Cousin of Bilbo Baggins, finder of the Ring, Bilbo gives the Ring to Frodo before knowing its full power
Known as the Ring Bearer
Gandalf
Wizard, sent to Middle Earth to aid the fight against Sauron
Known as Gandalf the Grey, the Grey Pilgrim, or Mithrandir
Chief wizard to Middle Earth after Saruman the White
Aragorn
Man
Known as Strider to the Hobbits
Leader of the Rangers, also known as the Dunedain (Men of the West) to protect the North from evildoers
Gollum
Hobbit, deformed by long possession of the Ring which he called "My Precious"
Lost the Ring to Bilbo in a riddle game, as told in "The Hobbit."
Sauron
The Dark Lord of Mordor, living in the fortress of Barad-Dur
Maker of the Ring
Once having human form (a former servant of Melkor, who was defeated by the Gods long ago), he now is unseen, known sometimes as Red Eye or the Dark Power.
Elves
Once the greatest race of Middle Earth now in the third age living in small bands here and there.
Chief strongholds: Rivendell (Imladris) and Lorien (Lothlorien)
Immortal but can die, either in battle, by accident, or by choice
Hobbits
People of the Shire and surrounding area, in the north-west of Middle Earth
Short in stature, known as Halfings to outsiders.
Lovers of stories and songs, as well as a good beer and pipe weed.
Men
Appeared in Middle Earth long after the Elves
In the past, their greatest kingdom was on the island of Numenor to the West. By the lies of Sauron, they attempted to attack the land of the Gods, Numenor was destroyed. The survivors created kingdom in Middle Earth.
Chief kingdom: Gondor
Dwarves
Created by a god trying to make his version of the Elves
Workers of stone and metal
Prefer to live underground in caves, their chief stronghold was Moria, now long abandoned.
Orcs
Made long ago by Melkor by perverting the bodies of Elves.
Sauron's foot soldiers
Known sometimes as goblins, they shun the sunlight.
