bilbo soon decided, however, to return and try and find a weakness in Smaug. Slipping on his ring, he approached the dragon's hoard.

Gandalf had indeed done well in choosing Bilbo, for the old worm did not recognize Bilbo's scent, and was puzzled. Nevertheless he sensed the hobbit's presence, and challenged him. Bilbo riddled with him about his own identity and flattered the dragon. This confrontation did not last especially long, for Bilbo tricked Smaug into showing his underside. Bilbo then saw the gap in the dragon's hard scales, an unprotected place. Bilbo, upon seeing this, cracked a joke and hastily departed, and for this was nearly burned to death. All the same, he escaped and recovered, and told the dwarves what he had learned. This indirectly aided the company, for a [[thrush]] overheard, and this would prove beneficial in the end.

===Death of Smaug===
[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Scouring the Mountain.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''Scouring the Mountain'' by [[Ted Nasmith]].]]As darkness came, Bilbo urged the dwarves to close the door for fear of Smaug's vengeance. Reluctantly, and at last, they gave in. Just as the door closed, Smaug ravaged the side of the mountain, blocking up the door and destroying the doorstep. Then Smaug went on to wreck his vengeance on Laketown. There, armed with the knowledge given him by the Thrush who overheard Bilbo telling about the unprotected patch of Smaug's skin, [[Bard]] the bowman of the heirs of [[Dale]] shot Smaug dead. The people, no longer afraid, proclaimed him king of a restored [[Dale]]. Bard summoned [[Thranduil]] to help rebuild Laketown and Dale, in return for part of the treasure.

Meanwhile, in the Lonely Mountain, Bilbo and the dwarves decided to inspect the hoard while Smaug was away. During this time Bilbo stumbled across a gigantic and beautiful gem. Recalling an earlier conversation, Bilbo decided it was the famous [[Arkenstone]], but felt strangely reluctant to give it up. Instead, he put it in his pocket and continued on. After a song and gathering of treasure, the party eventually found the [[Front Gate]], and sheltered in a [[guardroom]]. Thorin gave Bilbo a beautiful [[Mithril#The Mithril Coat|coat]] of [[mithril]] as a first reward for his services.

At that time [[Roäc]] the raven came to them, and told of the death of Smaug. He counseled them to make peace with Bard and Thranduil, though it cost him dearly in gold. Thorin rejected this advice, and harshly responded to the polite words of Bard at his door. Bard's reasoning did little for the stubborn King under the Mountain. Bilbo feared war, and to prevent this gave the Arkenstone into the hands of [[Bard]] for negotiation. With the praise of Bard, Thranduil, and Gandalf he returned, only to be rejected and cast away for his deed by Thorin. But Bilbo was successful in that Thorin was willing to negotiate, and war was prevented temporarily.

===Battle and Return Journey===
And yet war did come. [[Dáin II Ironfoot]], at the summons of Thorin, came from the [[Iron Hills]] with an army of dwarves. Bard refused to let the dwarves enter the mountain, which would mean a long and almost certainly unsuccessful siege. But just as battle was about to be joined, Gandalf called them all to be wary of the new coming danger - the alliance of [[Wargs]] and [[Goblins]] against them. Dáin, Bard, and Thranduil took council together, and decided upon a strategy of defending the slopes of the Lonely Mountain. Then the enemy came. Thus was the [[Battle of Five Armies]] fought.

[[Image:Darrell Sweet - The Death of Thorin Oakenshield.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''The Death of Thorin'' by [[Darrell Sweet]].]]During the battle Bilbo stood with Thranduil and Gandalf on [[Ravenhill]]. As the battle went against the men, dwarves, and elves, Bilbo reflected gloomily on the ungloriousness of war and the bitterness of the end. But then the [[Eagles]] of [[Gwaihir]] came, and [[Beorn]] too, and the battle was won. But Bilbo did not see this result, for a falling stone knocked him out. Invisible as he was, his bruised body was not discovered until the next day. Bilbo then bade farewell to the mortally wounded Thorin and his other friends. Then, taking his share of the treasure, he returned with Gandalf to the [[Shire]]. There he discovered that he was believed dead, and an auction was going on of his house and possessions. He bought back his own things, and settled once more peacefully into [[Bag End]].

===The Years Between===
Bilbo lived on in health and comfort, high in the regard of those who new him best, but considered somewhat of an oddity. He adopted his young cousin [[Frodo Baggins]] as his heir, and raised him in Bag End. Occasionally he received visitors; dwarves, Gandalf, or even elves from time to time. Most of his time was spent reading, writing his memoirs, writing poetry, and avoiding his nasty relatives the [[Sackville-Bagginses]].

His life was extended by the ring (actually the [[One Ring]] of ancient history), and yet as he lived on with no apparent sign of aging, he began to feel stretched and thin. At last, in September of [[Third Age 3001|3001]], Bilbo threw a [[Bilbo's Birthday Party|grand party]] for his 111th birthday (which happened to be shared with Frodo). During this party he did a vanishing act with his ring and left with three dwarves for [[Rivendell]], to live with [[Elrond]] and the elves there. He left all his possessions to Frodo, including, urged by Gandalf, the One Ring. He was the first ringbearer to so give up the object.

===End of the Third Age===

[[Image:Bilbo smoking a pipe.jpg|thumb|250px|Bilbo smoking a pipe in [[Peter Jackson]]'s ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring|Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring]]''.]]He lived a very pleasant life of retirement in Rivendell: eating, sleeping, writing poetry, and working on his memoir, ''There and Back Again'', known to us as ''[[The Hobbit]]''. He also wrote a book called ''Translations from the Elvish'', which formed the basis of what is known to us as ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.

Upon the coming of Frodo eighteen years later on the [[Quest for the Ring]], Bilbo attended the [[Council of Elrond]], offering to take the Ring to [[Mount Doom]]. Nevertheless this task fell to the younger Frodo, and in farewell Bilbo gave him [[Sting]] and his old mithril coat, both of which bore him well in the struggles to come.

The [[War of the Ring]] was fought far from where Bilbo dwelt, but successfully, and in the end Frodo returned home. Two years later, however, Bilbo as a former ringbearer accompanied Frodo Baggins, Gandalf, and certain Elves to the [[Grey Havens]], there to take ship for [[Valinor]] across the sea, on [[September 29]], [[Third Age 3021|3021]]. He had already celebrated his 131st birthday, becoming the oldest Hobbit in the history of Middle-earth. So he passed West to die in peace in Valinor.

The last writing of Bilbo appears in the form of the poem "''[[Bilbo's Last Song]]''." It is a poem Bilbo conceivably composed while sailing west, and looking back on Middle-earth in farewell. It was published after Tolkien's death.

==Names==
* Bilbo Baggins
* Burglar, from a note on Bilbo's door left by [[Gandalf]]
* Thief, from [[Gollum]] after Bilbo stole [[the One Ring]]. [[Smaug]] also gave the name to Bilbo after he stole a cup.
* Clue-finder, a name given to Bilbo by himself during his conversation with Smaug
* Web-cutter, a name given to Bilbo by himself during his conversation with Smaug
* Stinging Fly, a name given to Bilbo by himself during his conversation with Smaug
* Ringwinner, a name given to Bilbo by himself during his conversation with Smaug
* Luckwearer, a name given to Bilbo by himself during his conversation with Smaug
* Barrel-rider, a name given to Bilbo by himself during his conversation with Smaug, Smaug also later addressed Bilbo by this name.
* Mr. Lucky Number, a name given to Bilbo by Smaug.
* Child of the Kindly West, a name given to Bilbo by [[Thorin II Oakenshield]].
* Bilbo the Magnificient, a name given to Bilbo by [[Thranduil]]
* Elf-friend, a name given to Bilbo by [[Thranduil]]
* Madd Baggins, a name given to Bilbo by [[Rorimac Brandybuck]] after Bilbo disappeared from [[the Shire]] suddenly.
* Ring-bearer, for his bearing of [[the One Ring]].
* Bilba Labingi, the original hobbit name for Bilbo.

== Portrayal in Adaptations ==
[[Image:Bilbo Baggins from Rankin-Bass' The Hobbit.jpg|thumb|left|Bilbo as portrayed in [[Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit]]]]
In the 1966 BBC Radio serialization of ''[[The Hobbit]]'', Bilbo is played by [[Paul Daneman]].

In the BBC's 1981 [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|radio serialization]] of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', Bilbo is played by [[John Le Mesurier]].

[[Orson Bean]] was the voice of Bilbo in the [[Rankin/Bass]] ''[[Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit|The Hobbit]]'' and ''[[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King|The Return of the King]]''.

In [[Peter Jackson]]'s ''[[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings|The Lord of the Rings]]'', Bilbo is played by [[Ian Holm]], who also played [[Frodo Baggins]] in the radio series 20 years earlier. His voice sounds very similar to that of John Le Mesurier.

== Translations ==
The name "Baggins" has often been changed for translated versions of the books:
* In the German translation he is called ''Bilbo Beutlin'' (created from ''Beutel''=''bag'').
* In the French translation he is called ''Bilbo'' (or ''Bilbon'') ''Sacquet''.
* In the Norwegian translation he is called ''Bilbo Lommelun''.
* In the Finnish translation he is called ''Bilbo Reppuli''.
* In the Dutch version he is called ''Bilbo Balings''. ("baal" = "bag, pack")
* In the Brazilian Portuguese translation he is called ''Bilbo Bolseiro'' (but ''Bilbo Bolsin'' in the first edition of ''The Hobbit'').
* In the Spanish translation he is called ''Bilbo Bolsón''.
* In the Hungarian translation he is called ''Zsákos Bilbó''.
* In one of three Polish translations of ''The Lord of the Rings'' he is called ''Bilbo Bagosz''. In the other two translation and in ''The Hobbit'' he keeps his original name.
* In the first Bulgarian translation he keeps his original name, but in the second translation he is called ''Bilbo Torbins''.
* In the Belarusian translation he is called ''Bilbo Torbins'' ("torba" = "bag").

==Genealogy==
<code>
[[Balbo Baggins]] = [[Berylla Boffin]]
|
__________|________________________________________
| | | | |
| | | | |
[[Mungo Baggins]] = [[Laura Grubb]] [[Pansy Baggins|Pansy]] [[Ponto Baggins|Ponto]] [[Largo Baggins|Largo]]* [[Lily Baggins|Lily]]
|
| *(ancestor of [[Frodo Baggins]])
_______________|_____________________________________________
| | | | |
| | | | |
[[Bungo Baggins|Bungo]] = [[Belladonna Took ]] [[Belba Baggins|Belba]] [[Longo Baggins|Longo]] [[Linda Baggins|Linda]] [[Bingo Baggins]] = [[Chica Chubb]]
| | |
| | |
'''BILBO BAGGINS''' [[Otho Sackville-Baggins]] = [[Lobelia Bracegirdle]] [[Falco Chubb-Baggins]]
|
|
[[Lotho Sackville-Baggins]]
</code>
{{sequence
|prev=[[Gollum]]
|next=[[Frodo Baggins]]
|list=[[Ring-bearer]] [[Third Age 2941|T.A. 2941]] - [[September 22]] [[Third Age 3001|3001]]}}{{Template:Thorin and Company}}

== Trivia ==
* In [[1968]], [[Leonard Nimoy]] released a record, "The Two Sides of Leonard Nimoy," which contained the song "[[The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins]]".

== See Also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Bilbo Baggins|Images of Bilbo Baggins]]

[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Baggins]]
[[Category:Ring-bearers]]
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[de:Bilbo Beutlin]]
[[fi:Bilbo Reppuli]]

Sauron

2008-07-30T16:33:35Z

Jeandré: /* See Also */changed age formatting per Tolkien Gateway:Standards#Dates

{{evil infobox
| image=[[Image:Timo Vihola - Sauron.jpg|250px]]
| name=Sauron
| othernames=[[Annatar]], [[Thû]], [[Necromancer]]
| created=Before the [[Music of the Ainur]]
| years=c. [[Second Age 500|S.A. 500]]-[[Second Age 3441|S.A. 3441]], c. [[Third Age 1000|T.A. 1000]]-[[Third Age 3019|T.A. 3019]]
| age=
| destroyed=[[Third Age 3019|T.A. 3019]]
| realm=[[Tol Sirion]], [[Dol Guldur]], [[Mordor]]
| gender=Male
| race=[[Maiar]]
| appearance=Took bat form, wolf form, fair form. Confined to monstrous appearance after [[Downfall of Númenor]]
| accomplishments=Deceived the [[Elves]] into forging [[Rings of Power]], made the [[One Ring]], corrupted [[Númenor]], seduced [[Saruman]], nearly took over [[Middle-earth]]
|}}
'''Sauron''' was the Chief Lieutenant of [[Morgoth]], who after his fall became another Dark Lord, and ultimately walked down the same ruinous path to oblivion. Sauron was the chief enemy in [[The Lord of the Rings]], which recounts his efforts to regain his lost ring, and relates in detail the story of his downfall.

His name is pronounced "sour-on" (''sour'' as in not sweet), or in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPA IPA] as: {{IPA|/'sɑʊron/}}.

== First Age ==
Sauron was in origin an "angelic" spirit called a [[Maiar|Maia]]. In the earliest of days he was among people of [[Aulë]], the Smith, one of the Valar, or ruling powers of the world. However, Sauron was soon ensnared by Melkor (the [[Morgoth]]), who wished to rule and order all Arda. Sauron served Morgoth faithfully, and even in later days, after Morgoth was defeated and locked outside the confines of the world, Sauron encouraged and coerced [[Men]] to worship Morgoth as a God. However, while Morgoth wanted to either control or destroy the very matter of [[Arda]] itself, Sauron's desire was to dominate the minds and wills of its creatures. It was in this that Sauron was perhaps more practical than his master Morgoth.

[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Huan Subdues Sauron.jpg|thumb|left|''Huan Subdues Sauron'', by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
During the [[First Age]], the [[Noldor]]in [[Elves]] left the [[Blessed Realm]] of [[Valinor]] in the [[West|Utter West]] (against the counsel of the Valar) in order to wage war on Morgoth, who had stolen the precious [[Silmarils]]. In that war, Sauron served as Morgoth's chief lieutenant, surpassing all others in rank. Known as '''''Gorthaur the Cruel''''', Sauron at that time was a master of illusions and changes of form, and [[Werewolves]] were his servants, chief among them [[Draugluin]], Sire of Werewolves, and [[Thuringwethil]], his vampire herald. When Morgoth left [[Angband]] to corrupt the newly awakened [[Men]], Sauron directed the War against the [[Elves]]. He conquered the Elvish isle of [[Tol Sirion]], so that it became known as ''Tol-in-Gaurhoth'', the Isle of Werewolves.

Ten years later, [[Finrod Felagund]], the king of [[Nargothrond]] and former lord of [[Tol Sirion]], died protecting [[Beren Erchamion|Beren]] in captivity there; soon afterwards, [[Lúthien]] and [[Huan]] the Wolfhound defeated Sauron in that place and rescued Beren from the dungeons. After his resounding defeat by Lúthien, Sauron played little part in the events of the First Age (possibly hiding from Morgoth), and after his master was defeated and cast out by the Valar, Sauron repented and pled for mercy. But he was unwilling to return to the Utter West for judgment, and so he fled and hid.

== Second Age ==
[[Image:Annatar.jpg|thumb|left|''Annatar'' as envisioned by [[Weta]] from [[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]]]]
After lying hidden and dormant for about one thousand years, Sauron put on a fair visage in the [[Second Age]]. Calling himself '''''Annatar''''', the Lord of Gifts, he befriended the Elvish smiths of [[Eregion]], and counseled them in arts and magic. Not all the Elves trusted him, particularly Lady [[Galadriel]] and [[Gil-galad]], High King of the Ñoldor, but few listened to them. The Elves forged [[Rings of Power]], but in secret Sauron forged the [[One Ring]] in [[Mount Doom]] to rule the other rings, investing most of his own power into the Ring as he forged it.

In this time Sauron became known as the [[Dark Lord]] of [[Mordor]]. He raised [[Barad-dûr]], the Dark Tower, near Mount Doom; constructed the [[Black Gate]] of Mordor to prevent invasion; corrupted nine mortal Men with Rings of Power and turned them into the [[Nazgûl]] (Ringwraiths), his chief servants; and raised massive armies of [[Orcs]], [[Trolls]], and Men, chiefly [[Easterlings]] and [[Southrons]]. Because of this, towards the end of the Second Age, Sauron assumed the titles of '''Lord of the Earth''' and '''King of Men'''.

[[Image:Ted Nasmith - The Forging of the One.jpg|thumb|''The Forging of the One'', by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
This offended the Númenóreans, the powerful Men descended from the line of Beren and Lúthien, who lived on the island of Númenor in the sea between Middle-earth and Valinor. The proud Númenóreans came to Middle-earth with great force of arms, and Sauron's forces fled. Realizing he could not defeat the Numenoreans with military strength, Sauron allowed himself to be taken as a hostage to Númenor by King [[Ar-Pharazôn]]. There, he quickly grew from captive to advisor; he converted many Númenóreans to the worship of Morgoth, and raised a great temple in which he performed human sacrifices. Finally, he convinced the king to rebel against the Valar and attack Valinor itself. [[Eru]], the supreme god, then directly intervened: Númenor was drowned under the sea, and the great navy of Númenor was destroyed. Sauron was diminished in the flood of Númenor, and fled back to Mordor, where he slowly rebuilt his strength during the time known as the [[Dark Years]].

From this point on he was unable to assume a fair shape, and ruled now through terror and force. A few faithful Númenóreans were saved from the flood, and they founded [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]] in Middle-earth. These faithful Men, led by [[Elendil]] and his sons, allied with the Elven-king, Gil-galad, and together fought Sauron and, after a long war, defeated him, although both Elendil and Gil-galad were killed. [[Isildur]], son of Elendil, cut the One Ring from Sauron's finger and claimed it. Later, the Ring betrayed him and was lost for more than two thousand years.

== Third Age ==
In the [[Third Age]], Sauron rose yet again, at first in a stronghold called [[Dol Guldur]], the Hill of Sorcery, in southern [[Mirkwood]]. There he was known as the '''''[[Necromancer]]''''', and the Elves did not recognize him at first. [[Gandalf]] the [[Wizards|Wizard]] stole into Dol Guldur and discovered the truth; eventually the [[White Council]] of Wizards and Elves put forth their might and drove Sauron out. But the White Council was led by [[Saruman]], who wanted the Ring for himself, and Sauron simply moved back to Mordor and raised Barad-dûr again. He fortified Mordor and prepared for war against Gondor and the Elves, with Saruman now his servant.

Sauron bred immense armies of Orcs and allies with which enslaved Men from the east and south. He adopted the symbol of a lidless eye, and he was able at that time to send out his will over Middle-earth, so that the [[Eye of Sauron]] was a symbol of power and fear. It is possible that he could still take physical form other than the lidless eye, as a former Ringbearer, [[Gollum]] (see below) speaks to [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] of Sauron only having four fingers on 'the [[Black Hand]]'.

After torturing Gollum, he learned that the One Ring had been found by [[Bilbo Baggins]] [[The Hobbit]]. He sent his agents to the [[Shire]], Bilbo's home, only to find that both Bilbo and his nephew, [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]], had gone. Unbeknownst to Sauron, Frodo had, at the behest of Gandalf, joined the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] on a quest to destroy the Ring forever by casting it into the fires of Mount Doom, in the heart of Mordor. He rallied his vast armies to conquer the resistance's strongholds, and sent the Ringwraiths to find and kill Frodo. At about this time, he also learned that [[Aragorn II|Aragorn]], Isildur's heir, had also joined the Fellowship, and was rallying armies to defeat his.

[[Image:Ted Nasmith - The Shadow of Sauron.jpg|thumb|220px|left|''The Shadow of Sauron'', by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
When Saruman's army is defeated at [[Isengard]], Aragorn uses the Palantir of Orthanc to reveal himself to Sauron. Sauron jumps to the conclusion that Aragorn has the ring and sends an army commanded by his strongest servant, The Witch-King of Angmar, to overthrow [[Minas Tirith in Gondor|Minas Tirith]] in what would become known as the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]].

Although Sauron loses the Battle of Pelennor Fields, the free forces of the west are greatly weakened, and Sauron still has sufficent armies in reserve to ensure military victory. He is outwitted, however, by the strategy of Gandalf, who urges the captains of the free peoples to march against Sauron, thus diverting the Dark Lord's eye from the real threat of Frodo, the Ring Bearer, who is nearing the end of his quest to destroy the One Ring.

Frodo, however, fails at the last moment, unable to resist the power of the Ring at the place of its birth. But Gollum inadvertently saves him by recovering the Ring in a desperate attempt to possess it and then falling with it into the fire. Thus Sauron's power is unmade, and his corporeal power in Middle-earth comes to an end. His spirit towers above Mordor like a black cloud, but is blown away by a powerful wind from the [[Aman|West]], and Sauron is now permanently crippled, never to rise again. ([[Saruman]] soon suffers a lesser version of this fate.)

== Names and Titles ==
In some of Tolkien's notes from the 1950's, it is said that Sauron's original name was '''Mairon''', "the admirable", "but this was altered after he was suborned by Melkor. But he continued to call himself Mairon the Admirable, or Tar-mairon 'King Excellent', until after Númenors downfall." ([[Parma Eldalamberon]] 17, 183)

''Sauron'' (originally '''''Thauron''''') is [[Quenya]], and can be translated as ''the Abhorred'' or ''the Abomination''; in [[Sindarin]] he is called ''Gorthaur'' the [[Necromancer]], ''the Abhorred Dread''. He is also called the '''Nameless Enemy''', which is hardly accurate (but perhaps an effort to lessen his psychological impact), whereas Morgoth is the Dark Enemy. The Dúnedain call him '''Sauron the Deceiver''' due to his role in the downfall of Númenor and the Forging of the Rings of Power. His two most common titles, the Dark Lord of Mordor and the ''Lord of the Rings'', appear only a few times in the books. His other titles were similar to Morgoth's.

== Other Versions of the Legendarium ==
Prior to the publication of ''The Silmarillion'' Sauron's origins and true identity were unclear to those without full access to Tolkien's notes. In early editions of the ''[[The Complete Guide to Middle-earth|Guide to Middle Earth]]'', Sauron is described as "probably of the Eldar elves."

Since the earliest versions of the ''Silmarillion'' legendarium as detailed in [[the History of Middle-earth]] series, Sauron has undergone many changes. The prototype of this character was '''[[Tevildo]]''', lord of the cats, who played the role later taken by Sauron in the earliest version of the story of [[Beren Erchamion|Beren]] and [[Lúthien]] in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'', the '''[[Tale of Tinúviel]]'''. Tevildo later (but still in the ''Book of Lost Tales'' period) was transformed into '''[[Thû]]''', the Necromancer. The name was then changed to '''Gorthû''', '''Sûr''', and finally to Sauron. ''Gorthû'', in the form ''Gorthaur'' remained in ''The Silmarillion''.

==See also==
*'''[[:Category:Images of Sauron|Images of Sauron]]'''
*[[Akallabêth]]
*[[Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age]]
*[[The Dark Lord Sauron polystone statue]]

{{sequence
|prev=''none''
|next=[[Isildur]]
|list=[[Ring-bearer]] c. [[Second Age 1600|S.A. 1600]] – [[Second Age 3441|3441]]}}{{maiar}}

[[Category:Maiar]]
[[Category:Ring-bearers]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]

[[de:Sauron]]
[[fi:Sauron]]

Isildur

2008-07-30T16:31:04Z

Jeandré: /* Titles */changed age formatting per Tolkien Gateway:Standards#Dates

{{numenorean
| image=[[Image:Isildur.jpg|250px]]
| name=Isildur
| othernames=
| birth=[[Second Age 3209|S.A. 3209]]
| rule=[[Second Age 3441|S.A. 3441]] until death (2 years)
| death=October 4, [[Third Age 2|T.A. 2]]
| age=234 years
| party=The [[Faithful]]
| language=[[Quenya]]
| gender=Male
| height=Nigh 7 feet
| hair=Black
| eyes=Grey
| parentage=[[Elendil]]
| siblings=[[Anárion]]
| spouse=
| children=[[Elendur, son of Isildur|Elendur]], [[Aratan]], [[Ciryon]], [[Valandil of Arnor|Valandil]]
|}}
'''Isildur''' was a [[Dúnedain|Dúnadan]] of [[Númenor]], the elder son of [[Elendil]], [[High King]] of the [[Realms in Exile]]. He was briefly the second king of [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]]. His name means "Devoted to the [[Moon]]".

== History ==
Isildur was born in Númenor, the eldest son of Elendil son of [[Amandil of Andúnië|Amandil]], the last [[Lord of Andúnië]]. His younger brother was [[Anárion son of Elendil|Anárion]]. Isildur had four sons, [[Elendur]], [[Aratan]], [[Ciryon]], and [[Valandil of Arnor|Valandil]], though his wife was never named.

In his youth, Isildur stole a fruit of [[Nimloth of Númenor|Nimloth]] before it was cut down, preserving the line of the [[White Tree]], and later planted a seedling in the city of [[Minas Anor]].

Isildur together with his father and brother were saved from the Downfall of Númenor when they fled for [[Middle-earth]]. Isildur and Anárion landed in the south and established the realm of [[Gondor]], while their father landed in the north, founding the realm of [[Arnor]].

Isildur lived on the east bank of the river [[Anduin]] and established the city of [[Minas Ithil]] (which would later be named ''Minas Morgul''), as well as the province of [[Ithilien]]. However, in 3428 [[Sauron]] captured Minas Ithil, and Isildur fled down the Anduin, then northwest to Gil-galad in Lindon and his father in Arnor, leaving Anárion to rule over Gondor.

He returned with his father and the [[Elves|Elven]] High King [[Gil-galad]] in the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]] in 3434 with their combined armies. His father and Gil-galad threw down Sauron, winning the battle, though both were slain. Isildur took the hilt shard of his father's sword [[Narsil]], which had broken beneath Elendil in the combat with Sauron, and used it to cut the [[One Ring]] from Sauron's finger.

Ignoring the advice of [[Elrond]] and [[Círdan]], lieutenant of Gil-galad, he did not destroy the Ring, instead claiming it as an heirloom for his House.

After the fall of Sauron, Isildur left [[Meneldil]], son of his brother [[Anárion]], in charge of Gondor, and returned north to [[Arnor]] with his three sons. His fourth son [[Valandil of Arnor|Valandil]] had stayed behind in [[Rivendell]]. At the [[Gladden Fields]], Isildur was ambushed by roaming [[Orcs]], and due to the Ring's treachery he was killed, losing the Ring in the river [[Anduin]].

He was the last king to rule both Gondor and Arnor until [[Aragorn|King Elessar]] reunited the Kingdom at the end of the [[Third Age]].

In the riddling rhyme "Seek for the Sword that was Broken" the Ring is referred to cryptically as ''Isildur's [[Bane]]''.

== Portrayal in Adaptations ==
[[Image:Peter Jackson's Isildur1.jpg|thumb|[[Harry Sinclair]] as Isildur in [[Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring]]]]
In [[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]] films, Isildur briefly appears in the first scenes of [[Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring|the first film]], and in an extended flashback scene in [[Peter Jackson's The Two Towers|the second]]. Isildur is played by [[Harry Sinclair]]. Sinclair, a friend of [[Peter Jackson]], was asked because he was the most corrupt looking person Jackson knew. Sinclair had only one line, "No!", which was dubbed by [[Hugo Weaving]].

In the movie, Isildur apparently is the last king of Gondor; Anárion and heirs and Arnor do not appear at all. However, in the Extended Editions both Arnor and the House of Anárion are mentioned, and at times it is clear that Isildur was not the last King, so this might be dialogue error. The story of Isildur's succumbing to the temptation of the Ring bothers Aragorn who fears that he could have the same weakness (a fear that is not evident in the book).

== Genealogy ==
<code>
[[Elendil]]
|
___________|__________
| |
| |
'''ISILDUR''' [[Anárion son of Elendil|Anárion]]
|
_____________|______________
| | | |
| | | |
[[Elendur, son of Isildur|Elendur]] [[Aratan]] [[Ciryon]] [[Valandil of Arnor|Valandil]]
|
|
[[Eldacar of Arnor|Eldacar]]
</code>

== Titles ==
{{sequence
|prev=[[Elendil]]
|next=[[Valandil of Arnor|Valandil]]
|list=2nd [[King of Arnor]] <code>II</code> 3441 – <code>III</code> 2
}} 
{{sequence
|prev=[[Elendil]]
|next=[[Meneldil]]
|list=2nd [[King of Gondor]] <code>II</code> 3441 – <code>III</code> 2
}} 
{{sequence
|prev=[[Elendil]]
|next=[[Aragorn II]] 3,017 years later
|list=2nd [[High King]] of the [[Two Kingdoms]] <code>II</code> 3441 – <code>III</code> 2
}} 
{{sequence
|prev=[[Sauron]]
|next=[[Déagol]], c. 2461 years later
|list=[[Ring-bearer]] [[Second Age 3441|S.A. 3441]] – [[Third Age 2|T.A. 2]]}}
{{northernline}}

== See Also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Isildur|Images of Isildur]]

[[Category:Númenóreans]]
[[Category:Dúnedain]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Ring-bearers]]

Déagol

2008-07-30T16:28:53Z

Jeandré: /* References */changed age formatting per Tolkien Gateway:Standards#Dates

{{hobbit
| image=[[Image:Peter Jackson's The Return of the King - 0003.jpg|250px]]
| name=Déagol
| othernames=
| birth=c. 2400-2450
| death=c. [[Third Age 2463|T.A. 2463]][[#References|1]]
| parentage=
| location=North [[Anduin]]
| gender=Male
| hair=
|}}
'''Déagol''', was the [[Stoors|Stoor]] [[Hobbit]] who had found [[the One Ring]] while diving in the [[Gladden]] river (a tributary to the [[Anduin]]) with his friend [[Sméagol]] (and "evidently a relative", as told by J.R.R. Tolkien in Letters #214, p. 292). Sméagol (later known as [[Gollum]]) demanded the ring and murdered Déagol when he refused to give it to him.

==Etymology==
Déagol is an [[Old English]] translation of the "original" [[Westron]] name '[[Nahald]]'. Both names carry the meaning "apt to hide, secretive".

==Adaptations==
In [[Peter Jackson's The Return of the King]], Déagol is played by [[New Zealand]] actor [[Thomas Robins]].

{{sequence|prev=[[Isildur]], c. 2461 years earlier|next=[[Gollum|Sméagol]]|list=[[Ring-bearer]] briefly, c. [[Third Age 2463|T.A. 2463]]}}

==References==
#''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Shadow of the Past]]''
#[[Appendix B]]
#''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]'', Letter 214, p. 292

[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Stoors]]
[[Category:Ring-bearers]]

[[de:Déagol]]
[[fi:Déagol]]

Gollum

2008-07-30T16:26:33Z

Jeandré: /* See also */change age formatting per Tolkien Gateway:Standards#Dates

{{sources}}
{{merge|Sméagol}}
{{hobbit
| image=[[Image:John Howe - Gollum.jpg|200px]]
| name=Gollum
| othernames=Sméagol
| birth=Approximately [[Third Age 2430|T.A. 2430]]
| death=[[March 25]], [[Third Age 3019|T.A. 3019]]
| parentage=
| location=[[Misty Mountains]]
| gender=Male
| hair=
|}}
Originally known as '''Sméagol''', he was later named '''Gollum''' after the disgusting gurgling noise he made in his throat. His birth can be estimated to have happened around the year 2430 of the [[Third Age]]. His death date is given as March 25, 3019 of the Third Age. His life was extended far beyond its natural limits by the effects of possessing the [[One Ring]]. At the time of his death, Gollum was about 589 years old, a remarkable age for a creature who was once a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]], but he had been deformed and twisted in both body and mind by the corruption of the Ring. One of his chief desires was to possess the Ring which had enslaved him, and he pursued it for many years after he lost it.

== Story ==
===Early Life===
Once a [[Stoors|Stoorish]] Hobbit, Sméagol spent the early years of his life living with his extended family under a Matriarch, his grandmother. Around the year T.A. 2463 Sméagol became the fourth Bearer of the One Ring, after [[Sauron]], [[Isildur]], and [[Déagol]]. Déagol was a close relative, and on Sméagol's birthday they went fishing in the [[Gladden Fields]]. It was there that Déagol found a gold ring, after being pulled into the water by a large fish. Sméagol demanded the ring as a birthday present and strangled Deágol when he refused. Sméagol was quickly corrupted further by the ring and, banished by his people, was forced to find a home in a cave in the [[Misty Mountains]]. The Ring's malignant influence twisted his Hobbit body and mind and prolonged his life far beyond its natural limits. He called it his "[[Precious]]" or his "Birthday Present," the latter as a justification for killing Déagol.

He lived in the Misty Mountains for over four hundred years, living on raw [[fish]], which he caught from his small raft, and [[Goblins]], and in later years he found Hobbit and [[Elves|Elven]] food repulsive.

During his centuries under the Ring's influence, he developed a sort of multiple personality disorder: Sméagol, his "good" personality, still vaguely remembered things like friendship and love, while Gollum, his "bad" personality, was a slave to the Ring and would kill anyone who tried to take it. Years later, [[Samwise Gamgee]] would name the good personality "Slinker" (for his fawning, eager-to-please demeanour), and the bad personality "Stinker". The two personalities often quarrelled when he talked to himself (as Tolkien put it, "through not having anyone else to speak to") and had a love/hate relationship, mirroring Gollum's love and hatred for the Ring and for himself.

===Departure of the Ring===
[[Image:Michael Hague - Riddles in the Dark.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Riddles in the Dark'' by [[Michael Hague]].]]
In July [[Third Age 2941|T.A. 2941]], during the [[Quest of Erebor]], the Hobbit [[Bilbo Baggins]] stumbled upon the subterranean lake on which Gollum lived and found the Ring. Gollum had lost the Ring in the network of caves leading to the lake, though in fact it is more proper to say that the Ring abandoned Gollum, for it was known to have a will of its own. As [[Gandalf]] said later, it looked after itself, trying to get back to Sauron. After the famous [[Riddle-game|Riddle Game]], during which Gollum was unaware of his loss, Gollum refused to show Bilbo the promised way out and plotted to murder him. When he went to get his "birthday present," however, he found that it was gone. He suddenly realised the answer to Bilbo's last riddle - ''"What have I got in my pocket?"'' - and flew into a rage. Bilbo inadvertantly stumbled across the Ring's power of invisibility as he ran, allowing him to follow Gollum to the entrance of the cave. There, Bilbo at first thought to kill Gollum, but was overcome with pity, so he jumped over him to escape. As Bilbo ran, Gollum cried out, "Thief! Thief, Baggins! We hates it forever!"

Gollum left the Mountains and pursued Bilbo a few years later, but the trail was cold. He made his way into [[Mordor]], where he was captured and forced to reveal what he knew about the Ring. Gollum was then set free, but caught by [[Aragorn II|Aragorn]], who placed him in the care of the [[Silvan Elves]] living in [[Thranduil]]'s kingdom in [[Mirkwood]]. After a coordinated attack, he escaped into [[Moria]].

====First edition of ''The Hobbit''====
In the first edition of ''[[The Hobbit]]'', Gollum did not appear quite as wretched or as bound to the Ring. Tolkien revised this characterisation to fit the concept of the Ruling Ring developed during the writing of ''The Lord of the Rings''. Tolkien then explained the version given in the first edition as a lie that Bilbo made up to tell the [[Dwarves]] and [[Gandalf]].)

===The War of the Ring===
Gollum picked up the trail of the new [[Ring-bearer]], [[Frodo Baggins]], as he and the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] traveled through Moria. On [[January 15]], T.A. 3019 the Fellowship was divided when Gandalf disappeared while fighting a [[Durin's Bane|Balrog]]. Gollum continued trailing the remaining members. It is unknown how he crossed the [[Bridge of Khazad-dûm]], but he came with them to [[Lothlórien]] without their knowing. Gollum, floating on a log, followed their boats down [[Anduin]] to [[Rauros]]. He pursued [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] and [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] across the [[Emyn Muil]] when they struck out on their own towards Mordor. Gollum followed them, but after a confrontation in which he bit and nearly strangled Sam, Frodo subdued him. Frodo tied an [[Elves|Elvish]] rope around Gollum's ankle for a leash, but the mere touch of the rope pained him. Taking pity on the wretched creature, Frodo made Gollum swear to help them. Agreeing to the oath, Gollum swore by the "Precious" itself, and Frodo released him. The unlikely company, guided by Gollum, made their way to the [[Black Gate]], the entrance to Mordor.
[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Gollum's Debate.jpg|thumb|left|175px|"Gollum's Debate" by [[Ted Nasmith]].]]
Frodo's kindness brought out the "Sméagol" personality, and he made at least some effort to keep his promise. The two had a strange sort of bond from both having been Ringbearers; in Gollum, Frodo saw his possible future, and so wanted to save him so he could save himself.

When the Black Gate was reached and found to be well guarded, Gollum convinced them not to go that way, saying that they would be caught and Sauron would regain the Ring. Gollum said he would lead them south, where he knew of another entrance into Mordor.

Frodo and Sam were caught by [[Faramir (son of Denethor II)|Faramir]], and Gollum followed them. When Frodo allowed Faramir to briefly take Sméagol prisoner, however, he felt betrayed, allowing the "Gollum" personality to take control. Faramir found out that the place Gollum was taking them was called [[Cirith Ungol]]. He then warned Frodo and Sam of the evil of that place.

Frodo, Sam, and Gollum left Faramir and began crossing the pass of Cirith Ungol in the border-mountains of the [[Ephel Dúath]]. Gollum visited the great spider [[Shelob]], because he was planning to betray the Hobbits to her and then get the Ring for himself. When he returned the Hobbits were asleep. The sight of Frodo sleeping nearly moved Gollum to repent. However, Sam woke up and spoke harshly to Gollum, and all hope of redemption was lost. Gollum followed through with his plan and led Frodo and Sam into [[Torech Ungol|Shelob's lair]].
[[Image:Peter Xavier Price - The Stairs of Cirith Ungol.jpg|right|thumb|185px|"The Stairs of Cirith Ungol" by [[Peter Xavier Price]].]]
Just as Frodo warned him, Gollum's betrayal of his oath ultimately led to his undoing, for Frodo and Sam escaped from Shelob's lair and came against all odds to the volcano [[Orodruin]], or Mount Doom. Gollum followed them all the way, seeking a chance to surprise them and take the Ring. When Frodo and Sam had almost reached their destination, he attacked, but failed to get the Ring. Sam, who had hated Gollum on sight, tried to bring himself to kill him, but relented out of sheer pity and disgust, turning his back on the beaten creature.

Moments later, Frodo was standing on the edge of the [[Crack of Doom]], but, unwilling to destroy the Ring, claimed it for himself and put it on. Then Gollum attacked again. The two fought whilst Frodo was invisible and finally Gollum bit off Frodo's finger.

Here Frodo's kindness in sparing Gollum's life was rewarded, for Gollum then teetered on the edge of the great pit, lost his balance and fell in, taking the Ring and finger with him with a last cry of "Preciouss!". Had Gollum not lived to play this final part, there would have been a good chance that Sauron would have regained the Ring, as he knew where Frodo was as soon as he put the Ring on.

==Description==
He is described as being small, with large eyes that seemed to glow, as well as a scrawny neck and soft clammy fingers. He moved like a spider, and several references suggest that he was black in color, though it could be said that it only looked like he was black, as most if not all of the descriptions were in the dark. In ''[[The Hobbit]]'' it is mentioned that he has six teeth, but this statement probably changed in the ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' as he had the ability to give deep bites, and was able to bite off Frodo's finger.

===Personality===
There is some debate about the nature of his impulse to kill Déagol. Some maintain that Sméagol, as a Hobbit, was good at heart, and it was entirely the Ring's doing. But the more popular and perhaps more likely opinion is that Sméagol was harboring dark thoughts to begin with. Their argument bases on several points, including...
# The sight of the Ring at the council or at many points in the journey of the Fellowship did not cause anyone to suddenly murdur someone else.
# It is possible for Hobbits to be evil; for instance, [[Ted Sandyman]] and [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins]].
# In the chapter ''[[The Shadow of the Past]]'', Gandalf mentions that Bilbo was corrupted far more slowly by the Ring because his adventures with it began with an act of mercy, while Gollum began his with murder.

== Portrayal in Adaptations ==
[[Image:Lotr-rotk gollum poster.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Gollum in Peter Jackson's ''The Lord of the Rings'']]
In both [[Ralph Bakshi]]'s animated film of ''[[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings|The Lord of the Rings]]'' and the [[BBC]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|1981 radio series]], the voice of Gollum is supplied by [[Peter Woodthorpe]]. In the former, he is depicted as a skinny, dark grey creature, and in the latter, he is described as "slimy and as dark than darkness".

In the animated films ''[[Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit]]'' and ''[[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King]]'', Gollum is a frog-like creature, voiced by comedian [[Brother Theodore]].

In ''[[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]]'', Gollum is a CGI-motion capture creature voiced by actor [[Andy Serkis]]. He is barely glimpsed in ''[[Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring|The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', where he is voiced by [[Dominic Monaghan]] in absence of Serkis. Gollum becomes a central character in ''[[Peter Jackson's The Two Towers|The Two Towers]]'' and ''[[Peter Jackson's The Return of the King|The Return of the King]]''. The groundbreaking CGI character was built around Serkis's voice, movements and expressions, sometimes by using a motion capture suit which recorded his movements and applied them to the digital character, and sometimes by the more laborious process of digitally "painting out" Serkis's image and replacing it with Gollum's. In one such shot in ''The Two Towers'', Serkis' real spittle can be seen emerging from Gollum's mouth.

In ''The Return of the King'' Serkis himself appears in a flashback scene as Sméagol before his degeneration into Gollum. This scene was originally earmarked for ''The Two Towers'' but held back because it was felt that audiences would relate better to the original Sméagol once they were more familiar with who he became. The decision to include this scene meant that Gollum's face had to be redesigned for the second and third movies so that it would more closely resemble Serkis'.

In the [[2003]] [[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|video game of ''The Hobbit'']], Gollum appears in a cut scene after the level "Riddles in the Dark". Only Bilbo's last riddle - "What have I got in my pocket?" - is shown, after which Gollum spouts out all possible answers in one sentence rather than in three turns. Gollum is a dark grey, hobbit-like creature with seven spiky teeth, who walks on all fours like an ape would. He is voiced by [[Daran Norris]].

== Etymology==
Sméagol's name is [[Old English]] one, from ''sméah'', and adjective meaning "''creeping in, penetrating''". This title was also applied by the Anglo-Saxons to the Biblical Cain, from the story of Cain's murder of his brother Abel in Genesis. This draws a clear connection between the two.

Sméagol's "real" name was ''[[Trahald]]'', of the meaning "burrowing, worming in" or "apt to creep into a hole". In both [[Westron]] and Old English, Sméagol's name is related to [[Smaug]]'s: Smaug's name in "true Dalish" was ''Trâgu'', and the ''Trah-'' stem in Trahald and Trâgu is thus a cognate of the Germanic stem present in both Sméagol and Smaug.

===Pronunciation===
In both the 1981 BBC radio adaptation and in Peter Jackson's films ''Sméagol'' is pronounced as "SMEE-gol", although the placement of the acute accent suggests that the correct pronunciation is "SMAY-uh-gol". On the other hand, in [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]]'s recordings of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' he also pronounced it "SMEE-gol" or "SMEE-AH-GOL", suggesting that ''éa'' should either be pronounced as a long "i"-sound or as a diphthong ''ea'', and not as two distinct vowels "e" and "a". Tolkien had a habit in his writing to put diacritics in varying places, as can also be seen in the name ''[[Eärendil]]'', which also occurs spelt ''Ëarendil''.

==See also==
*[[Sméagol]]
{{sequence|prev=[[Déagol]]|next=[[Bilbo Baggins]]|list=[[Ring-bearer]] c. [[Third Age 2463|T.A. 2463]] - [[Third Age 2941|2941]]}} 
{{sequence|prev=[[Frodo Baggins]]|next=''none'' (destroyed)|list=[[Ring-bearer]] briefly, [[March 25]], [[Third Age 3019|3019]]}}

== External links ==
*[http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/329/7480/1435?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=gollum&searchid=1103349387213_18575&stored_search=&FIRSTINDEX=0&volume=329&issue=7480 Medical Students Profile of Gollum]

[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Ring-bearers]]
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[de:Gollum]]
[[fi:Klonkku]]

Ring-bearer

2008-07-30T13:19:13Z

Jeandré: split Frodo's dates for when Tom had it

'''Ring-bearer''' was a title given to a person who, for some time in their life, bore the [[One Ring]].

==Individual ring-bearers==
*[[Sauron]], the original Ring-bearer. <code>II</code> c. 1600 to 3441 (~1841 years)
*[[Isildur]] <code>II</code> 3441 to <code>III</code> 2 (~2 years)
*[[Déagol]] <code>III</code> c. 2463 (briefly)
*[[Gollum|Sméagol]] <code>III</code> c. 2463 to 2941 and briefly on <code>III</code> 25 March 3019 (~478 years)
*[[Bilbo Baggins]] <code>III</code> 2941 to 22 September 3001 (~60 years)
*[[Frodo Baggins]] <code>III</code> 22 September 3001 to 26 September 3018, 26 September 3018 to 13 March 3019, and <code>III</code> 14 March 3019 to 25 March 3019 (17 and a half years)
*[[Tom Bombadil]] <code>III</code> 26 September 3019 (briefly)
*[[Samwise Gamgee]] <code>III</code> 13 March 3019 to 14 March 3019 (about a day)

==See Also==
*[[Ring-finder]]

[[Category:Titles]]
[[Category:Epithets]]

Frodo Baggins

2008-07-30T13:16:15Z

Jeandré: /* See also */Tom as ring-bearer

{{Hobbit
| image = [[Image:Natalia Volodeva - Frodo Baggins.jpg|250px]]
| name = Frodo Baggins
| othernames = See ''[[#Names|Names]]'' below
| birth = [[September 22]], [[Third Age 2968|T.A. 2968]]
| death = Date unknown, [[Valinor]]
| parentage = [[Drogo Baggins]] + [[Primula Brandybuck]]
| location=[[Bag End]], [[Hobbiton]]; [[Valinor]]
| race = [[Hobbits]]
| gender = Male
| height =Taller than most Hobbits
| hair = Brown
}}
'''Frodo Baggins''' was a [[Hobbit]] of the [[Third Age]], the most famous of all Hobbits in the histories for his leading role in the [[Quest of the Ring]]. During this epic quest, he bore the [[One Ring]] to [[Mount Doom]] and there destroyed it, giving him renown like no other [[Hobbit|Halfling]] throughout [[Middle-earth]]. He is also peculiar for being, as a [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]], one of the three Hobbits who sailed from Middle-earth to [[Aman]], there to die in peace.

==History==
''Main Article: [[History of Frodo Baggins]]''

Frodo was born to [[Drogo Baggins]] and [[Primula Brandybuck]] on September 22nd, [[Third Age 2968]]. He spent much of his youth at [[Brandy Hall]] in [[Buckland]], the home of his mother's family. He was considered something of a rascal, particularly by [[Farmer Maggot]] from whom Frodo stole mushrooms. In 2980, when Frodo was only twelve years old, he lost both his parents who took a boat out onto the [[Brandywine River]] and drowned. With no siblings, Frodo was taken in by the [[Brandybucks]] to live at [[Brandy Hall]] until his cousin, [[Bilbo Baggins]], adopted him and made Frodo his heir.

===War of the Ring===
[[Image:Rob Alexander - Lure of Expedience.jpg|thumb|left|275px|''Lure of Expedience'' by [[Rob Alexander]].]]Frodo was entrusted with the keeping of the [[One Ring]] when Bilbo left for [[Rivendell]] after the [[Bilbo's Birthday Party|celebration]] of his 111th birthday. [[Gandalf]] warned Frodo that the Ring must never be used and should be kept secret. (At the time, he was not yet certain that it was a [[Rings of Power|Ring of Power]].) Frodo kept the Ring hidden for seventeen years, until T.A. 3018, when Gandalf returned to confirm that it was indeed the [[One Ring]]. Gandalf sent him away with [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam Gamgee]], who was Frodo's gardener and eventually his dearest friend. Together with [[Peregrin I Took|Peregrin Took]], [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]] and later [[Aragorn II|Strider]], they made it to the [[Rivendell|House of Elrond]]. There, at Elrond's Council, it was decided that the Ring must be destroyed by casting it into the [[Crack of Doom]]. A [[Fellowship of the Ring|Fellowship]] was formed to protect Frodo as the [[Ring-bearer]]. His quest to destroy the Ring forms a large portion of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''. Eventually, he succeeded in throwing the Ring into [[Orodruin]].

Two years after the Ring was destroyed, still troubled by the wounds he received during the War of the Ring, Frodo and Bilbo as Ring-bearers were given the right to travel to [[Valinor]] where, though remaining mortal, they might rest and be healed, together with [[Gandalf]], [[Elrond]] and [[Galadriel]]. They boarded a ship from the [[Grey Havens]] and passed over the sea on September 29, T.A. 3021. Having no children of his own, Frodo left his estate and passed on the [[Red Book of Westmarch|Red Book]] to [[Samwise Gamgee]] who followed Frodo across the sea 61 years later, following the death of his wife [[Rose Cotton|Rose (nee) Cotton]].

==Etymology and Translations==
[[Image:Elizabeth Wyeth - Frodo's Journal.jpg|thumb|left|''Frodo's Journal'' by Elizabeth Wyeth.]]
The name ''Frodo Baggins'' is an English translation of his [[Westron]] name '''Maura Labingi'''. The name ''Maura'' has the element ''maur-'' (wise, experienced), which Tolkien equivalated to the Germanic element ''frod-'' of the same meaning. Frodo's name in [[Sindarin]] was '''''Iorhael''''' ("old-wise").

In the German translation he is called ''Frodo Beutlin'', in Spanish, ''Frodo Bolsón'', in French, ''Frodon Sacquet'', in Norwegian, ''Frodo Lommelun'', in Danish, ''Frodo Sækker'', in Faroese, ''Fróði Pjøkin'' in Finnish, ''Frodo Reppuli'' and in Dutch, ''Frodo Balings''. In one of three Polish translations he is called ''Frodo Bagosz'', but he keeps his original name in the other two.

== Frodo's Struggles ==
[[Image:Olanda Fong-Surdenas - Corruption.jpg|thumb|''Corruption'' by [[Olanda Fong-Surdenas]].]]
Notably, Frodo Baggins never actually killed anything in the course of the ''Lord of the Rings''. He did, however, stand up to fight against some formidable adversaries. He foolishly attempted to fight the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]], and he stabbed a [[troll]] in the foot in [[Moria]] to keep it from forcing open a door.

Frodo was wounded several times in the ''Lord of the Rings''. The first came when he tried to fight the Nazgul at Weathertop and was stabbed with a [[Morgul blade]]. He was later knocked out by an orc's thrown spear in Moria, but the [[mithril]] armor [[Bilbo]] had given him saved his life. He was poisoned by [[Shelob]] in the pass of [[Cirith Ungol]] and later questioned by orcs in the tower. Finally, [[Gollum]] bit off his finger to obtain the [[One Ring]] as they struggled inside [[Mount Doom]].

==Description and Equipment==
Frodo's only real description is Gandalf's, and he is declared a "stout fellow with red cheeks." He was a tall hobbit, and fairer than most of his kind, with a cleft chin, a bright eye, and a perky personality.

Frodo carried a small Elven sword (actually a dagger) called [[Sting]] and wore a coat of Dwarven chainmail made of [[Mithril]] under his clothes, both given to him by Bilbo. At [[Lothlórien]], [[Galadriel]] gave him an Elven cloak that blends him in with the natural surroundings and a phial carrying the light of the star [[Eärendil]] to aid him on his quest.

== Adaptations ==
In [[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]] ([[1978]]), Frodo was voiced by [[Christopher Guard]]. [[Billy Barty]] was the model for Frodo, as well as Bilbo and Sam, in the live-action recordings Bakshi used for rotoscoping.

In [[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King]] ([[1980]]), made for television, the character was voiced by [[Orson Bean]], who had previously played Bilbo in [[Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit]].

In the 1981 BBC radio serial of The Lord of the Rings, Frodo is played by [[Ian Holm]], who later played Bilbo in [[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]] (2001-03).

In Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings, Frodo is played by [[Elijah Wood]].

On stage, Frodo was portrayed by [[James Loye]] in the three-hour stage production of The Lord of the Rings, which opened in Toronto in [[2006]], and was brought to London in [[2007]]. In the United States, Frodo was portrayed by Joe Sofranko in the Cincinnati productions of The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002), and The Return of the King (2003) for Clear Stage Cincinnati. In Chicago, Patrick Blashill played Frodo in the Lifeline Theatre production of The Two Towers in 1999.

==Names==
* Frodo Baggins - ''fród'' means "wise by experience" in [[Old English]]. Baggins may have been a reference to [[Bag End]] or may come from "bagging" which means "eating between meals" in northern England.
* [[Ring-bearer]] - he bore [[the One Ring]] to [[Mount Doom]].
* [[Elf-friend]] - given to him by [[Gildor Inglorion]].
* [[Mr. Underhill]] - used during his stay in the [[Prancing Pony]] to conceal his identity.
* [[The Halfling]] - a name used for him from [[Boromir]]'s dream.
* [[Master]] - given to Frodo by both [[Samwise Gamgee]] as Sam was his gardener, and [[Gollum]], as Frodo was the Master of the Precious.
* Nine-fingered Frodo\Frodo of the Nine Fingers - given to Frodo after Gollum bit off his finger.
* Deputy Mayor of [[Michel Delving]] - he was the Deputy from November 3019 through Mid-Year's Day in 3020
* Bronwe athan Harthad - a name given to Frodo by Gandalf in an early version of [[The Lord of the Rings]], revealed in [[The History of Middle-earth]]. It means "Endurance beyond Hope".
* [[Daur]] - comes from ''[[taur]]'' which translates to "noble" and was given to Frodo at the [[Field of Cormallen]].
* [[Iorhael]] - the [[Sindarin]] name for Frodo which comes from [[ior]] meaning "old" and [[hael]] meaning "wise,"
* [[Maura Labingi]] - the Hobbit name for Frodo.
* [[Bingo Baggins]] - Frodo's name in the early drafts of [[The Lord of the Rings]].

==The Line of Frodo==

<code>
[[Balbo Baggins]] = [[Berylla Boffin]]
|
------------------------
| |
[[Mungo Baggins|Mungo]] Largo [[Baggins Family|Baggins]] = [[Tanta Hornblower]]
(grandfather of Bilbo) |
[[Fosco Baggins|Fosco]] = [[Ruby Bolger]]
|
--------------------------------------------
| | |
[[Dora Baggins|Dora]] [[Drogo Baggins|Drogo]] = Primula Brandybuck [[Dudo Baggins|Dudo]]
| |
'''Frodo''' [[Daisy Baggins|Daisy]] = [[Griffo Boffin]]
</code>

==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of Frodo Baggins|Images of Frodo Baggins]]
*[[Timeline of Frodo Baggins]]
{{sequence|prev=[[Bilbo Baggins]]|next=[[Tom Bombadil]]|list=[[Ring-bearer]] <code>III</code> 22 September 3001 - 26 September 3018}} 
{{sequence|prev=[[Tom Bombadil]]|next=[[Samwise Gamgee]]|list=[[Ring-bearer]] <code>III</code> 26 September 3018 - 13 March 3019}} 
{{sequence|prev=[[Samwise Gamgee]]|next=[[Gollum]]|list=[[Ring-bearer]] <code>III</code> 14 March 3019 - 25 March 3019}}{{fellowship}}

[[Category:Baggins]]
[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Ring-bearers]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]

[[de:Frodo Beutlin]]
[[fi:Frodo Reppuli]]

Tom Bombadil

2008-07-30T13:15:30Z

Jeandré: met frodo in 3018, not 3019

{{claimed}}
[[Image:Brothers Hildebrandt - Tom Bombadil.jpg|thumb|300px|''Tom Bombadil'' by [[Brothers Hildebrandt]].]]
<center>{{quote|Eldest, that's what I am... Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn... he knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless – before the Dark Lord came from Outside.|Tom Bombadil, ''[[In the House of Tom Bombadil]]''.}}</center>

'''Tom Bombadil''' is an enigma in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' and ''[[the Adventures of Tom Bombadil]]''.

==Third Age==
Tom Bombadil lived on the river [[Withywindle]] in the [[Old Forest]], together with his lovely wife [[Goldberry]]. On [[September 26]], [[Third Age 3018|T.A. 3018]], he encountered [[travellers|four hobbits]] while he was searching for water-lilies for his wife. Two of those Hobbits, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]], had been captured by [[Old Man Willow]]. Tom, who was the master of the Old Forest, rescued them, and took all four of them to his house{{ref|1}}.

After a dinner, Tom let the four hobbits stay over for the night. The following day, he told them many stories, and sang more songs. Apparently, [[Gildor Inglorion]] had been to Tom's house, as he knew the hobbits were fleeing. With cunning questions, he made [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] tell him of the [[One Ring|Ring]]. When Tom tried it on, nothing happened, and when Frodo put it on, Tom could still see him.

The following morning, Tom warned his guests of the [[Barrow Downs]], and advised them to pass any barrow on the western side. He also tought them a sond, should they come to peril{{ref|2}}.

And they did come to peril. Tom chased off a [[Barrow-wight|wight]] with song, and broke the spells on the barrow in which the four hobbits were captured. While he sent the Hobbits into calm down, he went for provisions and ponies. After that, he broke the spells of the barrow. From the barrow's mighty hoard, he took a brooch for Goldberry, and gave a [[Daggers of Westernesse|dagger]] to each of the hobbits. He then advised them to make for ''[[The Prancing Pony]]'' in [[Bree]]{{ref|3}}.

== Tom Bombadil's Nature ==
[[Image:John Howe - Tom Bombadil.jpg|thumb|left|''Tom Bombadil'' by [[John Howe]].]]
Tom Bombadil's mythological origins in the cosmology of [[Middle-earth]] have puzzled even erudite fans. Speculative ideas about his true nature range from simply a wise [[Elves|Elven]] hermit to an angelic being (a [[Maiar|Maia]] or [[Valar|Vala]]), to the creator, that is, God, who is called [[Eru Ilúvatar]] in [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s mythology. Tolkien explicitly denied this last possibility.

Tom seems to have unlimited power inside the boundaries that he set for himself. The most common theory is that Bombadil is a Maia, and perhaps the reason of why he has such powers might be the fact that he set himself limits in which he is master. "[[Eldest]], that's what I am... Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn... He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless – before the Dark Lord came from Outside." The Dark Lord that Bombadil refers to is probably [[Melkor]] and not [[Sauron]]. But in that case, Tom was already there even before the [[Valar]] entered the world, dismissing the theory that he is a Maia. Bombadil could be part of the [[Music of the Ainur]] and that would explain why he was there in the beginning, but if he was indeed part of the music, it is not said why he exists.

Other possibilities (compatible with the above theory) are that he is an abstract, a concept; possibly the embodiment of [[Arda]] itself, a "Father Nature" if you will, or some kind of 'spirit' which (unlike the Maiar) was of non-divine nature. Not only does the Ring have no effect on him, Tom himself seems unable to affect the Ring in return which shows that Tom was outside the divine plan and struggle and had no position in it. When Goldberry was asked by [[Frodo Baggins]] who he was, she simply said "He is". This is echoed by the following excerpt from Tom's songs:

==Etymology and other names==
Tom Bombadil went by many names:
* ''Tom Bombadil'' is said to be a [[Buckland|Bucklandish]] name, added by Hobbit chroniclers to his many older ones. It is, like many names of the Bucklanders, untranslatable{{ref|4}}.
* To the [[Elves]] and [[Dúnedain]], he was known as ''Iarwain Ben-adar'', which translated to "oldest and fatherless"{{ref|5}}.
* To [[Men]] (of [[Rohan]] and [[Bree]]), he was known as ''Orald''. This is an Old English word meaning "very ancient{{ref|6}}.
* The Dwarves knew him as ''Forn''. This too is a reference too his age: it is Old Norse for "(belonging to) ancient (days)"{{ref|7}}. In some imprints of ''[[The History of Middle-earth Index]]'', this name was accidentally spelled with a "P" as the first letter{{ref|8}}.

==Portrayal in Adaptions==
[[Image:BFME2 - Tom Bombadil 03.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Tom Bombadil, as he appeared in ''[[EA's The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'']]
One of the few things known about the [[The Lord of the Rings (1956 radio series)|1956 radio series]] of ''The Lord of the Rings'' is that [[Norman Shelley]] voiced him, and Tolkien thought his portrayal "dreadful". [[Goldberry]] was portrayed as his daughter, rather than his wife{{ref|9}}.

In [[Mind's Eye]]'s [[1979]] [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|radio series]] of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[Bernard Mayes]] voiced Tom Bombadil.

He was deleted from the [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|1981 radio series]], [[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings|Ralph Bakshi's movie]] and [[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings|Peter Jackson's movies]]. He contributed little to the storyline. The obtaining of the [[Daggers of Westernesse|Barrow-blades]] is omitted or retold in all. [[Brian Sibley]] deeply regretted cutting him from the radio series{{ref|10}}, and included the "deleted scenes" as the episode "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" in the [[1992]] [[Tales from the Perilous Realm (1992 radio series)|''Tales from the Perilous Realm'' radio series]]. He is voiced by [[Ian Hogg]].

In the Recorded Books Inc recorded book that [[Rob Inglis]] narrated, he sang Tom's songs in a rollicking Scottish style.

In the [[2001]] video game ''[[Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring (game)|The Fellowship of the Ring]]'' by [[Vivendi]], Tom Bombadil was voiced by [[Daran Norris]]. Here, he is also portrayed with a Scottish accent, though not as rollicking as Inglis'.

Bombadil is a character in ''[[EA's The Battle for Middle-earth II]]''. Unlike his nature in the book, he is shown strong and battleready, and plows through enemy lines whilst merrily singing. His most powerful weapon is a "Sonic Song", and all his other weapons are inspired by song and dance.

==Inspiration==
Tom Bombadil may have been inspired by the character Väinämöinen (spelt 'Wainamoinen' in English) in the Finnish national epic [[Kalevala]], or Father [[Francis Xavier Morgan]] at the [[Birmingham Oratory]]:
{{quote|...… Father Francis Xavier Morgan, then aged forty-three, who shortly after the Tolkiens moved into the district [Edgbaston] took over the duties of parish priest and came to call. In him Mabel soon found not only a sympathetic priest but a valuable friend. Half Welsh and half Anglo-Spanish (his mother’s family were prominent in the sherry trade), Francis Morgan was '''not a man of great intellect, but he had an immense fund of kindness and humour and a flamboyance''' that was often attributed to his Spanish connections. Indeed '''he was a very noisy man, loud and affectionate, embarrassing to small children at first but hugely lovable when they got to know him.'''|[[J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography]]}}

==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of Tom Bombadil|Images of Tom Bombadil]]
{{sequence|prev=[[Bilbo Baggins]]|next=[[Bilbo Baggins]]|list=[[Ring-bearer]] <code>III</code> 26 September 3018 (briefly)}} 

==References==
<div style="font-size: 80%">
# {{note|1}} ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', [[The Old Forest]]
# {{note|2}} ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', [[In the House of Tom Bombadil]]
# {{note|3}} ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', [[Fog on the Barrow-downs]]
# {{note|4}} ''[[The Adventures of Tom Bombadil]]'', Preface
# {{note|5}} ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', [[The Council of Elrond]]
# {{note|6}} [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], "[[Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings]]", published in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]] (by [[Wayne G. Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull]]), page 761.
# {{note|7}} [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], "[[Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings]]", published in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]] (by [[Wayne G. Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull]]), page 761.
# {{note|8}} ''[[The History of Middle-earth: Index]]'', "Tom Bombadil (VII)", page 435 ([[HarperCollins]] [[2000]] Paperback)
# {{note|9}} ''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]'', [[Letter 175]] ([[November 30]], [[1955]])
# {{note|10}} [[Brian Sibley]], ''[http://briansibleytheworks.blogspot.com/2008/01/this-page-is-still-under-construction_23.html The Ring Goes Ever On]''
</div>
== External Links ==
* [http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/t/tombombadil.html Entry in the Encyclopedia of Arda] (a concise overview of the discussion)
* [http://tolkien.slimy.com/essays/Bombadil.html ''What is Tom Bombadil?''] by Steuard Jensen (a detailed explanation)
* [http://www.cas.unt.edu/~hargrove/bombadil.html ''Who is Tom Bombadil?''] by Gene Hargrove (a somewhat unorthodox but well-presented essay)
* [http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/4786/76065 Count, Count, Weigh, Divide] discusses Tom Bombadil's moral aspects at length

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Ring-bearers]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]

Tom Bombadil

2008-07-30T13:11:27Z

Jeandré: /* See also */ring bearer seq

{{claimed}}
[[Image:Brothers Hildebrandt - Tom Bombadil.jpg|thumb|300px|''Tom Bombadil'' by [[Brothers Hildebrandt]].]]
<center>{{quote|Eldest, that's what I am... Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn... he knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless – before the Dark Lord came from Outside.|Tom Bombadil, ''[[In the House of Tom Bombadil]]''.}}</center>

'''Tom Bombadil''' is an enigma in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' and ''[[the Adventures of Tom Bombadil]]''.

==Third Age==
Tom Bombadil lived on the river [[Withywindle]] in the [[Old Forest]], together with his lovely wife [[Goldberry]]. On [[September 26]], [[Third Age 3019|T.A. 3019]], he encountered [[travellers|four hobbits]] while he was searching for water-lilies for his wife. Two of those Hobbits, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]], had been captured by [[Old Man Willow]]. Tom, who was the master of the Old Forest, rescued them, and took all four of them to his house{{ref|1}}.

After a dinner, Tom let the four hobbits stay over for the night. The following day, he told them many stories, and sang more songs. Apparently, [[Gildor Inglorion]] had been to Tom's house, as he knew the hobbits were fleeing. With cunning questions, he made [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] tell him of the [[One Ring|Ring]]. When Tom tried it on, nothing happened, and when Frodo put it on, Tom could still see him.

The following morning, Tom warned his guests of the [[Barrow Downs]], and advised them to pass any barrow on the western side. He also tought them a sond, should they come to peril{{ref|2}}.

And they did come to peril. Tom chased off a [[Barrow-wight|wight]] with song, and broke the spells on the barrow in which the four hobbits were captured. While he sent the Hobbits into calm down, he went for provisions and ponies. After that, he broke the spells of the barrow. From the barrow's mighty hoard, he took a brooch for Goldberry, and gave a [[Daggers of Westernesse|dagger]] to each of the hobbits. He then advised them to make for ''[[The Prancing Pony]]'' in [[Bree]]{{ref|3}}.

== Tom Bombadil's Nature ==
[[Image:John Howe - Tom Bombadil.jpg|thumb|left|''Tom Bombadil'' by [[John Howe]].]]
Tom Bombadil's mythological origins in the cosmology of [[Middle-earth]] have puzzled even erudite fans. Speculative ideas about his true nature range from simply a wise [[Elves|Elven]] hermit to an angelic being (a [[Maiar|Maia]] or [[Valar|Vala]]), to the creator, that is, God, who is called [[Eru Ilúvatar]] in [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s mythology. Tolkien explicitly denied this last possibility.

Tom seems to have unlimited power inside the boundaries that he set for himself. The most common theory is that Bombadil is a Maia, and perhaps the reason of why he has such powers might be the fact that he set himself limits in which he is master. "[[Eldest]], that's what I am... Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn... He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless – before the Dark Lord came from Outside." The Dark Lord that Bombadil refers to is probably [[Melkor]] and not [[Sauron]]. But in that case, Tom was already there even before the [[Valar]] entered the world, dismissing the theory that he is a Maia. Bombadil could be part of the [[Music of the Ainur]] and that would explain why he was there in the beginning, but if he was indeed part of the music, it is not said why he exists.

Other possibilities (compatible with the above theory) are that he is an abstract, a concept; possibly the embodiment of [[Arda]] itself, a "Father Nature" if you will, or some kind of 'spirit' which (unlike the Maiar) was of non-divine nature. Not only does the Ring have no effect on him, Tom himself seems unable to affect the Ring in return which shows that Tom was outside the divine plan and struggle and had no position in it. When Goldberry was asked by [[Frodo Baggins]] who he was, she simply said "He is". This is echoed by the following excerpt from Tom's songs:

==Etymology and other names==
Tom Bombadil went by many names:
* ''Tom Bombadil'' is said to be a [[Buckland|Bucklandish]] name, added by Hobbit chroniclers to his many older ones. It is, like many names of the Bucklanders, untranslatable{{ref|4}}.
* To the [[Elves]] and [[Dúnedain]], he was known as ''Iarwain Ben-adar'', which translated to "oldest and fatherless"{{ref|5}}.
* To [[Men]] (of [[Rohan]] and [[Bree]]), he was known as ''Orald''. This is an Old English word meaning "very ancient{{ref|6}}.
* The Dwarves knew him as ''Forn''. This too is a reference too his age: it is Old Norse for "(belonging to) ancient (days)"{{ref|7}}. In some imprints of ''[[The History of Middle-earth Index]]'', this name was accidentally spelled with a "P" as the first letter{{ref|8}}.

==Portrayal in Adaptions==
[[Image:BFME2 - Tom Bombadil 03.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Tom Bombadil, as he appeared in ''[[EA's The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'']]
One of the few things known about the [[The Lord of the Rings (1956 radio series)|1956 radio series]] of ''The Lord of the Rings'' is that [[Norman Shelley]] voiced him, and Tolkien thought his portrayal "dreadful". [[Goldberry]] was portrayed as his daughter, rather than his wife{{ref|9}}.

In [[Mind's Eye]]'s [[1979]] [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|radio series]] of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[Bernard Mayes]] voiced Tom Bombadil.

He was deleted from the [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|1981 radio series]], [[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings|Ralph Bakshi's movie]] and [[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings|Peter Jackson's movies]]. He contributed little to the storyline. The obtaining of the [[Daggers of Westernesse|Barrow-blades]] is omitted or retold in all. [[Brian Sibley]] deeply regretted cutting him from the radio series{{ref|10}}, and included the "deleted scenes" as the episode "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" in the [[1992]] [[Tales from the Perilous Realm (1992 radio series)|''Tales from the Perilous Realm'' radio series]]. He is voiced by [[Ian Hogg]].

In the Recorded Books Inc recorded book that [[Rob Inglis]] narrated, he sang Tom's songs in a rollicking Scottish style.

In the [[2001]] video game ''[[Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring (game)|The Fellowship of the Ring]]'' by [[Vivendi]], Tom Bombadil was voiced by [[Daran Norris]]. Here, he is also portrayed with a Scottish accent, though not as rollicking as Inglis'.

Bombadil is a character in ''[[EA's The Battle for Middle-earth II]]''. Unlike his nature in the book, he is shown strong and battleready, and plows through enemy lines whilst merrily singing. His most powerful weapon is a "Sonic Song", and all his other weapons are inspired by song and dance.

==Inspiration==
Tom Bombadil may have been inspired by the character Väinämöinen (spelt 'Wainamoinen' in English) in the Finnish national epic [[Kalevala]], or Father [[Francis Xavier Morgan]] at the [[Birmingham Oratory]]:
{{quote|...… Father Francis Xavier Morgan, then aged forty-three, who shortly after the Tolkiens moved into the district [Edgbaston] took over the duties of parish priest and came to call. In him Mabel soon found not only a sympathetic priest but a valuable friend. Half Welsh and half Anglo-Spanish (his mother’s family were prominent in the sherry trade), Francis Morgan was '''not a man of great intellect, but he had an immense fund of kindness and humour and a flamboyance''' that was often attributed to his Spanish connections. Indeed '''he was a very noisy man, loud and affectionate, embarrassing to small children at first but hugely lovable when they got to know him.'''|[[J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography]]}}

==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of Tom Bombadil|Images of Tom Bombadil]]
{{sequence|prev=[[Bilbo Baggins]]|next=[[Bilbo Baggins]]|list=[[Ring-bearer]] <code>III</code> 26 September 3019 (briefly)}} 

==References==
<div style="font-size: 80%">
# {{note|1}} ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', [[The Old Forest]]
# {{note|2}} ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', [[In the House of Tom Bombadil]]
# {{note|3}} ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', [[Fog on the Barrow-downs]]
# {{note|4}} ''[[The Adventures of Tom Bombadil]]'', Preface
# {{note|5}} ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', [[The Council of Elrond]]
# {{note|6}} [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], "[[Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings]]", published in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]] (by [[Wayne G. Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull]]), page 761.
# {{note|7}} [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], "[[Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings]]", published in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]] (by [[Wayne G. Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull]]), page 761.
# {{note|8}} ''[[The History of Middle-earth: Index]]'', "Tom Bombadil (VII)", page 435 ([[HarperCollins]] [[2000]] Paperback)
# {{note|9}} ''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]'', [[Letter 175]] ([[November 30]], [[1955]])
# {{note|10}} [[Brian Sibley]], ''[http://briansibleytheworks.blogspot.com/2008/01/this-page-is-still-under-construction_23.html The Ring Goes Ever On]''
</div>
== External Links ==
* [http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/t/tombombadil.html Entry in the Encyclopedia of Arda] (a concise overview of the discussion)
* [http://tolkien.slimy.com/essays/Bombadil.html ''What is Tom Bombadil?''] by Steuard Jensen (a detailed explanation)
* [http://www.cas.unt.edu/~hargrove/bombadil.html ''Who is Tom Bombadil?''] by Gene Hargrove (a somewhat unorthodox but well-presented essay)
* [http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/4786/76065 Count, Count, Weigh, Divide] discusses Tom Bombadil's moral aspects at length

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Ring-bearers]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]

Ring-bearer

2008-07-30T13:09:49Z

Jeandré: /* Individual ring-bearers */dates and length of time

'''Ring-bearer''' was a title given to a person who, for some time in their life, bore the [[One Ring]].

==Individual ring-bearers==
*[[Sauron]], the original Ring-bearer. <code>II</code> c. 1600 – 3441 (~1841 years)
*[[Isildur]] <code>II</code> 3441 – <code>III</code> 2 (~2 years)
*[[Déagol]] <code>III</code> c. 2463 (briefly)
*[[Gollum|Sméagol]] <code>III</code> c. 2463 - 2941 and briefly on <code>III</code> 25 March 3019 (~478 years)
*[[Bilbo Baggins]] <code>III</code> 2941 - 22 September 3001 (~60 years)
*[[Frodo Baggins]] <code>III</code> 22 September 3001 - 13 March 3019 and <code>III</code> 14 March 3019 - 25 March 3019 (17 and a half years)
*[[Tom Bombadil]] <code>III</code> 26 September 3019 (briefly)
*[[Samwise Gamgee]] <code>III</code> 13 March 3019 - 14 March 3019 (about a day)

==See Also==
*[[Ring-finder]]

[[Category:Titles]]
[[Category:Epithets]]

The Sellamillion

2006-08-19T17:35:04Z

Jeandré: Home, italics

'''''Sellamillion''''' is a short satirical novel by [[Adam Roberts]], based on ''[[The Silmarillion]]'' and ''[[The History of Middle-earth]]''. It was first published in 2004 by [[Gollancz]].

[[Category:Books]]

HoMe

2006-08-19T17:34:53Z

Jeandré: redirect The History of Middle-earth

#redirect [[The History of Middle-earth]]

Talk:Aragorn II

2006-08-13T07:17:43Z

Jeandré: Any siblings?

==Any siblings?==
According to [[Arathorn II]], Aragorn was "his only son" (unsourced), but did he have any sisters and would they be regarded as heirs of Isildur? If not, wouldn't an heir of Isildur have to ensure he had kids (instead of waiting for permission to marry Arwen) before doing what he did as Thorongil and in the war? -- [[User:Jeandré|Jeandré]], 2006-08-13[[User talk:Jeandré|t]]07:17z

Aragorn II

2006-08-13T06:59:43Z

Jeandré: rm "was would", whitespace, caps

{{cleanup}}

''(See also [[Aragorn I]], an early [[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]])''
{{quote|You are [[Isildur's Heir]], not [[Isildur]] himself.|[[Arwen]]}}
[[Image:John Howe - Aragorn.jpg|thumb|''Aragorn'' by [[John Howe]]]]
'''Aragorn II''' ([[Third Age]] March 1, 2931 – [[Fourth Age]] 120, aged 210 years) was the son of [[Arathorn II]] and [[Gilraen]]. He was was a [[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] and a direct descendant through many generations of [[Isildur]], the last [[High King]] of both [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. Aragorn become the greatest man of his time, leading the [[Men of the West]] against [[Sauron]]'s forces, helping to destroy the [[One Ring]], a reuniting the [[Reunited Kingdom|Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor]].

Aragorn was named after his ancestor, [[Aragorn I]]. His name means "Lord of the Tree" in [[Sindarin]].

==History==
When Aragorn was two years old, his father was slain when a [[Orc]] arrow pierced his eye. As was the tradition of his people, Aragorn was fostered in [[Rivendell]] by [[Elrond]]. By Elrond's order, his identity was kept secret, as he feared he would be slain like his father and grandfather. Aragorn was named '''''[[Estel]]''''' ([[Sindarin]] for "Hope") instead, and was not told about his heritage until he came of age in 2951.

Elrond revealed to "Estel" his true name and ancestry in 2951, when Aragorn was twenty years old, and delivered to him the shards of [[Narsil]] and the [[Ring of Barahir]]. The next day, in the woods of Rivendell, Aragorn met and fell in love with [[Arwen Evenstar|Arwen]], daughter of Elrond, who had newly returned from [[Lórien in Middle-earth|Lórien]].

Aragorn took up his proper name as Aragorn II, sixteenth of the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, and went into the [[Wild]].

In 2953 he was not present in Rivendell for the last meeting of the [[White Council]]. Aragorn met [[Gandalf the Grey]] in 2956, and they became great friends. At Gandalf's advice he began to get interested in the [[Shire]], and became known around the area as '''''Strider'''''.

From 2957 to 2980 Aragorn took great journeys, serving in the armies of King [[Thengel]] of [[Rohan]], and Steward [[Ecthelion II]] of Gondor. Many of his tasks weakened [[Sauron]] and his allies, which during the [[War of the Ring]] helped the West survive. His name in Gondor and Rohan was '''''Thorongil''''' (Sindarin for "Eagle of the Star"), and with a Gondorian attack force he led an assault on the [[Haven of Umbar]] in 2980, taking the city and slaying its lord. Later in 2980 he was in Lórien, and there once again met Arwen. He gave her the heirloom of his House, the [[Ring of Barahir]], and Arwen pledged her hand to him in marriage.

Elrond gave his foster-son permission to marry his daughter, on the condition that he must first become king of both Gondor and Arnor, for only a king would be worthy of Arwen's hand. This may seem a harsh condition, but it should be noted that it is significantly more lenient than the closest precedent, King [[Thingol]]'s request that [[Beren Erchamion|Beren]] obtain a [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Morgoth]] before marrying his daughter [[Lúthien]].

In 3009, Aragorn went into [[Rhovanion]] in search of [[Gollum]] at Gandalf's request, and he finally caught him in the [[Dead Marshes]] in sight of [[Mordor]], and brought him as a captive to King [[Thranduil]]'s halls in [[Mirkwood]], where he questioned him.

On September 30, 3018, Aragorn was waiting in the Inn known as [[The Prancing Pony]] in [[Bree]], where he met up with [[Frodo Baggins]], and began his role in the War of the Ring. Aragorn was aged 87 at that time, but because he is of [[Númenórean]] blood he appeared to be in his prime.

The restoration of the line of Elendil to the throne of Gondor is a major subplot of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'': Aragorn's adventures not only aid Frodo in his Quest, but also bring him closer to the kingship (a move which is politically very complicated). Upon [[Sauron]]'s defeat, in late 3019, Aragorn is crowned as '''''King Elessar''''' ([[Quenya]] for "[[Elessar of Eärendil|Elfstone]]"), a name given to him by [[Galadriel]]. He marries Arwen Undómiel shortly afterwards, and rules the [[Reunited Kingdom]] of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the [[Fourth Age]]. He died after 210 years of life and 122 years of reign. His wife Arwen, now mortal, gave up her life shortly afterwards in year 121, aged 2,901.

He founded the [[House of Telcontar]], and was succeeded by his son [[Eldarion]]. He also had a number of daughters, whose names were not recorded.

Through his ancestor Elendil, Aragorn is a descendant of the [[Númenóreans]], great [[Men]] who were granted long lives by the [[Valar]]. Though [[Númenor]] was destroyed, its people lived on as the [[Dúnedain]], and like their ancestors they too were long-lived. Thus Aragorn lived to a great age, finally passing on at 210 years.

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the earliest unpublished versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (see ''[[The History of The Lord of the Rings]]''), the character that later became Aragorn was called '''''[[Trotter]]''''' instead of Strider, and was a [[Hobbit]] instead of a [[Men|Man]]. He has wooden feet, because he had once traveled to Mordor and been tortured there.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
<gallery>
Image:Aragorn from Rankin-Bass' The Return of the King.jpg|Aragorn as portrayed in [[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King]]
Image:Strider from Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings.jpg|Aragorn as portrayed in [[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]]
Image:Aragorn grimace.jpg|[[Viggo Mortensen]] as Aragorn in [[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]]
</gallery>
In the [[Rankin/Bass]] animated version of [[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King|The Return of the King]], Aragorn is voiced by [[Theodore Bikel]].

In Ralph Bakshi's animated film [[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings|The Lord of the Rings]], Aragorn is voiced by [[John Hurt]].

In [[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]], Aragorn is played by American actor [[Viggo Mortensen]]. Instead of explaining the complicated circumstances of an heir of Isildur taking the throne in Gondor (see [[Pelendur]] for an example), in the movie Aragorn must overcome his self-doubt to choose the kingship. This cinematic element adds appeal to a modern audience, but in the books there is no doubt of his purpose to return as the king.

==Genealogy==
<code>
[[Eärendil the Mariner|Eärendil]] = [[Elwing]]
| [[Celeborn, Lord of Lórien|Celeborn]] = [[Galadriel]]
| |
________|________ |
| | |
| | |
[[Elros]] [[Elrond]] = [[Celebrían]]
: |
: |
: |
: |
[[Elendil]] † |
| |
______|______ |
| | | † [[High King]] of [[Arnor]] ''and'' [[Gondor]]
| | |
[[Isildur]] † [[Anárion son of Elendil|Anárion]] |
: : |
: : |
''The Kings'' ''The Kings'' |
''of [[Arnor]]'' ''of [[Gondor]]'' |
: : |
: : |
: [[Eärnur]] ‡ | ‡ Last [[King of Gondor]]
: |
[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftains of]] |
[[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|the Dúnedain]] |
: |
: |
[[Arathorn II]] = [[Gilraen]] |
| |
| |
'''ARAGORN II ELESSAR''' = [[Arwen]]
|
_______|_______
| |
| |
[[Eldarion]] ''numerous daughters''
</code>

==Other names and titles==
Aragorn was also known as '''Strider''', '''Elessar Telcontar''' ("Elfstone Strider"), '''Thorongil''', '''The Dúnadan''' ("Man of the West"), '''Longshanks''' (given by [[Bill Ferny]]), '''Wingfoot''' (given by [[Éomer]]), and '''Estel''' ("Hope")
{{sequence
|prev=[[Arathorn II]]
|next=none (abandoned)
|list=[[Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] <code>III</code> 2933 – 3019
}}
{{sequence
|prev=[[Eärnur]], 971 years earlier
|next=[[Eldarion]]
|list=[[King of Gondor]] <code>III</code> 3019 – <code>IV</code> 120
}}
{{sequence
|prev=[[Arvedui]], 1,046 years earlier
|next=[[Eldarion]]
|list=[[King of Arnor]] <code>III</code> 3019 – <code>IV</code> 120
}}
{{sequence
|prev=[[Isildur]], 3,017 years earlier
|next=[[Eldarion]]
|list=[[High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]] <code>III</code> 3019 – <code>IV</code> 120
}}
{{sequence
|prev=none
|next=[[Eldarion]]
|list=[[House of Telcontar]] <code>III</code> 3019 – <code>IV</code> 120
}}
{{fellowship}}

==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of Aragorn|Images of Aragorn]]

[[Category:Dúnedain of the North]]
[[Category:Rulers of Arnor]]
[[Category:Rulers of Gondor]]

TA

2006-08-13T06:58:37Z

Jeandré: redirect Third Age

#redirect [[Third Age]]