Who is the Greatest hero of all ages? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

doug*platypus · 04-09-2004, 04:55 AM

My choice for Greatest Hero is still Frodo Baggins, but Finrod was always one of my favourite possibilities, for his nobility and loyalty as much as his bravery. However, I have just finished reading The Silmarillion for about the 6th time (or so). Some extra things come out every time I read that incredible book. In the song written about the duel of Sauron with Finrod, Sauron is able to penetrate the disguises of Finrod and Beren. This is because of an evil deed from Finrod's past: the Kinslaying at Alqualondë.

It is tempting to blame Fëanor for the ruin of the Noldor, and the deaths of so many immortal Eldar. However, each of the Noldor that rebelled and left Aman, and especially those that drew swords against the Teleri, came under the Doom of Mandos for their own actions. Although many of them, Finrod especially, did great deeds to atone for their past mistakes, I would still not consider them among the very greatest heroes. Hey, there's a lot of competition out there (Aragorn, Gandalf, Elrond)!

Sorry to seem like a hater, but I thought it was interesting to note that many of these "heroes" aren't as perfect as they may seem. The Silmarillion is actually a much grittier and more adult book than The Lord of the Rings for exactly that reason. There's a lot going on underneath the glossy exterior of many of the characters.

Evisse the Blue · 04-09-2004, 03:44 PM

Quote:

There's a lot going on underneath the glossy exterior of many of the characters.

You're right. LOTR is more straight forwardly heroical, unblemished heroes and all that.

I vote for Frodo Baggins too. He is clearly the hero of ME. Why? Because he is the chosen one. Because his goodness and willingness to do the right thing makes everyone help him along the way (Just because he is helped along the way doesn't make him less of a hero). And you have it straight from the mouth of Gandalf that no one could have achieved the task except for him.

Bombadil · 04-09-2004, 07:18 PM

the heroes of middle earth (at least in the 3rd age) are the hobbits, and in particular:

-Merry
-Pippin
-Sam
-Frodo
-Bilbo

without bilbo, the ring wouldve stayed with gollum. without merry and pippin it wouldve been much harder to take over isengard and trap saruman. without frodo and sam...well i dont even ned to explain why there. Merry was part of the killing of the witchking, and pippin diverted sauron's attention my looking in the palantir. And in conclusion, the hobbits of the shire teamed up to fight back against the ruffians and sharky.

starkat · 04-09-2004, 07:52 PM

Sam- loyal, unconditional friendship, and hope.

Osse · 04-09-2004, 11:16 PM

I'd have to say my favourites are: (though their feats may not have been as impacting as others...)

Huor, Tuor, Earendil, Fingolfin, Elendil, and of course the tragic hero of any true weeper's dreams; Feanor...

Huor was a loyal, utterly inconquerable man who was willing to die for his lord... the battle of innumerable tears was really his apex eh?

Tuor... such a legend, both a saviour and a trigger for the unfolding of Gondolin, WAS FAVOURED BY ULMO... a real bloke with a real sword... none of this black rubbish like his cousin.

Earendil... enough said!!

Fingolfin, wise, valiant, brave, loyal and a general nice fella... musta scared the jeebs outta morgoth i can tell you.

Elendil... all the virtue and worth of the edain, that was all but lost in Numenor... good looking too

Feanor: now you guys might say: why him, that shmuck started all this fuss, he was a self absorbed twit!!! - well i happen to like him

As for sam and frodo.... coughflukecoughcough

Aragorn might be just off the list, as would Glorfindel, Elrond and Imrahil.

Gorwingel · 04-10-2004, 02:30 AM

Frodo ( and no, I am not a hobbit fancier by any means

)

Because he is the one who gave up the most to complete his task, and if he hadn't, Middle Earth would have most definitely been lost forever.

All those other characters are very heroic, and they should all be very proud of their accomplishments... But as many have said they were in a way born and bred to be heros, to go into battle etc...

But Frodo had no idea when he was just a young little hobbit that he would get involved with something so much bigger than him. He never knew that he would travel to places that he never thought he would go to, and he never thought that he would basically give up his life to save Middle Earth and all the peoples of it.

For me being a hero is not just being extremely strong, or amazingly talented in the many tasks required in battle. It is how much you will give up, and how brave you will be to get a task done, or affect someones life (or a whole bunch of peoples lives).

Frodo is the hero who is the greatest of all the ages because he gave up the most that he could possibly give up (basically he gave up his future), and he did something that was totally unexpected of him and his kind

04-09-2004, 04:55 AM	#1
doug*platypus Delver in the Deep Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Aotearoa Posts: 960	Kinslayers: Should they Count? My choice for Greatest Hero is still Frodo Baggins, but Finrod was always one of my favourite possibilities, for his nobility and loyalty as much as his bravery. However, I have just finished reading The Silmarillion for about the 6th time (or so). Some extra things come out every time I read that incredible book. In the song written about the duel of Sauron with Finrod, Sauron is able to penetrate the disguises of Finrod and Beren. This is because of an evil deed from Finrod's past: the Kinslaying at Alqualondë. It is tempting to blame Fëanor for the ruin of the Noldor, and the deaths of so many immortal Eldar. However, each of the Noldor that rebelled and left Aman, and especially those that drew swords against the Teleri, came under the Doom of Mandos for their own actions. Although many of them, Finrod especially, did great deeds to atone for their past mistakes, I would still not consider them among the very greatest heroes. Hey, there's a lot of competition out there (Aragorn, Gandalf, Elrond)! Sorry to seem like a hater, but I thought it was interesting to note that many of these "heroes" aren't as perfect as they may seem. The Silmarillion is actually a much grittier and more adult book than The Lord of the Rings for exactly that reason. There's a lot going on underneath the glossy exterior of many of the characters.

04-09-2004, 07:18 PM	#3
Bombadil Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Old Forest Posts: 488	the heroes of middle earth (at least in the 3rd age) are the hobbits, and in particular: -Merry -Pippin -Sam -Frodo -Bilbo without bilbo, the ring wouldve stayed with gollum. without merry and pippin it wouldve been much harder to take over isengard and trap saruman. without frodo and sam...well i dont even ned to explain why there. Merry was part of the killing of the witchking, and pippin diverted sauron's attention my looking in the palantir. And in conclusion, the hobbits of the shire teamed up to fight back against the ruffians and sharky. __________________ "'Eldest, that's what I am... Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn... He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.'"

04-09-2004, 11:16 PM	#5
Osse Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: The Encircling Sea, deciding which ship to ruin next...could be yours. Posts: 274	I'd have to say my favourites are: (though their feats may not have been as impacting as others...) Huor, Tuor, Earendil, Fingolfin, Elendil, and of course the tragic hero of any true weeper's dreams; Feanor... Huor was a loyal, utterly inconquerable man who was willing to die for his lord... the battle of innumerable tears was really his apex eh? Tuor... such a legend, both a saviour and a trigger for the unfolding of Gondolin, WAS FAVOURED BY ULMO... a real bloke with a real sword... none of this black rubbish like his cousin. Earendil... enough said!! Fingolfin, wise, valiant, brave, loyal and a general nice fella... musta scared the jeebs outta morgoth i can tell you. Elendil... all the virtue and worth of the edain, that was all but lost in Numenor... good looking too Feanor: now you guys might say: why him, that shmuck started all this fuss, he was a self absorbed twit!!! - well i happen to like him As for sam and frodo.... coughflukecoughcough Aragorn might be just off the list, as would Glorfindel, Elrond and Imrahil. __________________ 'A thinking tyrant, it seemed to Vetinari, had a much harder job than a ruler raised to power by some idiot system like democracy. At least HE could tell the people he was THEIR fault.'

04-10-2004, 02:30 AM	#6
Gorwingel Beholder of the Mists Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Somewhere in the Northwest... for now Posts: 1,419	Frodo ( and no, I am not a hobbit fancier by any means ) Because he is the one who gave up the most to complete his task, and if he hadn't, Middle Earth would have most definitely been lost forever. All those other characters are very heroic, and they should all be very proud of their accomplishments... But as many have said they were in a way born and bred to be heros, to go into battle etc... But Frodo had no idea when he was just a young little hobbit that he would get involved with something so much bigger than him. He never knew that he would travel to places that he never thought he would go to, and he never thought that he would basically give up his life to save Middle Earth and all the peoples of it. For me being a hero is not just being extremely strong, or amazingly talented in the many tasks required in battle. It is how much you will give up, and how brave you will be to get a task done, or affect someones life (or a whole bunch of peoples lives). Frodo is the hero who is the greatest of all the ages because he gave up the most that he could possibly give up (basically he gave up his future), and he did something that was totally unexpected of him and his kind __________________ Wanted - Wonderfully witty quote that consists of pure brilliance

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04-09-2004, 07:52 PM	#4
starkat Wight Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Cair Paravel during the Golden Age of Narnia Posts: 146	Sam- loyal, unconditional friendship, and hope.