Aragorn () is a fictional character and a protagonist in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. Aragorn is a Ranger of the North, first introduced with the name Strider and later revealed to be the heir of Isildur, an ancient King of Arnor and Gondor. Aragorn is a confidant of the wizard Gandalf and plays a part in the quest to destroy the One Ring and defeat the Dark Lord Sauron. As a young man, Aragorn falls in love with the immortal elf Arwen, as told in "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen". Arwen's father, Elrond, forbids them to marry unless Aragorn becomes King of both Arnor and Gondor.
Aragorn leads the Company of the Ring following the loss of Gandalf in the Mines of Moria. When the Fellowship is broken, he tracks the hobbits Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took with the help of Legolas the elf and Gimli the dwarf to Fangorn Forest. He fights in the battle at Helm's Deep and the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. After defeating Sauron's forces in Gondor, he leads the armies of Gondor and Rohan against the Morannon of Mordor, distracting Sauron's attention and enabling Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee to destroy the One Ring. Aragorn is proclaimed King by the people of Gondor and crowned King of both Gondor and Arnor. He marries Arwen and rules for 122 years.
Tolkien developed the character of Aragorn over a long period, beginning with a hobbit nicknamed Trotter and trying out many names before arriving at a Man named Aragorn. Commentators have proposed historical figures such as King Oswald of Northumbria and King Alfred the Great as sources of inspiration for Aragorn, noting parallels such as spending time in exile and raising armies to retake their kingdoms. Aragorn has been compared to the figure of Christ as King, complete with the use of prophecy paralleling the Old Testament's foretelling of the Messiah. Others have evaluated his literary status using Northrop Frye's classification, suggesting that while the hobbits are in "Low Mimetic" mode and characters such as Éomer are in "High Mimetic" mode, Aragorn reaches the level of "Romantic" hero as he is superior in ability and lifespan to those around him.
Aragorn has appeared in mainstream films by Ralph Bakshi, Rankin/Bass, the film trilogy by Peter Jackson, and the fan film The Hunt for Gollum. He has also appeared in the BBC radio dramatisation of The Lord of the Rings.
Following the defeat of Sauron and the deaths of Elendil, Anarion, and Isildur, Anarion's son, Meneldil, became king of Gondor and Isildur's son, Valandil, became king of Arnor. Many years later, the kingdom of Arnor was lost in battle with the evil land of Angmar, and Arvedui, the king of Arnor, died in a shipwreck. After that, the line of the kings of Arnor was maintained by the Chieftains of the Dúnedain, who were raised in Rivendell. The kingdom of Gondor continued, but years later, after the childless King Earnur was lost, Gondor was ruled by stewards. Eventually, Sauron returned to the land of Mordor and openly declared himself. Each Chieftain was given a name with the Kingly prefix of Ar(a)-, to signify his right to the Kingship of Arnor., Appendix A, I (ii) "The Realms in Exile"
At the age of 20, after Aragorn has done great deeds in the company of Elrond's sons, Elrond tells him of his ancestry and his true name, and gives him the shards of Elendil's sword, Narsil, and another ancient heirloom, the Ring of Barahir. He withholds the Sceptre of Annúminas from him until he has earned the right to possess it. The following day, Aragorn meets and falls in love with Elrond's daughter, the beautiful elf-maiden Arwen, who has recently returned to Rivendell from her grandparents' home in Lothlorien. Thereafter, Aragorn assumes his role as the sixteenth Chieftain of the Dúnedain, the Rangers of the North. He goes into the wild and lives with the remnants of his people, whose kingdom, Arnor, had been destroyed centuries before. The Rangers helped to guard the Shire, a land inhabited by the diminutive . He becomes known as "Strider" in the Shire and Bree., book 1, ch. 10 "Strider" Aragorn meets and befriends Gandalf the wizard.
Aragorn undertakes great journeys, serving in the armies of King Thengel of Rohan and of Ecthelion II, the Steward of Gondor. He conceals his true name and identity. His tasks help to raise morale in the West and to counter the growing threat of Sauron and his allies, and he acquires experience that he later puts to use in the War of the Ring. With a small squadron of ships from Gondor, he leads an assault on Umbar, burning many of the Corsairs' ships and personally killing their lord during the Battle of the Havens. After the victory at Umbar, he ventures alone to the east and south of Middle-earth and continues to work against Sauron.
At the age of 49, Aragorn visits Lothlórien, and again meets Arwen. He gives her the Ring of Barahir., Appendix B On the hill of Cerin Amroth, Arwen pledges her hand to him in marriage, renouncing her Elvish lineage and accepting mortality (the "Gift of Men"). Elrond withholds permission to marry his daughter from Aragorn until he is king of both Gondor and Arnor. Elrond fears that in the end, Arwen might find the prospect of death too difficult to bear.
Years later, Gandalf grows suspicious of Bilbo Baggins's magic ring, which he finds to be Sauron's One Ring., book 1, ch. 2 "The Shadow of the Past". Gandalf asks Aragorn to find Gollum, a creature who had previously possessed the Ring. This hunt leads Aragorn across Rhovanion; he finally captures Gollum in the Dead Marshes northwest of Mordor. Aragorn brings Gollum to King Thranduil's halls in Mirkwood, where Gandalf questions him., book 2, ch. 2 "The Council of Elrond".
At Rivendell, Aragorn is chosen as a member of the Fellowship of the Ring to accompany Frodo in his quest to destroy the Ring in the fires of Mount Doom in the land of Mordor. Elven-smiths reforge the shards of Narsil into a new sword, setting into the design of the blade seven stars (for Elendil) and a crescent moon (for Isildur), as well as many runes. Aragorn renames the sword Andúril, "Flame of the West"., book 3, ch. 3 "The Ring goes South"
The Fellowship attempt to cross the Misty Mountains via the pass of Caradhras. Their attempt fails in a violent storm. Instead, the Fellowship travels through the mines of Moria. When Gandalf is killed fighting a Balrog,, book 2, ch. 5 "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm" Aragorn leads the company to Lothlórien, book 2, ch. 6 "Lothlórien" and down the River Anduin to the Falls of Rauros. He plans to go to Gondor to aid its people in the war against Sauron., book 2, ch. 9 "The Great River" The Fellowship is then broken: Frodo continues his journey to Mordor, accompanied only by his gardener and friend, Samwise Gamgee. Two other hobbit members of the Fellowship, Merry and Pippin, are captured by orcs., book 3, ch. 1 "The Departure of Boromir"
Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli set off to track the orcs, hoping to rescue Merry and Pippin. They learn that the orcs have been killed, and that no hobbits were found among the remains., book 3, ch. 2 "The Riders of Rohan" Nevertheless, clues lead Aragorn to believe that the hobbits are still alive, prompting him to take the party into Fangorn Forest. They meet Gandalf, sent back from death to continue his duties in Middle-earth. Gandalf tells them that the hobbits are in the care of the of Fangorn. book 3, ch. 5, "The White Rider"
Together, Gandalf and the Three Hunters travel to Edoras in Rohan, where Gandalf frees King Théoden from the enchantment of the treacherous wizard Saruman and helped him prepare the Rohirrim to fight against Saruman., book 3, ch. 6 "The King of the Golden Hall" Aragorn fights with the men of Rohan at the Battle of Helm's Deep, in which Saruman's army of orcs is destroyed., book 3, ch. 7 "Helm's Deep" Aragorn uses the palantír, a seeing stone, to reveal himself to Sauron as the heir of Isildur, to distract him from Frodo's approach to Mordor, and to draw Sauron's forces out of Mordor. Aragorn's action causes Sauron to launch his assault on the city of Minas Tirith prematurely. To reach the city in time to defend it, Aragorn takes the Paths of the Dead, summoning the Dead Men of Dunharrow. The Dead Men owed allegiance to Aragorn as the heir of Isildur; it had been prophesied by Isildur and Malbeth the Seer that the Dead would one day be summoned to pay their debt for betraying Gondor., book 5, ch. 2 "The Passing of the Grey Company" With their aid, Aragorn defeats the Corsairs of Umbar at the port of Pelargir. Aragorn releases the Dead Men and uses the Corsairs' ships to sail up the Anduin to Minas Tirith with his Rangers and a large contingent of men from the southern regions of Gondor., book 5, ch. 9 "The Last Debate" As they approach Minas Tirith, Aragorn unfurls the royal standard that Arwen had made for him, showing both the White Tree of Gondor and the jewelled crown and seven stars of the House of Elendil. With the help of the southern forces, the armies of Gondor and Rohan rally and defeat Sauron's army in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields., book 5, ch. 6 "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields"
Aragorn's daring and success had brought him closer to his own kingship, which was his by right as a direct descendant of Isildur. Gondor had been under the rule of the Stewards of Gondor for centuries, and it was doubted that any of the royal line still lived. The Steward Denethor, who years before had seen Aragorn (then known as Thorongil) as a rival for his father's favour, declares that he will not bow to a descendant of Isildur. Believing that it is futile to battle Sauron, Denethor has himself burned on a funeral pyre., book 5, ch. 7 "The Pyre of Denethor" Aragorn heals Faramir, Denethor's heir, who had been wounded in battle and was expected to die, using the herb athelas. Faramir recognizes Aragorn as his lord and the rightful heir to the throne of Gondor. Aragorn's humility and self-sacrifice win him the hearts of the inhabitants of Gondor's capital city. His healing abilities are noted by the people of Gondor; as the wise-woman and healer Ioreth says, "The hands of the King are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known". The people hail Aragorn as King that same evening., book 5, ch. 8 "The Houses of Healing"
Despite his immediate success and popularity, and to avoid conflict, he leaves Minas Tirith, refusing to enter it again until he was crowned King. To give Frodo the best chance of fulfilling his quest, Aragorn leads an army to make a diversionary feint on the Black Gate of Mordor in the Battle of the Morannon. The army has no realistic chance of victory. Sauron attacks with overwhelming force., book 5, ch. 10 "The Black Gate Opens" While the battle takes place, the Ring is destroyed, and Sauron and his forces are utterly vanquished., book 6, ch. 4 "The Field of Cormallen"
Upon Sauron's defeat, Aragorn is crowned King Elessar ("Elfstone", a Quenya name given to him by Arwen's grandmother, Galadriel); he marries Arwen at midsummer. He becomes the twenty-sixth King of Arnor, the thirty-fifth King of Gondor, and the first High King of the Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor. His line is called the House of Telcontar (Quenya for "Strider")., book 6, ch. 5 "The Steward and the King"
Aragorn rules the Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor until year 120 of the Fourth Age. His reign is marked by harmony and prosperity, and by a renewal of cooperation between Men, Elves, and Dwarves. Aragorn leads the forces of the Reunited Kingdom on military campaigns against the Easterlings and Haradrim, re-establishing rule over lands that Gondor had lost in previous centuries. He dies at the age of 210, after 122 years as king. The graves of Merry and Pippin (who had died in Gondor 58 years earlier) are set beside his. He is succeeded on the throne by his son, Eldarion. Arwen, heartbroken by the loss of her husband, dies shortly afterwards in Lothlórien.
Later Tolkien hesitated about the true identity of "Trotter" for a long time. One of his notes suggested that the Rangers should not be hobbits as originally planned, and that this would mean that Trotter was either a man, or a hobbit who associated himself with the Rangers and was "very well known" (within the story)., pp. 223–224 The latter suggestion was linked to an early comment of Bingo: "I keep on feeling that I have seen him somewhere before"., p. 208 Tolkien considered that Trotter might be Bilbo Baggins himself, but soon rejected that idea after Aragorn identified himself.
Another suggestion was that Trotter was Fosco Took (Bilbo's first cousin), who "vanished when a lad, owing to Gandalf". This story was further elaborated, making Trotter a nephew of Bilbo, named Peregrin Boffin, and an elder cousin of Frodo. He was said to have run away after he came of age,, pp. 371, 385 some 20 years before Bilbo left the Shire, and had helped Gandalf in tracking Gollum later. A hint was also given as to why Trotter wore wooden shoes: he had been captured by the Dark Lord in Mordor and , but saved by Gandalf; a note was added by Tolkien in the margin, saying that it would later be revealed that Trotter had wooden feet., pp. 401, 413
The conception of Trotter as a hobbit was eventually discarded. Another short-lived idea was to make Trotter "a disguised elf-friend of Bilbo's in Rivendell", and a scout from Rivendell who "pretends to be a ranger". pp. 6–7 It was not until after Book I was written that Tolkien finally settled on making Trotter a man, introducing him from the beginning as Aragorn, a "descendant of the ancient Edain, and one of Elrond's household".
Aragorn's relationship with Arwen was established very late in the writing. When Tolkien first introduced Éowyn, the interest she showed towards Aragorn was not one-sided, with suggestions in notes that they would marry at the end of the story. Another proposal was that Éowyn would die to save or avenge Théoden, and Aragorn would never marry after her death., pp. 445–448
The first mention of Elrond's daughter, named Finduilas, was made in reference to the banner she made for Aragorn,, p. 307 but Tolkien did not give any hint whether she had any further part to play. The references to her marriage with Aragorn came later,, pp. 425–426 but it was explicitly stated only near the completion of the book., p. 52 Only in his work on the appendices for The Lord of the Rings did Tolkien record the full Tale of Aragorn and Arwen., pp. 262–270
A passing idea was that Galadriel gave her Ring to Aragorn, and that he would accordingly be titled the "Lord of the Ring".
Tolkien hesitated for some time over Strider's "real" name. Although Aragorn was the first suggestion when his Mannish descent was determined, the name was changed repeatedly. At one point Tolkien decided that an Elvish language name did not suit a Man, and thus altered it from Aragorn via "Elfstone" to "Ingold", an Old English name with "ing-" representing "West". Later he introduced a new plot element: Galadriel's gift of a green stone, and reverted to Elfstone to make an additional connection., pp. 277–278
Among other names, Tolkien considered "Elfstan", "Elfmere", "Elf-friend", "Elfspear", "Elfwold" and "Erkenbrand", with Elvish forms: Eldamir, Eldavel, Eledon, Qendemir. The name of Aragorn's father also passed through many transient forms: Tolkien paired Aramir or Celegorn with Aragorn before settling upon Arathorn; among the various pairings were "Elfhelm" and Eldakar with "Elfstone" and Eldamir; and Ingrim with "Ingold".
The French medievalist Alban Gautier, and separately the historian Christopher Snyder, suggest a connection with a different Anglo-Saxon king, Alfred of Wessex, described by Snyder as "an unexpected monarch (he had four elder brothers) and inspirational leader who united disparate peoples". The Dutch medievalist Thijs Porck writes that Alfred, like Aragorn, spent time in exile. Danes attacked him in Chippenham, and he took refuge in the wilds before gathering an army at Egbert's Stone and defeating the Danes at the Battle of Edington. Alfred's history parallels Aragorn's gathering of the Dead, the Oathbreakers, at the Stone of Erech.
The fragmentation of the Dúnedain kingdoms, leading to Aragorn's small band of Rangers living in the wild, has been compared to that of the early Frankish kingdoms.
The Catholic author Joseph Pearce and others have conjectured, without direct evidence, that Aragorn's name is derived from the Kingdom of Aragon, and leaders such as Catherine of Aragon whose heritage is linked to the crown of Castile and crown of Aragon.
Karen Nikakis writes that Aragorn fits a "sacrificial king" archetype, noting the multiple sacrifices that Aragorn makes for the benefit of those around him and for his future people. Those sacrifices include waiting to claim his throne and to marry Arwen until the One Ring had been destroyed.
The Tolkien scholar Verlyn Flieger contrasts the warrior-hero Aragorn with the suffering hero Frodo Baggins. Aragorn is, like Beowulf, an epic/romance hero, a bold leader and a healer-king. Frodo is "the little man of fairy tale", the little brother who unexpectedly turns out to be brave. But the fairy tale happy ending comes to Aragorn, marrying the beautiful princess (Arwen) and winning the kingdom (Gondor and Arnor); while Frodo, who returns home miserable, with neither Ring nor appreciation by the people of the Shire, gets "defeat and disillusionment—the stark, bitter ending typical of the Iliad, Beowulf, the Morte D'Arthur". In other words, the two types of hero are not only contrasted, but combined, halves of their legends swapped over. Flieger comments that the two together mark the end of the old, with Frodo's bitter end and the disappearance of the Ring, the Elves, and much else that was beautiful; and the start of the new, with Aragorn's rise to the throne of Gondor and Arnor, and a world of Men.
In Peter Jackson's the Lord of the Rings film trilogy, Aragorn was played by the Danish-American actor Viggo Mortensen. He received acclaim for the portrayal, and Aragorn was ranked No. 15 in Empires 2015 survey of greatest film characters. "The 100 Greatest Movie Characters" . Empire, 29 June 2015
The film scholar Maria Alberto writes that such fan films reveal one way that readers engage with Tolkien's writings. In her view, Born of Hope, six years in the making, comes close to a canonical narrative, while Hunt for Gollum expands a canonical incident. Alberto notes, too, that Born of Hope nods to Mortensen's physical appearance as Aragorn in both casting and costume. As for Hunt for Gollum, Alberto writes, the narrative arc requires the viewer to know from the Lord of the Rings why Aragorn would be searching for Gollum, while his meeting Gandalf in a pub plainly recalls "both Tolkien's and Jackson's" Prancing Pony. Alberto states that the widely-scattered locations, from north Wales to Epping Forest and Hampstead Heath are meant to be seen as a measure of how far Aragorn travels, and in which part of the world, as he seeks Gollum. She cites the scholar Robin Anne Reid's remark that " Hunt is 'imitative' where Hope is transformative", meaning that the former attempts to mimic Jackson and Tolkien, whereas the latter sees fans interpreting and adding to the canon.
Fictional biography
Early life
The War of the Ring
Concept and creation
Identity
Development
Names
Analysis
Conjectured historical basis
+ Thijs Porck's comparison of Aragorn with King Alfred Refuge in the wilds after Danes attacked him at Chippenham Gathered an army at Egbert's Stone Defeated the Danes at the Battle of Edington
Christ-figure
Ranger
Romantic hero
+ Tom Shippey's analysis of Aragorn's place
in Northrop Frye's literary modesHints and allusions, e.g. cock-crow
as Rohan cavalry arrives to save GondorAragorn's physical stamina, lifespan Heroic figures like Éomer of Rohan,
Faramir of Gondor, especially at start Bilbo Baggins, joking
Adaptations
Film
Fan film responses
Other
Primary
Secondary
Sources
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