History Characters / TheLordOfTheRings

* TimeAbyss: He's older than time itself. Doesn't stop Treebeard from calling him "young Gandalf."

** When he meets LoveInterest Éowyn, the BadassPrincess of a [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Proud Warrior Race]] that includes [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu herself]] ''and'' her Berserker brother, they're both recovering from serious illness, and Faramir still comes off as one of the greatest warriors of the age:

* BadassPrincess: She fights for her country and takes down the leader of the Ringwraiths himself.

* ImmuneToMindControl: The Ring does not strictly control minds, but it does have a strong ability to warp whoever is wearing it into an evil mutant of what they once were. Not Tom Bombadil, however. Tom is not impressed by the Ring at all, and casually plays with it before handing it back to Frodo. It seems he can even see Frodo when he's wearing it.

* InexplicablyAwesome: He can banish evil trees, barrow-wights, and it's implied that even Nazgûl. Also, he can apparently teleport, the Ring has no effect over him, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking has some damn catchy songs.]]
** It is notable that even the Valar is unable to understand exactly what or who Tom is. It is said that after immediately they had created the world, they discovered, much to their puzzlement, that Tom already existed in it. The Valar were all sure that they were not responsible for creating Tom, and therefore could not explain his existence; he just was ''there'' all of a sudden.

* SingleSpecimenSpecies: Possibly. Probably. It would be clearer if anybody had a clue what he is other than "thingy." The only other being which could relate to him is Goldberry.

* WackyWaysideTribe: The time with Bombadil is an interesting and amusing interlude, and the possibility of leaving the Ring with him is discussed later at the Council of Elrond, but it doesn't really contribute much to the story besides world-building and giving the hobbits barrow-blades, and the tone is much lighter than the rest of the narrative.
** It is worth mentioning that Sam wished he was present when they encountered Shelob. Which led him directly over to the memory of Galadriel`s lamp.

The modern [[WizardClassic archetypal wizard]] in appearance and style, he also is the UrExample of the MagicKnight. In the Third Age, the Valar (CelestialParagonsAndArchangels) sent five Maiar (lesser angels) to Middle-Earth to aid the struggle against Sauron, clothed in the forms of men and forbidden from using their power directly or trying to rule over Men and elves. Of these, two travelled far into the East: their tales are unknown. Of the remainder, Gandalf embodied wisdom, Saruman knowledge, and Radagast nature. Though Saruman is the head of the Council of the Wise, Gandalf was a wiser and greater Maia, but declined the position of leadership. The wise elf Círdan entrusted him with Narya, the Ring of Fire (one of the three mightiest Rings of Power created by the elves).

The modern [[WizardClassic archetypal wizard]] in appearance and style, he also is the UrExample of the MagicKnight. In the Third Age, the Valar (basically greater angels) sent five Maiar (basically lesser angels) to Middle-Earth to aid the struggle against Sauron, clothed in the forms of men and forbidden from using their power directly or trying to rule over Men and elves. Of these, two travelled far into the East: their tales are unknown. Of the remainder, Gandalf embodied wisdom, Saruman knowledge, and Radagast nature. Though Saruman is the head of the Council of the Wise, Gandalf was a wiser and greater Maia, but declined the position of leadership. The wise elf Círdan entrusted him with Narya, the Ring of Fire (one of the three mightiest Rings of Power created by the elves).

* TheNameless: He doesn't have an actual name, since he's not truly a person anymore, just an undead finger-puppet of Sauron's mind. Instead he's called Witch-king of Angmar (his alias, used only in the Appendix but remembered by everyone because of how cool it sounds), Lord of the Nazgûl, High Nazgûl, Black Captain, Captain of Despair, Morgul-lord, etc.

* DubNameChange: "Frodon Sacquet" in French ("sac" meaning "bag").

* DubNameChange: "Bilbon Sacquet" in French (the first translation of ''Literature/TheHobbit'' named him "Bilbo Bessac", but the films used the later version).

* NothingIsScarier: The full capabilities of the Ring are never really explained or understood, to the characters or the reader. This is because it, like its creator Sauron, are not truly of Middle Earth: their nature [[TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow is beyond mortal comprehension]]. This becomes all the more scary as the Ring's power and sentience grows as it nears its source, and its malignant influence begins to find footholds in Frodo's mind.

* {{Determinator}}: It's often overlooked, but he used the palantir for ''years'' to contest his will against Sauron's, but was not overpowered the way Saruman was (despite Sarumon being a Maia, a being on the same order as Sauron). The reason Sauron shifted from attempting to dominate Denethor directly to pushing him over the DespairEventHorizon was ''because'' Denethor's will was too strong.

** As the daughter of Finarfin and the highest ranking Noldorin Elf left in Middle-earth, she ''could'' have rightfully been crowned as the actual High Queen ''but'' for the pesky fact that Noldorin tradition doesn't allow for female heirs to ascend to the throne so the title of High King automatically went to her great-nephew Gil-galad instead.

* GoodIsNotNice: The first time he appears, he berates and frightens Frodo. [[GenreSavvy As he puts it himself]], 'I look foul and feel fair'.

* GenreSavvy: He's wise enough to understand that it's probably better to have as little as possible to do with a weapon designed by the Enemy.

* {{Pride}}: One of his defining trait. [[spoiler:and one which leads to his downfall]]

** He tends to raise objections, suggest alternate (and infeasible) plans, raise issues and generally grumble. [[SourSupporter He's brave and reliable, but he's not cheerful about it.]].

* ThisIsYourBrainOnEvil: Due to the Ring's influence he became [[NotSoDifferent Gollum-like in his mannerisms]], as pointed out by Gandalf. No, he has not begun to ''look'' Gollum-like just yet ([[spoiler: well, if you've read the books, he thankfully never does reach that stage]]), but his hunger and his growing obsession over the Ring is certainly a stepping stone towards reaching the Gollum stage. When he sees the One Ring in Frodo's possession in Rivendell, he briefly falls under its power again, causing Frodo to perceive him as “a little wrinkled creature with a hungry face and bony groping hands.” However, Bilbo quickly comes to his senses again, and he immediately apologizes and requests that Frodo never show him the Ring again.

* ImmuneToMindControl: The Ring does not strictly control minds, but it does have a strong ability to warp whoever is wearing it into an evil mutant of what they once were. Not Tom Bombadil, however. Tom is not impressed by the Ring at all, and casually plays with it before handing it back to Frodo.

** It is notable that even the Valar is unable to understand exactly what or who Tom is. It is said that after immediately they had created the world, they discovered, much to their puzzlement, that Tom was just ''there'', for some reason, and none of them could explain how that happened.

** It is notable that even the Valar is unable to understand exactly what or who Tom is. It is said that after immediately they had created the world, they discovered, much to their puzzlement, that Tom was just already ''there'', for some reason, and none of them could explain how that happened.

* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: 'His name is remembered in no tale for he himself had forgotten it, and he said "I am the Mouth of Sauron."'

* WizardsLiveLonger: He's really old, old enough to have completely forgotten his original name. Whether his own Black Arts or Sauron's are responsible, he's way past his time.

* TheResenter: he's been resenting Aragorn ever since they were rivals in his father's court and Ecthelion openly favored the stranger over his own son.

* LargeAndInCharge: The Uruk-hai are considerably larger than other orcs, and Ugluk is describes as one of the largest.

* ShroudedInMyth: She seems to have developed something of legend status amongst Dwarves and Men alike. Even some of the Elves who live in other realms of Middle-earth don't appear to know if she actually exists or is just a myth. Éomer comments that the people of Rohan call Lothlórien 'Dwimoden, the Haunted Vale' because every once in a while a member of the Rohirrim will go wandering in the Golden Wood and, if they return at all, they are 'changed somehow'. No non-Elf had entered into the heart of Lothlórien for centuries until the Fellowship were allowed access by Galadriel and Celeborn.