The classic novel “The Lord of the Rings” featured numerous human heroes, yet only a handful of them received screen time in the films. This epic tale was crafted by the brilliant English author J.R.R. Tolkien and initially published in three parts from 1954 to 1955, following his earlier children’s book, “The Hobbit,” which appeared in 1937. The film adaptations of both “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings,” directed by Peter Jackson, brilliantly brought Tolkien’s legendary characters to life on screen. While these movies showcase some exceptional human heroes from the story, they unfortunately did not include all of the finest characters from Tolkien’s mythology.
Besides “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings,” which are Tolkien’s most famous works, they offer an excellent starting point to explore the world of Men during the Third Age. However, there were various types of Men depicted in “The Lord of the Rings,” extending beyond just those two stories. The collection of all Tolkien’s works is known as the legendarium, and while some aspects seep into the movies, particularly in the prologue of “The Fellowship of the Ring,” the trilogy tends to present unique human heroes that may differ from their book counterparts.
10. Denethor
Ruling Steward Of Gondor
In the The Lord of the Rings films, John Noble’s character Denethor appeared as a villain, though he was a hero in the books. However, there were instances where his nobility emerged on screen. In the original stories, Pippin Took (brilliantly portrayed by Billy Boyd) demonstrated remarkable understanding, perceiving Denethor’s deep-seated wisdom which fostered his swift allegiance to Denethor. Unfortunately, this aspect of their relationship didn’t translate well in the movies, leaving Pippin’s actions seeming less intelligent.
In the films of “The Lord of the Rings,” Denethor’s character transformation portrayed him as a harsh and abusive father towards Faramir, which explains and makes Faramir’s actions more sympathetic and heartbreaking. Denethor’s portrayal as an abuser was deep and impactful, yet to readers of the books, hints of his kindness might have been subtle. In the trilogy, it became apparent that Denethor was struggling with some form of depression, which stemmed from Sauron’s influence. However, in his last moments, his affection for Faramir was heartbreakingly evident, driving him to hurl himself off Minas Tirith into flames.
9. Théodred
Son Of Théoden
In the epic tale of “The Lord of the Rings,” Elfhild perished during the birth of her son Théodred, who became a tragic yet significant character in the movies, although his role was relatively insignificant in the novel itself. The book employs Théodred as a crucial plot device to weaken his father, Théoden, one of the most distinguished heroes in “The Lord of the Rings.” Consequently, Théodred’s untimely demise, though briefly mentioned, plays a crucial role in Théoden’s downfall and eventual submission to Saruman.
In the film adaptation of “The Lord of the Rings,” Théodred, unlike in the books, had a significant presence both visually and narratively. This alteration proved beneficial as it portrayed Théodred as the valiant warrior he truly was. He bore a striking resemblance to his father, Théoden, in courage. In essence, Théodred embodied all that was admirable about Théoden, and with his death in battle, so did Théoden’s nobility. By the end of “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers,” Théodred, being young, handsome, and brave, finally received the screen time he deserved, which made Théoden’s subsequent recovery all the more satisfying to watch.
8. Isildur
Second Age King Of Gondor And Arnor
In the Second Age, during the events portrayed in “The Lord of the Rings,” Isildur was a capable king in many aspects, yet he fell short when compared to other esteemed characters. From the perspective of the movies, Isildur is often regarded as one of the less prominent heroes due to the films focusing more on his failures rather than successes. The trilogy seems to highlight Isildur’s weakest moments, rather than his strengths. Although Isildur appears in the prologue of “The Fellowship of the Ring,” he is not extensively featured throughout the story.
In a turn of events reminiscent of the malevolent and corrupting influence of the One Ring, Isildur initially chose to discard it, but ended up retaining possession instead. The prologue depicts Isildur standing at the Cracks of Doom, attempting to dispose of the ring, only to change his mind at the last second against Elrond’s advice. Before this tragic turn of events that marred his reputation, Isildur was instrumental in defeating Sauron himself, with assistance from Gil-galad and Elendil, his father. This remarkable achievement was just one of many, although the trilogy only highlighted this single event.
7. Éomer
Like A Son To Théoden
In “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, the character Éomer, skillfully portrayed by Karl Urban from “The Boys”, had a more significant part than expected by many viewers. Director Peter Jackson frequently combined various characters into one to emphasize those he wanted to delve deeper into, allowing them ample screen time for audiences to develop strong emotional connections. This strategy was also applied to Éomer, who emerged as the most distinguished Rohirrim leader in the films.
| Tolkienian Age | Event Marking The Start | Years | Total Length In Solar Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before time | Indeterminate | Indeterminate | Indeterminate |
| Days before Days | Ainur entered Eä | 1 – 3,500 Valian Years | 33,537 |
| Pre-First Age Years of the Trees (Y.T.) | Yavanna created the Two Trees | Y.T. 1 – 1050 | 10,061 |
| First Age (F.A.) | Elves awoke in Cuiviénen | Y.T. 1050 – Y.T. 1500, F.A. 1 – 590 | 4,902 |
| Second Age (S.A.) | War of Wrath ended | S.A. 1 – 3441 | 3,441 |
| Third Age (T.A.) | Last Alliance defeated Sauron | T.A. 1 – 3021 | 3,021 |
| Fourth Age (Fo.A) | Elven-rings left Middle-earth | Fo.A 1 – unknown | Unknown |
In the book, Éomer also played a significant role, but in the movies, the character of Éomer was expanded to incorporate some aspects of Erkenbrand’s part, particularly in “The Two Towers.” Urban’s portrayal of Éomer effectively handled this additional responsibility, as much so as if he were Théoden’s son, Théodred himself. Éomer, in the movies, was stern and battle-hardened, presenting a formidable challenge to the Fellowship on the plains of Rohan, embodying the spirit of a future king.
6. Théoden
The King Of Rohan
In a slightly different phrasing, here’s how you could express that:
Bernard Hill delivered an outstanding performance as Théoden, yet his portrayal in the film only hinted at the character from the book. Just like Erkenbrand was absent from the story in Jackson’s trilogy, a significant part of Théoden’s honor and wisdom were diminished to emphasize Aragorn’s role. The relationship between Théoden and Merry, which was quite significant in the books, was mostly overlooked in the film adaptation. This relationship served to show that both Théoden and Merry possessed a maturity beyond their rank and station.
Even though Theoden, as portrayed by Hill, was an epic knight, under Saruman’s influence, he became a feeble, aged man, oppressed, subjugated, and ailing. The moment Theoden healed, thanks to Gandalf’s magic, was one of the most enchanting, inspiring, and heartwarming scenes in fantasy and cinema alike. Theoden was revealed as a victim of Saruman’s political maneuvers but later rose to heroism. One of the best lines ever spoken might be “‘Now for wrath, now for ruin, and the red dawn'” from Theoden himself.
5. Faramir
Prince Of Ithilien
In a different interpretation, David Wenham’s character Faramir in “The Lord of the Rings” deviates from his book counterpart, yet remains impressively heroic according to Wenham’s portrayal. Wenham managed to extract an abundance of wisdom and calmness from the screenplay written by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Stephen Sinclair. The script for the trilogy significantly altered Faramir, reducing a character who was likely the book’s second most significant human hero to a figure resembling a semi-villain or antihero, or at the very least, an obstacle for Frodo’s journey.
By the conclusion of the trilogy, fortunately, Wenham’s Faramir was vindicated. Not only did he cease mistreating Frodo and Gollum, but his hidden strength in challenging an oppressive father became increasingly evident. Although Faramir’s resistance to the One Ring may not have appeared too remarkable in the films, as it did in the books, Faramir demonstrated nothing less than heroism as he rode towards certain death, undertaking a suicidal mission to safeguard Osgiliath, all under his father’s orders.
4. Boromir
The Fellowship Of The Ring’s Gondor Representative
In both the book and movies, Boromir was more than just a contrast to Aragorn’s unquestionable heroism; instead, he emerged as a genuine hero in his own right. From the very beginning to the end, Boromir displayed remarkable character growth, which made his final lines among the most impactful in the trilogy. Initially, Boromir harbored suspicion towards Aragorn due to his claims on future kingship, but this was understandable given the circumstances.
Throughout their journey, Boromir demonstrated his power, talent, and courage. However, his desire for the One Ring grew stronger, driven by dreams of ruling as the king of Gondor. Yet, he persevered beyond these challenges, ultimately sacrificing himself to protect Merry and Pippin from Orcs. Despite being riddled with Orc arrows, he stood tall until he could barely move, and in his final moments, he pledged loyalty to Aragorn – the true king of Gondor.
3. Bard
The Bowman Of Dale
In spite of the criticism often levied at the Hobbit trilogy by its fans, one of its many appealing aspects is the character of Bard the Bowman, played by Luke Evans. This underappreciated figure brought joy throughout The Hobbit series and accurately embodied the character from the original children’s book. Due to the extended runtime necessitated by commercial considerations, Jackson had room for creative expansion in the trilogy, which was initially a much shorter and less complex work. Despite this, Bard remained true to the original spirit of the character.
Evans’ persona was stern, resolute, and bearing the weight of misfortune, embodying a man who had suffered greatly yet still held much to lose. Unlike many heroes from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” Evans didn’t have a three-volume epic to draw upon for his character development. However, he executed his crucial slaying of Smaug with unerring precision – few characters within the legendarium can boast of having vanquished a dragon.
2. Éowyn
The White Lady Of Rohan
Miranda Otto portrayed Éowyn remarkably well, with Jackson and his team doing an exceptional job in adapting her character so authentically from the original work. One of the few instances where a character seems to leap from the pages and onto the screen, Éowyn is one of the most captivating female figures in literature and film. In a period when women were primarily relegated to household duties, Tolkien wrote Éowyn as a woman yearning for more.
In the 2000s, it was an ideal moment for this to manifest, and just as her literary character dictated, Éowyn disguised herself as a male warrior to participate in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. She brought Merry along with her, and together they defeated the Witch-king of Angmar, challenging their society’s belief that they should remain at home. Defiantly shouting, “I am not a man,“, Éowyn defied Glorfindel’s prophecy, proving that someone other than a man could slay the Witch-king.
1. Aragorn
King Of Gondor And Arnor
In a more relaxed and natural rephrasing: Elessar, also known as Elfstone and the King of the United Kingdom in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, Aragorn is the embodiment of every fantasy reader’s chivalrous knight. Originating from a humble background as a ranger safeguarding the land, Aragorn gracefully assumed his destiny throughout the trilogy. Even though he appeared self-assured in the narrative, Aragorn’s kingship evolved gradually, which perfectly aligned with Viggo Mortensen’s portrayal. This stoic character carried the burden of the world upon his shoulders and grappled with the responsibility to resist the allure of the One Ring, much like his forebearer Isildur.
Aragorn proved stronger than Isildur in resisting the power of the One Ring, a challenge that Isildur faced with a newly discovered artifact. Unlike Isildur, Aragorn had the advantage of learning from Isildur’s example. Moreover, Aragorn’s resistance to the ring was superior not only to Boromir, another Fellowship member, but he even managed to rally the Army of the Dead against Sauron.
In the epic tale of “The Lord of the Rings,” Aragorn, as Isildur’s heir, drew upon his deep understanding of lore, bravery, and ancestral legacy to persuade the army that had betrayed Isildur to ally with him instead. This was not a mere claim to the throne; it was a demonstration of worthiness through action.
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2025-05-22 17:41