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| Illustrations by Anke Eissman |
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Fellowship: wizard Gandalf, hobbits Frodo, Sam, Pippin, Merry, dwarf Gimli, Númenorean Strider, Man Boromir, Wood-elf Legolas |
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The Lord of the Rings
Part I. The Fellowship of the Ring
A Guide to Tolkien's Novel
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Races
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Dúnedain: Great Kings of Men, see Númenorean
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Dwarves: smaller than Men and Elves, taller and stronger than Hobbits,
they also wear long beards, renowned for their skill at crafting objects;
"Dwarves are not heroes, but calculating folk with a great idea of the value of money; some are tricky and
treacherous and pretty bad lots; some are not, but are decent enough people, like Thorin and Company, if you don't expect too much."
"The dwarves are exceedingly strong for their height." (from The Hobbit)
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Edain: fathers of the Númenoreans, the Edain were
named Elf-friends for they helped them in their War of the
Great Jewels (Silmarilli) against Morgoth (Year 1693 Second Age) and were allowed by the Valdar to go West with
the Elves. But since as mortals, they could not enter their Blessed Realm, they settled in the island furthest from
mortal lands: Númenor (Westernesse).
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Eldar: Elven-Wise, West-Elves, the most ancient wisest Elves, the
greatest of which, Galadriel, Gil-galad and Círdan, were assigned guardians of the Three Elf-Rings of
Power.
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Elves: also known as the 'Fair people', immortal beings,
renowned for their wisdom and grace. There are several kinds of elves:
High Elves of the West: the Light-elves, Deep-elves and Sea-elves went to the West, the Blessed
Realm, where they grew wiser and more learned before some came back to the Wide World
Wood-Elves: more dangerous and less wise for they never went to the West; they never leave
their forests and love starlight best;
"Elves know a lot and are wondrous folk for news, and know what is going on among the peoples of the land,
as quick as water flows, or quicker."
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Halflings: name for Hobbits in the tongue of Men
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Hobbits: also known as Halflings (to Men), Periannath
(to Elves), Holbytlan (to
Rohirrim).
Smaller than Dwarves, they have a passion for food and comfort
"a little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves. Hobbits have no beards.
There is little or no magic about them, except the ordinary everyday sort which helps them disappear quickly
when large stupid folk like you and me come blundering along, making a noise like elephants which they can
hear from a mile off. They are inclined to be fat in the stomach; they dress in bright colours (chiefly green
and yellow); wear no shoes, because their feet grow natural leathery soles and thick warm brown hair like the
stuff on their heads (which is curly); have long clever brown fingers, good-natured faces, and laugh deep
fruity laughs (especially after dinner, which they have twice a day when they can get it)."
"not quite like ordinary people [...] they can move very quietly, and hide easily, and recover wonderfully from
falls and bruises, and they have a fund of wisdom and wise sayings that men have mostly never heard or have forgotten long ago."
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Istari: order of the great wizards, see wizards
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Men: humans, extremely vulnerable to the corruptive power
of the One Ring
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Nazgûls: or Ringwraiths, slaves of the Nine
Rings. Nine Men who were given a Ring each by Sauron, they became powerful wraiths bound to his will (through
the One Ring) and first appeared as such in 2251 (Second Age). They reappear in the Third Age, disguised as
Riders in Black
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Númenoreans: Kings of Men,
descendants of Eärendil and Elwing (of the bloodline of the Elf
Lúthien Tinúviel and the Man Beren), thus called for they long dwelt in Númenor,
closest to the Blessed Realm where they grew wiser and stronger than Men of Middle-Earth.
Corrupted by Sauron in 3262, Númenor falls in 3319, though Elendil flees with
his sons to Middle-Earth.
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Periannath: Elvish name for Hobbits
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Ringwraiths: servants of Sauron, bound to the Ring,
see Nazgûls
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Valar: Guardians of the World, they dwell in the Blessed
Realm.
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Wise (the): the Eldar and the five Istari (wizards)
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Wizards: also known as Istari, they were five in total,
the two highest in the order being Saruman and Gandalf. Messengers from the Far West sent out to unite people
against Sauron, they were forbidden to use their powers to dominate others. So they took the form of Men and
seldom revealed their real names.
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