12-07-2003, 04:35 AM | #1 | ||
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Character Foils in Lord of the Rings
Almost every character in almost every book has another who is their equal and opposite. It's not always the main hero and the main villain who are foils. Any two characters can augment each other in the story.
My question to you is, who are character foils in Lord of the Rings? To kick it all off, I will suggest Eowyn and Arwen. They similar in some ways, but have marked differences. Similarities: Both great women who get married to marry excellent men at the end of the book. They are both heroes in their own way. They either are or were in love with Aragorn. Differences: Arwen is not a warrior, Eowyn is arguably one of the greatest warriors in Middle-earth. For most of the book, Arwen and Eowyn seek entirely different lifestyles. Arwen is not an adventurer, and operates behind the scenes. Eowyn is a warrior at heart, going so far as to disguise herself and forgo other duties to be part of the 'final' battle for Middle-earth. What do you think? What other character foils would you suggest?
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12-07-2003, 02:51 PM | #2 |
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I think Pippin and Gandalf are foils....think about for a while before reading the rest of this if you have to.
Same: Both are trying to help Frodo in some way shape or form. They both have made...mistakes. They both were captured and held for some length of time hurting womever it was they were supposed to be with waiting for or going to get. Different:Well Gandalf is...magical and Pippin isn't. Pippin's short with fury feet...to the best of my knowledge Gandalf is or has none of these. Gandalf doesn't seem to have a knack for knocking buckets into wells. There are definatly many more you could add and maybe some you could take away but all in all I think they are, as Nurvingel said, equal and opposite.
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12-07-2003, 03:40 PM | #3 |
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How about Theoden and Denethor?
Both great kings who for a long time relatively successfully governed their people and directed resistance to aggression, both lost a son and heir, both were subject to enormous pressure late in their lives, and to both Gandalf offered advice/assistance, but one rose to the occasion and the other failed.
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12-07-2003, 04:00 PM | #4 | ||
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That's a really good one Tuor!
Saruman and Gandalf are character foils: Both Isatari, very powerful and wise but: Saruman allied himself with Sauron, giving up hope Gandalf said he was the enemy of Sauron, and still had hope Saruman didn't respect Hobbits, his mistake Gandalf put his faith ultimately in Frodo and Sam, who saved Middle-earth Saruman mostly stayed in Orthanc, Gandalf was always travelling Saruman gave in to the temptation of the Ring Gandalf wouldn't even touch it. Saruman died tragically, killed by his only follower (at the time) Gandalf was killed by the Balrog, but came back from the dead (so to speak) I'm sure the list goes on here. I agree with you too Fimbrethil, Gandalf can have more than one foil.
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"I can add some more, if you'd like it. Calling your Chief Names, Wishing to Punch his Pimply Face, and Thinking you Shirriffs look a lot of Tom-fools." - Sam Gamgee, p. 340, Return of the King Quote:
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Last edited by Nurvingiel : 12-07-2003 at 04:02 PM. |
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12-07-2003, 11:19 PM | #5 | |
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You could use leaders instead of Kings and this should work fine.
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Sincerely, Anthony 'Many are my names in many countries,' he said. 'Mithrandir among the Elves, Tharkûn to the Drarves; Olórin I was in my youth in the West that is forgotten, in the South Incánus, in the North Gandalf; to the East I go not.' Faramir What nobler employment, or more valuable to the state, than that of the man who instructs the rising generation? Cicero (106BC-43BC) |
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12-07-2003, 11:59 PM | #6 | |
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'Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta!' - And those were the words that Elendil spoke when he came up out of the Sea on the wings of the wind: 'Out of the Great Sea to Middle-earth I am come. In this place will I abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the world.' 'Then Tuor arrayed himself in the hauberk, and set the helm upon his head, and he girt himself with the sword; black were sheath and belt with clasps of silver. Thus armed he went forth from Turgon's hall, and stood upon the high terraces of Taras in the red light of the sun. None were there to see him, as he gazed westward, gleaming in silver and gold, and he knew not that in that hour he appeared as one of the Mighty of the West, and fit to be father of the kings of the Kings of Men beyond the Sea, as it was indeed his doom to be; but in the taking of those arms a change came upon Tuor son of Huor, and his heart grew great within him. And as he stepped down from the doors the swans did him reverence, and plucking each a great feather from their wings they proffered them to him, laying their long necks upon the stone before his feet; and he took the seven feathers and set them in the crest of his helm, and straightway the swans arose and flew north in the sunset, and Tuor saw them no more.' -Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin "Oh. Forgive me, fairest of all males of Entmoot...Back down, all ye other wannabe fairest males! Dunedain is the fairest!" --Linaewen |
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12-08-2003, 12:52 AM | #7 | |||
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"I can add some more, if you'd like it. Calling your Chief Names, Wishing to Punch his Pimply Face, and Thinking you Shirriffs look a lot of Tom-fools." - Sam Gamgee, p. 340, Return of the King Quote:
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12-08-2003, 01:07 AM | #8 |
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Fimbrethil - just wanted to point out that Pippin did not drop a bucket into a well. He dropped a stone in to see how deep it was.
-Ilúvatar |
12-08-2003, 05:07 AM | #9 | |
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Yes, you could contrast Gandalf with Saruman, Denethor, Theoden, the balrog, Sauron, Witch-king. How about Ted Sandyman and Sam? Selfish ambition vs humble subservience. Also: Faramir vs Boromir Legolas vs Gimli Galadriel vs Sauron (or even Elrond) Treebeard vs Old Man Willow Ye gods, the list goes on. Good idea for a thread. |
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12-08-2003, 05:52 AM | #10 | ||
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I wouldn't call Sam subservient, but it's still a good character foil.
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"I can add some more, if you'd like it. Calling your Chief Names, Wishing to Punch his Pimply Face, and Thinking you Shirriffs look a lot of Tom-fools." - Sam Gamgee, p. 340, Return of the King Quote:
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12-08-2003, 12:18 PM | #11 |
Hobbit
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I'm suprprised no one has mentioned Boromir and Faramir.
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12-08-2003, 12:23 PM | #12 |
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Dang. I see someone has mentioned Boromir and Faramir!
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12-08-2003, 07:20 PM | #13 | |
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Bah, Bah black sheep have oyu any wool? Yes sir, yes sir. Three bags full! One for the master, one for the dame, one for the little boy who lives down the lane! Bah, bah black sheep have you any wool? Yes sir, yes sir. Three bags full. I'll be gone for a while. But never fear! "I shall return anon!" |
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12-10-2003, 09:33 AM | #14 |
Elf Lord
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Merry and Fatty Bolger might be a good one.
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12-10-2003, 11:13 AM | #15 |
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Besides the ones mentioned, how about Gollum vs. Sam? Servant coerced and treacherous set against willing and faithful, yet both absolutely necessary. BTW, I agree that Sam is not subservient: sturdy independance about sums it up. And, going outside LotR, Tom Bombadil vs. Beor. (well, Beor is at least referred to in LotR). Tom is welcoming and friendly, Beor surly and scary, but both are ultimately helpful.
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12-10-2003, 02:42 PM | #16 | |||
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We could compare different events and actions, but we don't know much about his character. Gollum and Sam are awesome foils Attalus! 1. Gollum was always trying to get the Ring, Sam willingly gave it back to Frodo. 2. Gollum tricks people and Sam is honest.
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"I can add some more, if you'd like it. Calling your Chief Names, Wishing to Punch his Pimply Face, and Thinking you Shirriffs look a lot of Tom-fools." - Sam Gamgee, p. 340, Return of the King Quote:
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