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04-02-2008, 08:07 AM | #81 | |
The Ñoldóran
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I suppose that everything is relative, and that people judge 'importance' in different ways. You're right - to me, a character is less important if they don't directly influence the plot, hence the fact that Gildor - who is one of my favorite characters, aesthetically speaking, doesn't make the list. And you may be right - being trained as a political scientist makes me look at things strategically, and judge 'importance' in such a way. Fascinating thoughts you bring up there, Sis.
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04-02-2008, 08:29 AM | #82 | |
Elf Lord
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That would be the swirling vortex to another world. Cool. I want one. TMNT No, I'm not emo. I just have a really poor sense of direction. (Thanks to katya for this quote) This is the best news story EVER! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26087293/ “Often my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint.”...John McCain "I shall go back. And I shall find that therapist. And I shall whack her upside her head with my blanket full of rocks." ...Louisa May |
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04-02-2008, 08:33 AM | #83 |
The Ñoldóran
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Well, I did that because I think it's important to step back and examine why you like your favorite characters. Is it because they're truly important, or is it for other reasons? And may characters I don't particularly like be important? With the list I have now - the plot could never have been completed without them. The destruction of the Ring would have failed, and/or Gondor would have fallen. If that is the ultimate plot of Lord of the Rings, then shouldn't the 'important' characters be the ones who are essential to the completion of that plot? That was how I chose mine, anyway.
I'd be interested in how other people made their decisions.
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Then Celegorm no more would stay, And Curufin smiled and turned away... ~The Lay of Leithian |
04-02-2008, 08:42 AM | #84 |
Elf Lord
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I've never been much interested in plot. I read a lot of books with very little plot, even in genres where plot is considered essential.
Sure, things happen. But what matters is how people deal with what happens.
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That would be the swirling vortex to another world. Cool. I want one. TMNT No, I'm not emo. I just have a really poor sense of direction. (Thanks to katya for this quote) This is the best news story EVER! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26087293/ “Often my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint.”...John McCain "I shall go back. And I shall find that therapist. And I shall whack her upside her head with my blanket full of rocks." ...Louisa May |
04-02-2008, 08:51 AM | #85 |
Elf Lady
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The people I find essential to the plot are obviously a bit different from yours
I put Sam on one, because he motivated Frodo, protected him, helped him, fed him and was the only warm and light thing around Frodo for quite a while. And he could sure use some warmth and lightness. Sam went along, though he had his doubts and pushed through where others might have given up. Without Sam, I think Frodo would have died many times over, in both physical as mental sense. Gandalf was the one who saw the bigger picture. He wasn't always right, but he too motivated people to get on a move. Though he wasn't all that sympathetic, he managed to get many people to trust in him blindly. Aragorn too motivated people. He kept the Fellowship together and solved the problems that arose. But he also understood that Frodo would have to go on alone. Aragorn got people to unite and rise against Sauron and his forces. He might not have liked his heritage and his fate, but he accepted it nonetheless. Treebeard (again) motivated his people to finally do something about the destruction of their forest by Saruman. Not only that: he accepted two complete strangers (Merry and Pippin) and listened to their story. He was kind while he could have been upset. The victory of the ents, and just the fact that they had moved at all, was a great motivation to the people of Rohan and others who had started to gather to rise against Sauron. They gave hope in a dark hour. The Eagles, though they maintained an air of neutrality, not wanting to get involved, did get involved at crucial points. They saved Sam and Frodo and took care of them. The eagles in doing this gave hope and a sense of possible victory as well. No one likes to fight alone.
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Love always, deeply and true ★ Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer. ★ Friendship is sharing openly, laughing often, trusting always, caring deeply.
...The Earth laughs in flowers ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Hamatreya"... Last edited by Mari : 04-02-2008 at 04:42 PM. Reason: misspelled fate as faith again :rolleyes: |
04-02-2008, 03:31 PM | #86 | ||
Half-Elven Princess of Rabbit Trails and Harp-Wielding Administrator (beware the Rubber Chicken of Doom!)
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Anyway, I don't remember if or what I answered, but now, off the top of my head and without reasons, I'd say: Frodo Sam Gandalf Aragorn and very surprisingly, Arwen ... Quote:
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. I should be doing the laundry, but this is MUCH more fun! Ñá ë?* óú éä ïöü Öñ É Þ ð ß ® ç å ™ æ ♪ ?* "How lovely are Thy dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! ... For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside." (from Psalm 84) * * * God rocks! Entmoot : Veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I got hooked! Ego numquam pronunciare mendacium, sed ego sum homo indomitus! Run the earth and watch the sky ... Auta i lómë! Aurë entuluva! Last edited by Rían : 04-02-2008 at 03:34 PM. |
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04-02-2008, 04:35 PM | #87 | |
Elf Lord
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Faith? Or fate? He had estel in abundance, IMO.
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04-02-2008, 04:43 PM | #88 |
Elf Lady
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Whoops, meant to say fate. I just got the impression that he was experiencing it as a burden somewhere. That doesn't exclude being proud of his heritage and working hard.
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Love always, deeply and true ★ Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer. ★ Friendship is sharing openly, laughing often, trusting always, caring deeply.
...The Earth laughs in flowers ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Hamatreya"... |
04-13-2008, 11:29 AM | #89 |
Elf Lady
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: In the lands where mountains are but a fairytale
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Hmm, I retract my previous statement on the heritage thing. I've been rereading LotR and I think I based that observation too much on the film. My apologies
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Love always, deeply and true ★ Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer. ★ Friendship is sharing openly, laughing often, trusting always, caring deeply.
...The Earth laughs in flowers ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Hamatreya"... |
09-25-2008, 07:19 AM | #90 |
Enting
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The absolute order for who is most important is difficult to determine. The principal characters are:
Gandalf : His continued efforts all over Middle Earth kept everything going for goodness to eventually triumph. Aragorn: His destiny and will are of supreme importance, both as leader and healer Frodo: He was best in his less corruptable hobbit earnestness to carry the ring for the long haul to MT. Doom Smeagol: He unintentionally kept the ring hidden from Sauron for years and helped Frodo at the bitter end of the quest Sauron: He made all the resistance necessary through his perpetual attempts to dominate Middle Earth with evil. |
09-25-2008, 10:03 AM | #91 |
Elf Lord
Join Date: Jan 2007
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See, I think Sam is essential. I'm seriously not convinced Aragorn is as important.
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That would be the swirling vortex to another world. Cool. I want one. TMNT No, I'm not emo. I just have a really poor sense of direction. (Thanks to katya for this quote) This is the best news story EVER! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26087293/ “Often my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint.”...John McCain "I shall go back. And I shall find that therapist. And I shall whack her upside her head with my blanket full of rocks." ...Louisa May |
09-25-2008, 10:41 AM | #92 |
Enting
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Next to a Pumpkin and near a mushroom!
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The problem is to pick 5 and I can't let go of Aragorn.
Sam is very important! Nearly as important as Frodo or maybe just important as Frodo. Truly Frodo wouldn't have made it to Mordor without Sam and Sauron would have got the ring without Sam. However Aragorn helped save the ring from the hands of the enemy long before Sam helped Frodo survive, escape from the tower of Cirith Ungol in Mordor and take the ring to Mount Doom. Aragorn's actions and reactions are very important. Think of what he did on the Weathertop in fighting the nazgul and in caring for the wounded Frodo afterward. The ring wouldn't ever have made it to Rivendale without Aragorn. Recently In the thread ' who really killed the witch king in RTOTK ' , entmoot member Alcuin, recalled the very important actions of Aragorn. So it got me thinking of the many accomplishments of he who was to be the King. Aragorn was able to use the palantari and reveal himself and so cause doubt in Sauron's mind. He healed many people of the black breath, assembled the army of the dead to aid Gondor and kept the city from falling etc... Aragorn really caused or supported lots of distraction so that Sauron would'nt easily find Frodo and Sam as they moved into Mordor. Sorry! As much as I credit Sam, I think ol' Strider the ranger, Isildur's aire, bumps the steadfast gardener off of the list of five. This is true even if you only take into account the earlier struggles of Strider against the nazgul but then even more weight is added by his many valiant deeds later. Last edited by Zilbanne : 09-25-2008 at 05:32 PM. |
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