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Lord of the Rings: An Overview
Updated: With all three movies out and on DVD, the character bios have been updated and are no longer spoiler-free (since the books are, after all, 50 years old).
JRR Tolkien – professor of literature and a linguist at Oxford, he envisioned creating a set of fairytales/folk myths that were uniquely British (as opposed to Anglo-Saxon or Celtic, which most of the most common/well-known myths from the British isles are). His hobbits are generally seen as representing simple English country folk; one of the major points of Lord of the Rings is that apparently insignificant folks can make efforts that can do more than the efforts of the Wise and the Powerful (a paraphrase from a Tolkien biography). Detailed bio
The stories are set in Middle-Earth (ME) (map) – Tolkien indicated that there are further lands to the east and south, but they are never really explored.
I won’t go into too much detail of all the mythology, but as shortly as I can put it:
A very brief overview of the creation of the world and the races of Middle-Earth
The gods (Valar): a big pantheon, similarities to the Norse gods. Iluvatar is the head God, the all-father, then come all the other main gods, plus the Maiar, which are a sort of a blend of lower gods, the higher ranks of angels of Judeo-Christian cosmology, and muses/principles of Greek mythology.
The Valar create Middle-Earth and the races, including the Elves (the first-born), the Ents, then later humans and the dwarves. Little is said about the creation of the hobbits –neither men nor elves know exactly how they developed/where they came from.
Most importantly, just as in Judeo-Christian tradition, one angel (Lucifer) thought he knew better, rebelled, got thrown out of the ranks and turned all evil, one Valar - Melkor/Morgoth - did the same, in pride and envy destroying and corrupting the works of Iluvatar because he desired to rule and have the power of creation. Other Maiar followed him in his deceit and rebellion, including the one later known as Sauron.
Elves – created & awakened before the creation of the sun & moon, well to the east of the lands known from LotR. Basically, the gods (the Valar) thought elves were the niftiest thing since sliced bread, and to protect them from Morgoth invited them all to come to a lovely little paradise island (Valinor, or Aman) far in the west. Some went, some didn’t – for most LotR fic, you really don’t need to know the differences.
Anyway, all elves are “bound to [the world]…remain until the end of days, and their love of the Earth and all the world is more single and more poignant therefore, and as the years lengthen ever more sorrowful.” [The Silmarillion] When their sorrow and weariness of life in Middle-Earth becomes too great, they can sail west to Valinor. (note: Valinor is strictly off-limits to anyone other than elves or those specially designated by the Valar.) Not subject to illness or death – wounds alone can kill them. Even when they die, they are reincarnated in Valinor. Elves do age, but none are ever spoken of as getting “old” (white-haired, wrinkled, etc.)
Those of mixed human-elven blood are given the choice to live as elf (immortal) or man (mortal). Elrond and his brother Elros were two such children – Elrond chose life as an elf, while Elros chose to live as a man, and founded the great line of the kings of men from which Aragorn is descended.
Men – humans, created/woken later. Subject to normal mortality, and therefore because of their short lifespan granted “the virtue to shape their life amid the powers and chances of the world,” while the elves are more bound by the powers of fate. This greater freedom unfortunately makes the race of men more corruptible. Also, it is unknown (except by Iluvatar, presumably) what happens to men after they die.
There have been great alliances between elves and men, and the high bloodline of kings is descended from Elros half-elven. The three great kingdoms of men were the island of Numenor, and the joint kingdoms of Arnor in the north and Gondor, the southern kingdom.
Dwarves - an elder race of Middle-Earth, dwarves are smiths and stonecrafters. Dwarves can be somewhat secretive and isolationist – their language is a closely guarded secret, and the names they go by in the world are in the language of elves or men. They are stubborn and proud, but extremely loyal, and they have allied with elves and men in the past.
Durin, their first king, built the mines of Moria (Khazad-dhum), which for a millennia was the richest mine of mithril (a rare, strong, and beautiful metal) and most beautiful dwarven mansion, until the dwarves mined too deep and woke an ancient and terrible demon, a Balrog. Moria remains abandoned by the dwarves for a thousand years, and all attempts to re-settle it fail – orcs have taken over the halls and the Balrog still remains.
Hobbits - possibly the youngest race of Middle-Earth, though no details are known of their creation. They are first seen and noted by men when they migrate into lands belonging to the kingdom of Arnor. The lands around the Shire and Bree are granted to them for their own. Short – about half the height of men – hobbits “are inclined to be fat in the stomach; they dress in bright colors (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).” - The Hobbit
Ents – called "the Shepherds of the Trees," these giant tree-like creatures watch over the trees and forests of Middle-Earth. They have slowly been dying out over the Ages as the forests shrunk, but some can still be found in Fangorn forest.
Orcs are not a natural race – they were bred by Morgoth of corrupted and ruined Elves. The smaller breeds/races of orcs, local to the Misty Mountains, are sometimes referred to as goblins. They are highly sensitive to sunlight and don't like going out during the day. In later years, a new breed of orcs was created – the uruk-hai - larger, stronger, and capable of functioning in sunlight.
Wizards (the Istari) - an Order of five Maiar sent by the Valar to Middle Earth in the Third Age to contest Sauron’s growing power: Saruman the White, Gandalf the Grey, Radagast the Brown, and two others - Allatar and Pallando the Blue, who traveled far to the east and were never heard from again.
Five-minute history:
The First Age
A bunch of the elves who went to Valinor come back to Middle-Earth. The sun & moon are created, Men awaken, Morgoth causes trouble, the Valar come to Middle-Earth to fight Morgoth, war war war, and in the process a huge subcontinent (Beleriand) is destroyed.
The survivors move east and settle in the rest of Middle-Earth.
Morgoth is banished from the world but many of his evil creatures and servants, including Sauron, survive – Sauron by feigning obeisance and repentance so that no guard was set on him.
The Second Age
Sauron builds his great fortress of Barad-dur in Mordor, and there creates the Rings of Power:
“Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky, Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone, Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die, One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne”
The powers of all the rings were bound to the One and its bearer. The Nine Men became so greatly corrupted that they were bound to Sauron’s service, and became the Ringwraiths (Nazgul). The dwarves were less directly corruptible, but, their greed for gold inflamed by the rings, they amassed great treasure troves that were then lost to plundering dragons. Their rings were either destroyed by dragon-fire or reclaimed by Sauron. The three elven-rings, made by elven hands alone and untouched by Sauron or his servants, were less subject to the One. When Sauron placed the One Ring on his hand, the elves immediately perceived his evil intent, and their rings were secreted away, never worn while Sauron possessed the One.
Elros (Elrond's brother) founds the island kingdom of Numenor. The men of Numenor grow strong & powerful, explore, gain riches, etc, etc, and (as usual) end up becoming super-arrogant asshats. (Granted, with some encouragement in that area by Sauron, who was posing as an adviser to the kings and corrupting them.)
Growing ever more corrupt and arrogant, the Numenoreans eventually decide “hey, what’s this nonsense about us not getting to go to paradise like the elves?” and so sail a great fleet to Valinor. This pisses the Valar off, who drown them all and the island of Numenor, and they remove Valinor from the physical confines of the world so no one can get there, making the world a globe (yes, it had been flat before this) in the process. Sauron’s body is also destroyed in the destruction of Numenor and he flees in spirit-form back to Mordor.
The few Numenoreans who weren’t asshats (Elendil, his son Isildur and their friends/family/buddies) are allowed to escape the destruction, come back to the mainland and found the two kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor.
Sauron gets cranky, Elendil, Isildur and the rest of men team up with the Elves (led by Gil-Galad) and defeat him in Mordor (as seen in the prologue of LotR:FotR)
Third Age -
Gondor and Arnor prosper.
The Istari come to Middle-Earth.
Hobbits are first noted by men.
The north-kingdom (Arnor) is destroyed by the chief ringwraith (the witch-king of Angmar), disease and civil war. Aragorn’s ancestors hang out in Rivendell and protect the north as best they can, becoming the Dunedain or Rangers of the north.
Seventy-five years later, the last Gondorian king falls in combat childless; the Stewards take up custody of the city.
Five hundred years after that, Nomadic horsemen from the north ride to Gondor’s aid in battle, they are granted Gondor’s northern province as their kingdom – Rohan.
400 years later, the events of The Hobbit
70 years after that, the events of LotR
For further background – the Encyclopedia of Arda is an excellent reference. Most of the links used here go to it.
Annals of Arda - has really annoying frames unfortunately, but a good source for family trees if you don’t have the Silmarillion on hand.
Main Characters Bios and Pics
Characters have links to further info about them if there was interesting additional info in the Encylopedia of Arda.
Bilbo Baggins - a perfectly ordinary gentlehobbit of the Shire until he gets involved in an Adventure with Gandalf and some dwarves. They travel over the Misty Mountains, through Mirkwood, to Erebor (the Lonely Mountain) to reclaim the dwarven kingdom from a dragon. On the way there, in the Misty Mountains, Bilbo finds the One Ring and meets Gollum. Bilbo of course hasn’t the foggiest clue about the Ring’s significance, and because he doesn’t mention it to Gandalf for quite some time, the Ring goes back with him to the Shire to live in obscurity for many more years. After leaving the Ring to Frodo, Bilbo retires to Rivendell, where he compiles the records of his travels and a history of the Elves (Translations from the Elvish) into what becomes (with later additions by Frodo and Samwise Gamgee) the Redbook of the Westmarch, the source of Tolkien's stories. In the movies, Bilbo is played by Ian Holm.
The Fellowship:
Frodo Baggins – hobbit. Bilbo’s cousin (once removed on his mother’s side) and adopted heir (Bilbo took him in when Frodo’s parents were killed in a boating accident). The hero of LotR, and bearer of the One Ring to Mordor. Frodo is played by Elijah Wood.
Aragorn – human, also called Strider, Estel (“hope”), Elessar (“elfstone”). Son of Arathorn II. Isildur’s heir, through 39 generations, to the north-kingdom of Arnor, and as the last of the royal line from Numenor, heir to Gondor as well. Like his father and ancestors before him, Aragorn lives as a ranger in the wild, hunting orcs and other evil things, and keeping the inhabited areas safe. He is in love with Arwen, an elf-maiden. Played by Viggo Mortensen.
Samwise Gamgee – hobbit, son of Hamfast Gamgee (called “the Gaffer”), who was Bilbo’s gardener. Sam eventually took over his father’s duties at Bag End and joined Frodo on the Ring quest. Sam is fiercely loyal to Frodo and accompanied him when he left the Fellowship to take the ring to Mordor alone. Played by Sean Astin.
Meriadoc Brandybuck (“Merry”) – hobbit, cousin to Pippin. Kidnapped with Pippin by the uruk-hai of Isengard, they encounter the Ents of Fangorn Forest and help rouse them against Saruman's fortress tower. Made a Squire of Rohan by King Theoden, Merry rides to battle at the Pelennor fields with Eowyn, and assists her in slaying the Witch-King. Played by Dominic Monaghan.
Peregrin Took (“Pippin”) – hobbit, cousin to Merry, and the youngest of the hobbits on the quest – at 28, he hasn’t even officially “come of age” yet. His father is the Thain of the Shire – a mostly honorary title denoting the Shire’s military leader. Kidnapped with Merry by the uruk-hai of Isengard, they encounter the Ents of Fangorn Forest and help rouse them against Saruman’s fortress tower. In Gondor, he offers service to Lord Denethor and is made a Guard of the Citadel. Played by Billy Boyd
Boromir II - human, eldest son of Denethor II the Steward of Gondor, and Captain of the White Tower. Has a younger brother Faramir with whom he is quite close. Both he and Faramir have a dream telling them to go to Rivendell and “seek for the sword that was broken” – Isildur’s sword, and the symbol of the broken kingship. Boromir travels to Rivendell to ask Elrond’s help in deciphering the riddle, leaving Faramir as captain in his absence. Underestimating the corruptive power of the Ring, and desperate to find a way to save Gondor, Boromir momentarily falls prey to the influence of the Ring and tries to take it from Frodo. When Frodo flees, Boromir recovers himself, and dies protecting Merry and Pippin from a band of uruk-hai. Played by Sean Bean.
Gimli – dwarf, son of Gloin, one of Bilbo’s companions. Called “elf-friend” for his great friendship with Legolas. Is the only dwarf ever allowed to Valinor, where he sails with Legolas after Aragorn's death. Played by Jonathan Rhys-Davies.
Legolas – elf, son of Tharanduil II, king of Mirkwood (formerly Greenwood the Great until Sauron occupied its southern regions for a while). There is a fanon convention that he is a younger son (otherwise he presumably wouldn’t be allowed to go gallivanting off on quests and making friends with dwarves, etc.), but there is no evidence to either support or deny this, as Tolkien wrote very little about Legolas’ family. Like most elves, he is keen of eye and an excellent bowman. Contrary to the movie, he rides without tack (saddle and bridle). Great friends with Gimli. Played by Orlando Bloom.
Gandalf (“Gandalf the Grey”, “Mithrandir”) – an Istari (wizard), Gandalf was one of five wizards sent to Middle-Earth by the Valar. Gandalf was often called “the Grey Pilgrim” because in all his time in Middle-Earth he never settled down in any one area, but always traveled among the races. He was a particular friend of the elves, and held in high regard by them. He also took a great deal of interest in hobbits. He bears one of the three elven Rings of power – Narya, the ring of Fire. He dies defeating the Balrog in Moria, but is sent back by the Valar to complete his task, seemingly stronger than before and with the title "the White" to indicate his elevation to the head of the Order. Played by Ian McKellen.
Other important characters:
Eowyn – human, niece of King Theoden, Eomer’s sister, and left regent of Rohan when Theoden and Eomer ride off to Helm’s Deep. Called “a shield-maiden of Rohan,” is discontent that duty keeps her from action. Enamored of Aragorn, both for his own sake, and because he represents freedom to her. Rides in disguise to battle at the Pelennor fields, and there defeats the Lord of the Nazgul. Played by Miranda Otto.
Eomer - human, nephew of King Theoden of Rohan, brother of Eowyn, and Third Marshal of Rohan’s forces. With the death of Theoden’s son Theodred in battle, heir to the throne of Rohan. Played by Karl Urban.
Theoden – human, King of Rohan. His son Theodred is killed holding off Saruman’s forces. For a time bespelled by Saruman through the actions of his agent, Grima Wormtongue, but freed by Gandalf. Leads the Riders of Rohan to Helm’s Deep to hold off Saruman’s invading forces, and then later to the aid of besieged Gondor. Played by Bernard Hill.
Elrond – half-elven, he established the valley refuge of Rivendell (Imladris). Part of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, he marched with Gil-Galad and Elendil to Mordor at the end of the Second Age, where Isildur took the Ring and broke Sauron’s power for a time. A member of the White Council, or Council of the Wise, he assembled the council that formed the Fellowship of the Ring and set out to bring the Ring to Mordor to be destroyed. He bears one of the three elven Rings – Vilya, the ring of Sapphire and Air. Has lived in Middle Earth for c. 6500 years. Played by Hugo Weaving.
Arwen Undomiel (“Evenstar”) – half-elven, Elrond’s only daughter, Galadriel’s granddaughter, beloved of Aragorn. Has two older brothers, Elladan and Elrohir. While traveling over the Misty Mountains, their mother was attacked by orcs and received a poisoned wound; she took ship to Valinor shortly thereafter. Arwen gives up her elven immortality and marries Aragorn. Played by Liv Tyler.
Galadriel – elven, born in Valinor before the First Age, she comes to Middle-Earth with her brothers. Marries Celeborn, has a daughter who marries Elrond. Galadriel and Celeborn take up the rule of the woodland kingdom Lothlorien. She bears one of the three elven Rings – Nenya, the ring of Adamant and Water. Played by Cate Blanchett.
Faramir – human, second son of Denethor, the steward of Gondor, and brother of Boromir. Captain of Gondor’s armies after Boromir’s death. Described as “gentle[r] in bearing” than Boromir, and for that reason, perhaps, he is less esteemed by his father. However, when he encounters Frodo and Sam in Ithilien and discovers they carry the Ring, he resists its temptation and sends them on their way with extra supplies. (At least, that's how it goes in the books.) Takes up the Stewardship of Gondor under Aragorn's reign, and becomes the Prince of Ithilien, where he moves to with Eowyn. Played by David Wenham.
Denethor II – Ruling Steward of Gondor. “A proud man, tall, valiant, and more kingly than any man that had appeared in Gondor for many lives of men; and he was wise also, and far-sighted, and learned in lore.” [LotR, appendix A] His wife Finduilas bore him two sons, Boromir and Faramir, but died after twelve years of marriage. After her death Denethor became grimmer and sterner than before. To better protect Gondor, Denethor frequently uses a palantir to spy upon the Enemy, but in so doing he is slowly driven mad by Sauron. Played by John Noble.
Saruman – Istari, one of the five wizards sent by the Valar. He was chief among the five, and traveled in the east for some time before settling at the tower in Isengard. He was famed for his study of history and lore, and gathering great wisdom, however it is believed that it was in his studies of the Ring, to determine its fate and its powers, that he began to covet it, and so slowly began to turn to evil. Played by Christopher Lee.
Main fic archives:
Henneth Annun
Library of Moria – main slash archive
Um. Apologies for my obsession and making this so long.
JRR Tolkien – professor of literature and a linguist at Oxford, he envisioned creating a set of fairytales/folk myths that were uniquely British (as opposed to Anglo-Saxon or Celtic, which most of the most common/well-known myths from the British isles are). His hobbits are generally seen as representing simple English country folk; one of the major points of Lord of the Rings is that apparently insignificant folks can make efforts that can do more than the efforts of the Wise and the Powerful (a paraphrase from a Tolkien biography). Detailed bio
The stories are set in Middle-Earth (ME) (map) – Tolkien indicated that there are further lands to the east and south, but they are never really explored.
I won’t go into too much detail of all the mythology, but as shortly as I can put it:
A very brief overview of the creation of the world and the races of Middle-Earth
The gods (Valar): a big pantheon, similarities to the Norse gods. Iluvatar is the head God, the all-father, then come all the other main gods, plus the Maiar, which are a sort of a blend of lower gods, the higher ranks of angels of Judeo-Christian cosmology, and muses/principles of Greek mythology.
The Valar create Middle-Earth and the races, including the Elves (the first-born), the Ents, then later humans and the dwarves. Little is said about the creation of the hobbits –neither men nor elves know exactly how they developed/where they came from.
Most importantly, just as in Judeo-Christian tradition, one angel (Lucifer) thought he knew better, rebelled, got thrown out of the ranks and turned all evil, one Valar - Melkor/Morgoth - did the same, in pride and envy destroying and corrupting the works of Iluvatar because he desired to rule and have the power of creation. Other Maiar followed him in his deceit and rebellion, including the one later known as Sauron.
Elves – created & awakened before the creation of the sun & moon, well to the east of the lands known from LotR. Basically, the gods (the Valar) thought elves were the niftiest thing since sliced bread, and to protect them from Morgoth invited them all to come to a lovely little paradise island (Valinor, or Aman) far in the west. Some went, some didn’t – for most LotR fic, you really don’t need to know the differences.
Anyway, all elves are “bound to [the world]…remain until the end of days, and their love of the Earth and all the world is more single and more poignant therefore, and as the years lengthen ever more sorrowful.” [The Silmarillion] When their sorrow and weariness of life in Middle-Earth becomes too great, they can sail west to Valinor. (note: Valinor is strictly off-limits to anyone other than elves or those specially designated by the Valar.) Not subject to illness or death – wounds alone can kill them. Even when they die, they are reincarnated in Valinor. Elves do age, but none are ever spoken of as getting “old” (white-haired, wrinkled, etc.)
Those of mixed human-elven blood are given the choice to live as elf (immortal) or man (mortal). Elrond and his brother Elros were two such children – Elrond chose life as an elf, while Elros chose to live as a man, and founded the great line of the kings of men from which Aragorn is descended.
Men – humans, created/woken later. Subject to normal mortality, and therefore because of their short lifespan granted “the virtue to shape their life amid the powers and chances of the world,” while the elves are more bound by the powers of fate. This greater freedom unfortunately makes the race of men more corruptible. Also, it is unknown (except by Iluvatar, presumably) what happens to men after they die.
There have been great alliances between elves and men, and the high bloodline of kings is descended from Elros half-elven. The three great kingdoms of men were the island of Numenor, and the joint kingdoms of Arnor in the north and Gondor, the southern kingdom.
Dwarves - an elder race of Middle-Earth, dwarves are smiths and stonecrafters. Dwarves can be somewhat secretive and isolationist – their language is a closely guarded secret, and the names they go by in the world are in the language of elves or men. They are stubborn and proud, but extremely loyal, and they have allied with elves and men in the past.
Durin, their first king, built the mines of Moria (Khazad-dhum), which for a millennia was the richest mine of mithril (a rare, strong, and beautiful metal) and most beautiful dwarven mansion, until the dwarves mined too deep and woke an ancient and terrible demon, a Balrog. Moria remains abandoned by the dwarves for a thousand years, and all attempts to re-settle it fail – orcs have taken over the halls and the Balrog still remains.
Hobbits - possibly the youngest race of Middle-Earth, though no details are known of their creation. They are first seen and noted by men when they migrate into lands belonging to the kingdom of Arnor. The lands around the Shire and Bree are granted to them for their own. Short – about half the height of men – hobbits “are inclined to be fat in the stomach; they dress in bright colors (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).” - The Hobbit
Ents – called "the Shepherds of the Trees," these giant tree-like creatures watch over the trees and forests of Middle-Earth. They have slowly been dying out over the Ages as the forests shrunk, but some can still be found in Fangorn forest.
Orcs are not a natural race – they were bred by Morgoth of corrupted and ruined Elves. The smaller breeds/races of orcs, local to the Misty Mountains, are sometimes referred to as goblins. They are highly sensitive to sunlight and don't like going out during the day. In later years, a new breed of orcs was created – the uruk-hai - larger, stronger, and capable of functioning in sunlight.
Wizards (the Istari) - an Order of five Maiar sent by the Valar to Middle Earth in the Third Age to contest Sauron’s growing power: Saruman the White, Gandalf the Grey, Radagast the Brown, and two others - Allatar and Pallando the Blue, who traveled far to the east and were never heard from again.
Five-minute history:
The First Age
A bunch of the elves who went to Valinor come back to Middle-Earth. The sun & moon are created, Men awaken, Morgoth causes trouble, the Valar come to Middle-Earth to fight Morgoth, war war war, and in the process a huge subcontinent (Beleriand) is destroyed.
The survivors move east and settle in the rest of Middle-Earth.
Morgoth is banished from the world but many of his evil creatures and servants, including Sauron, survive – Sauron by feigning obeisance and repentance so that no guard was set on him.
The Second Age
Sauron builds his great fortress of Barad-dur in Mordor, and there creates the Rings of Power:
“Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky, Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone, Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die, One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne”
The powers of all the rings were bound to the One and its bearer. The Nine Men became so greatly corrupted that they were bound to Sauron’s service, and became the Ringwraiths (Nazgul). The dwarves were less directly corruptible, but, their greed for gold inflamed by the rings, they amassed great treasure troves that were then lost to plundering dragons. Their rings were either destroyed by dragon-fire or reclaimed by Sauron. The three elven-rings, made by elven hands alone and untouched by Sauron or his servants, were less subject to the One. When Sauron placed the One Ring on his hand, the elves immediately perceived his evil intent, and their rings were secreted away, never worn while Sauron possessed the One.
Elros (Elrond's brother) founds the island kingdom of Numenor. The men of Numenor grow strong & powerful, explore, gain riches, etc, etc, and (as usual) end up becoming super-arrogant asshats. (Granted, with some encouragement in that area by Sauron, who was posing as an adviser to the kings and corrupting them.)
Growing ever more corrupt and arrogant, the Numenoreans eventually decide “hey, what’s this nonsense about us not getting to go to paradise like the elves?” and so sail a great fleet to Valinor. This pisses the Valar off, who drown them all and the island of Numenor, and they remove Valinor from the physical confines of the world so no one can get there, making the world a globe (yes, it had been flat before this) in the process. Sauron’s body is also destroyed in the destruction of Numenor and he flees in spirit-form back to Mordor.
The few Numenoreans who weren’t asshats (Elendil, his son Isildur and their friends/family/buddies) are allowed to escape the destruction, come back to the mainland and found the two kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor.
Sauron gets cranky, Elendil, Isildur and the rest of men team up with the Elves (led by Gil-Galad) and defeat him in Mordor (as seen in the prologue of LotR:FotR)
Third Age -
Gondor and Arnor prosper.
The Istari come to Middle-Earth.
Hobbits are first noted by men.
The north-kingdom (Arnor) is destroyed by the chief ringwraith (the witch-king of Angmar), disease and civil war. Aragorn’s ancestors hang out in Rivendell and protect the north as best they can, becoming the Dunedain or Rangers of the north.
Seventy-five years later, the last Gondorian king falls in combat childless; the Stewards take up custody of the city.
Five hundred years after that, Nomadic horsemen from the north ride to Gondor’s aid in battle, they are granted Gondor’s northern province as their kingdom – Rohan.
400 years later, the events of The Hobbit
70 years after that, the events of LotR
For further background – the Encyclopedia of Arda is an excellent reference. Most of the links used here go to it.
Annals of Arda - has really annoying frames unfortunately, but a good source for family trees if you don’t have the Silmarillion on hand.
Main Characters Bios and Pics
Characters have links to further info about them if there was interesting additional info in the Encylopedia of Arda.
Bilbo Baggins - a perfectly ordinary gentlehobbit of the Shire until he gets involved in an Adventure with Gandalf and some dwarves. They travel over the Misty Mountains, through Mirkwood, to Erebor (the Lonely Mountain) to reclaim the dwarven kingdom from a dragon. On the way there, in the Misty Mountains, Bilbo finds the One Ring and meets Gollum. Bilbo of course hasn’t the foggiest clue about the Ring’s significance, and because he doesn’t mention it to Gandalf for quite some time, the Ring goes back with him to the Shire to live in obscurity for many more years. After leaving the Ring to Frodo, Bilbo retires to Rivendell, where he compiles the records of his travels and a history of the Elves (Translations from the Elvish) into what becomes (with later additions by Frodo and Samwise Gamgee) the Redbook of the Westmarch, the source of Tolkien's stories. In the movies, Bilbo is played by Ian Holm.
The Fellowship:
Frodo Baggins – hobbit. Bilbo’s cousin (once removed on his mother’s side) and adopted heir (Bilbo took him in when Frodo’s parents were killed in a boating accident). The hero of LotR, and bearer of the One Ring to Mordor. Frodo is played by Elijah Wood.
Aragorn – human, also called Strider, Estel (“hope”), Elessar (“elfstone”). Son of Arathorn II. Isildur’s heir, through 39 generations, to the north-kingdom of Arnor, and as the last of the royal line from Numenor, heir to Gondor as well. Like his father and ancestors before him, Aragorn lives as a ranger in the wild, hunting orcs and other evil things, and keeping the inhabited areas safe. He is in love with Arwen, an elf-maiden. Played by Viggo Mortensen.
Samwise Gamgee – hobbit, son of Hamfast Gamgee (called “the Gaffer”), who was Bilbo’s gardener. Sam eventually took over his father’s duties at Bag End and joined Frodo on the Ring quest. Sam is fiercely loyal to Frodo and accompanied him when he left the Fellowship to take the ring to Mordor alone. Played by Sean Astin.
Meriadoc Brandybuck (“Merry”) – hobbit, cousin to Pippin. Kidnapped with Pippin by the uruk-hai of Isengard, they encounter the Ents of Fangorn Forest and help rouse them against Saruman's fortress tower. Made a Squire of Rohan by King Theoden, Merry rides to battle at the Pelennor fields with Eowyn, and assists her in slaying the Witch-King. Played by Dominic Monaghan.
Peregrin Took (“Pippin”) – hobbit, cousin to Merry, and the youngest of the hobbits on the quest – at 28, he hasn’t even officially “come of age” yet. His father is the Thain of the Shire – a mostly honorary title denoting the Shire’s military leader. Kidnapped with Merry by the uruk-hai of Isengard, they encounter the Ents of Fangorn Forest and help rouse them against Saruman’s fortress tower. In Gondor, he offers service to Lord Denethor and is made a Guard of the Citadel. Played by Billy Boyd
Boromir II - human, eldest son of Denethor II the Steward of Gondor, and Captain of the White Tower. Has a younger brother Faramir with whom he is quite close. Both he and Faramir have a dream telling them to go to Rivendell and “seek for the sword that was broken” – Isildur’s sword, and the symbol of the broken kingship. Boromir travels to Rivendell to ask Elrond’s help in deciphering the riddle, leaving Faramir as captain in his absence. Underestimating the corruptive power of the Ring, and desperate to find a way to save Gondor, Boromir momentarily falls prey to the influence of the Ring and tries to take it from Frodo. When Frodo flees, Boromir recovers himself, and dies protecting Merry and Pippin from a band of uruk-hai. Played by Sean Bean.
Gimli – dwarf, son of Gloin, one of Bilbo’s companions. Called “elf-friend” for his great friendship with Legolas. Is the only dwarf ever allowed to Valinor, where he sails with Legolas after Aragorn's death. Played by Jonathan Rhys-Davies.
Legolas – elf, son of Tharanduil II, king of Mirkwood (formerly Greenwood the Great until Sauron occupied its southern regions for a while). There is a fanon convention that he is a younger son (otherwise he presumably wouldn’t be allowed to go gallivanting off on quests and making friends with dwarves, etc.), but there is no evidence to either support or deny this, as Tolkien wrote very little about Legolas’ family. Like most elves, he is keen of eye and an excellent bowman. Contrary to the movie, he rides without tack (saddle and bridle). Great friends with Gimli. Played by Orlando Bloom.
Gandalf (“Gandalf the Grey”, “Mithrandir”) – an Istari (wizard), Gandalf was one of five wizards sent to Middle-Earth by the Valar. Gandalf was often called “the Grey Pilgrim” because in all his time in Middle-Earth he never settled down in any one area, but always traveled among the races. He was a particular friend of the elves, and held in high regard by them. He also took a great deal of interest in hobbits. He bears one of the three elven Rings of power – Narya, the ring of Fire. He dies defeating the Balrog in Moria, but is sent back by the Valar to complete his task, seemingly stronger than before and with the title "the White" to indicate his elevation to the head of the Order. Played by Ian McKellen.
Other important characters:
Eowyn – human, niece of King Theoden, Eomer’s sister, and left regent of Rohan when Theoden and Eomer ride off to Helm’s Deep. Called “a shield-maiden of Rohan,” is discontent that duty keeps her from action. Enamored of Aragorn, both for his own sake, and because he represents freedom to her. Rides in disguise to battle at the Pelennor fields, and there defeats the Lord of the Nazgul. Played by Miranda Otto.
Eomer - human, nephew of King Theoden of Rohan, brother of Eowyn, and Third Marshal of Rohan’s forces. With the death of Theoden’s son Theodred in battle, heir to the throne of Rohan. Played by Karl Urban.
Theoden – human, King of Rohan. His son Theodred is killed holding off Saruman’s forces. For a time bespelled by Saruman through the actions of his agent, Grima Wormtongue, but freed by Gandalf. Leads the Riders of Rohan to Helm’s Deep to hold off Saruman’s invading forces, and then later to the aid of besieged Gondor. Played by Bernard Hill.
Elrond – half-elven, he established the valley refuge of Rivendell (Imladris). Part of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, he marched with Gil-Galad and Elendil to Mordor at the end of the Second Age, where Isildur took the Ring and broke Sauron’s power for a time. A member of the White Council, or Council of the Wise, he assembled the council that formed the Fellowship of the Ring and set out to bring the Ring to Mordor to be destroyed. He bears one of the three elven Rings – Vilya, the ring of Sapphire and Air. Has lived in Middle Earth for c. 6500 years. Played by Hugo Weaving.
Arwen Undomiel (“Evenstar”) – half-elven, Elrond’s only daughter, Galadriel’s granddaughter, beloved of Aragorn. Has two older brothers, Elladan and Elrohir. While traveling over the Misty Mountains, their mother was attacked by orcs and received a poisoned wound; she took ship to Valinor shortly thereafter. Arwen gives up her elven immortality and marries Aragorn. Played by Liv Tyler.
Galadriel – elven, born in Valinor before the First Age, she comes to Middle-Earth with her brothers. Marries Celeborn, has a daughter who marries Elrond. Galadriel and Celeborn take up the rule of the woodland kingdom Lothlorien. She bears one of the three elven Rings – Nenya, the ring of Adamant and Water. Played by Cate Blanchett.
Faramir – human, second son of Denethor, the steward of Gondor, and brother of Boromir. Captain of Gondor’s armies after Boromir’s death. Described as “gentle[r] in bearing” than Boromir, and for that reason, perhaps, he is less esteemed by his father. However, when he encounters Frodo and Sam in Ithilien and discovers they carry the Ring, he resists its temptation and sends them on their way with extra supplies. (At least, that's how it goes in the books.) Takes up the Stewardship of Gondor under Aragorn's reign, and becomes the Prince of Ithilien, where he moves to with Eowyn. Played by David Wenham.
Denethor II – Ruling Steward of Gondor. “A proud man, tall, valiant, and more kingly than any man that had appeared in Gondor for many lives of men; and he was wise also, and far-sighted, and learned in lore.” [LotR, appendix A] His wife Finduilas bore him two sons, Boromir and Faramir, but died after twelve years of marriage. After her death Denethor became grimmer and sterner than before. To better protect Gondor, Denethor frequently uses a palantir to spy upon the Enemy, but in so doing he is slowly driven mad by Sauron. Played by John Noble.
Saruman – Istari, one of the five wizards sent by the Valar. He was chief among the five, and traveled in the east for some time before settling at the tower in Isengard. He was famed for his study of history and lore, and gathering great wisdom, however it is believed that it was in his studies of the Ring, to determine its fate and its powers, that he began to covet it, and so slowly began to turn to evil. Played by Christopher Lee.
Main fic archives:
Henneth Annun
Library of Moria – main slash archive
Um. Apologies for my obsession and making this so long.