The Hobbit / Lord of the Rings Character Guide

A Who's Who of Classic Fantasy Book by J.R.R. Tolkien Coming to Film

© Adam Pracht

Oct 18, 2009

Anyone who watches "The Hobbit" movie before reading the books will surely be deluged with a string of character names and wishing for a score sheet.

Taking the characters in a epic of hundreds of pages and compressing them into a movie of several hours can be overwhelming.

Just print the guide below and take it to the movie to have a quick cheat sheet of the main characters in order of appearance and why they're important. Many of these characters appear in "Lord of the Rings."

Note: there are some "spoilers" below for those who don't want to know any plot points.

• Bilbo Baggins — The hero of the book, Bilbo is a Hobbit. Hobbits are a race of short-statured, furry footed and cheery people who live an idyllic life in a land called The Shire, isolated from the larger troubles of Middle Earth - the fantasy land the book is set in. Bilbo is "well-to-do" and comfortable and, at least on the surface, adverse to adventure. However, another side of his family is "queer" and has a history of disappearing on unknown quests. In the course of the book, he discovers his own resourcefulness and ultimately a love of adventure.
• Gandalf — a famous wizard of Middle Earth. Gandalf hides much under the surface and his history is much deeper and ancient than Bilbo or anyone else guesses at. Gandalf knows Bilbo has more to him than meets the eye and pulls Bilbo, unwillingly, into a quest with a group of dwarves as the "robber."
• Dwalin, Balin, Kili, Fili, Dori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur — The group of largely interchangeable dwarves who accompany Bilbo on the book's quest. They are introduced all at once and tend to blend together. A few of the dwarves deserve note, however. Gloin is the father of Gimli, who is the primary dwarf character in "The Lord of the Rings." And Bombur, who is overweight, later causes problems by falling asleep under a spell in a dangerous forest.
• Thorin Oakenshield — The leader, and most important, of the dwarves. He is heir to the dwarf kingdom under The Lonely Mountain — far in the east of Middle Earth — which was defeated by a dragon. Thorin has determined to break back into The Lonely Mountain, defeat Smaug and regain the precious Arkenstone — a heirloom of Thorin's family lost to the dragon. Thorin has found a map and a key that he thinks will aid in this quest. He will meet his end in the Battle of Five Armies.
• Bert, Tom and William — Three trolls who capture Thorin's party and put them in sacks to eat. Gandalf cleverly tricks them into arguing with each other until the sun rises and turns them all into stone. They were holding onto three valuable elven blades that the party takes for their own: Orcrist, Glamdring and an elven dagger Bilbo names Sting.
• Elrond — A half-elf, half human who rules over the valley of Rivendell and the Last Homely House. He also appears as an important advisor in "The Lord of the Rings." The party rests briefly in his hospitality before journeying over the Misty Mountains just east of Rivendell. He also discovers special "moon-letters" on Thorin's map.
• The Great Goblin — The leader of a band of goblins who captures all but Gandalf as the party attempts to pass over the mountains. He is killed in the dwarves' escape, aided by Gandalf.
• Gollum — A creature who was once a hobbit, but became twisted by a powerful ring (The One Ring in "The Lord of the Rings") into a ruined being. When Bilbo gets separated from his party, he engages in a battle of riddles with Gollum in exchange for the way out. When Bilbo wins, Gollum goes for his ring, which turns the wearer invisible, intending to kill Bilbo. Fortunately, Bilbo has already run across the ring and escaped.
• Wargs — Evil wolves who attack the party after they escape.
• Lord of the Eagles — Eagle who leads his band to rescue the party and to fight in the ending battle.
• Beorn — A man with the ability to transform into a bear, who helps defeat the party's pursuers and offers the party shelter briefly after escaping the Misty Mountains.
• Spiders — Unnamed monstrous forest creatures who capture all of the party but Bilbo with the intention to eat them. Bilbo kills many of them with the help of the ring and Sting.
• The Elvenking — King of the wood elves in Mirkwood, who captures the party. Bilbo again uses the ring to help the dwarves escape from him by hiding in barrels.
• The Master of Lake Town — Ruler of the Venice-like Lake Town who gives some reluctant aid to the party.
• Smaug — Ancient red-gold dragon who took The Lonely Mountain and its treasure for his own. He inadvertently reveals his weak spot to Bilbo and attacks Lake Town upon discovering Bilbo robbed him. He is slain in the attack.
• Bard — The brave captain of a band of Lake Town archers who stand their ground against Smaug's attack. As he reaches his last arrow — a black arrow that has always found its mark and always been recovered — a thrush that overheard Bilbo's conversation with Smaug whispers the dragon's weakness to him. Bard slays the dragon with his black arrow. He is hailed as king for his valor.
• Roäc — A raven who brings word to the party of Smaug's death and of the gathering Battle of Five Armies.
• Dain — Thorin's cousin from the Iron Hills near The Lonely Mountain, who Thorin summons for aid at the end of the book.
• Blog — Goblin king under the northern mountain of Gundabad, who along with an army of wolves, attacks the dwarves, humans and elves in the Battle of Five Armies.
• The Sackville-Bagginses — Bilbo's cousins who attempt to sell his belongings, assuming he has died.

There are other minor characters who make appearances, but this guide should help keep track of the primary characters in "The Hobbit."

Looking out a Hobbit Hole

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