Frodo or Sam?

[Idril Celebrindal]

Who is your favorite: Frodo, who resisted the Ring longer than anyone else and brought it to Mordor, or Sam, the faithful, and selfless friend who helped him do so? (Frodo and Sam from the book, not the movie.)

 

[Deimos]

Sam.....'nuff said.

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

Sam is my favorite LotR character and possibly my second favorite Tolkien character in general! Not because I think he's "the real hero" or because I'm invalidating Frodo's sacrifices. After having gone many years with only seeing the movies, I came to understand and like Frodo much better after reading the books. But still, I just personally like Sam better. The way he never gives up in supporting Frodo, even though he had many chances to leave, is truly admirable. He jumps into the water to swim after Frodo even though he's terrified of water. He seems an unlikely choice for such heroism, being a humble gardener with no education or training, and yet he successfully sees Frodo through to the end of this impossible mission.

 

[Radaghast]

Who is your favorite: Frodo, who resisted the Ring longer than anyone else and brought it to Mordor, or Sam, the faithful, and selfless friend who helped him do so? (Frodo and Sam from the book, not the movie.)

Sam, for being the "chief hero" of the story and for providing comic relief.

 

[Idril Celebrindal]

I think you're confusing the two. It's Frodo that saves Sam from drowning, though he doesn't swim after him in the book, he merely pulls him out of the water.

Sam jumps into the water to try and catch Frodo when he leaves the fellowship but misses the boat and starts to drown. Frodo reaches down into the water and pulls Sam into the boat to save him.

 

[Radaghast]

Sam jumps into the water to try and catch Frodo when he leaves the fellowship but misses the boat and starts to drown. Frodo reaches down into the water and pulls Sam into the boat to save him.

Yes, sorry about that. I misread your post and deleted my response; too late, obviously 😕😳

 

[Server Room Gremlin]

Frodo. I've liked him since I was a little kid reading the book for the first time. I guess cause he was small like me, and yet courageous enough to do what he did. He was also smart/knowledgeable, curious and open-minded, and I tend to like characters (and people) with these traits. I think I also related to his personality a bit.

 

[Deimos]

Sam, for being the "chief hero" of the story and for providing comic relief.

Ditto on the "chief hero", Frodo is certainly the protagonist, but the protagonist need not be the hero of a tale, and often is not.
Sam also fits the bill as "everyman". Tolkien said** that Sam is not without his faults.
E.g., his reliance on "homespun" wisdom not only (at times) misses the mark, but actually causes problems.
He best represents (imo) the condition of fallen human nature, trying to make the best of a bad situation.

**He said it in one of his Letters...just can't locate it at the moment.

 

[Deimos]

Sam, for being the "chief hero" of the story and for providing comic relief.

Pippin does a pretty good job in the "comic relief" department, too. 😉

 

[Radaghast]

Pippin does a pretty good job in the "comic relief" department, too. 😉

Not sure I ever found him to be terribly amusing 🤔 Though I find Gandalf's "Fool of a Took" endlessly amusing.

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

Let's not confuse book Pippin with whoever that character in the movies was. 🙄

 

[Radaghast]

Oh, don't worry, I don't.

 

[Deimos]

Let's not confuse book Pippin with whoever that character in the movies was. 🙄

You all need to reread LOTR. Pippin utters some really droll comments in all three books.
But then, droll humour has been falling out of favour for decades now.
If you appreciate PG Wodehouse raise your hand....Anyone?
.... See what I mean?

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

I have two Folio Society sets of Jeeves stories, plus a number of other Wodehouse titles, in paperback and hardback, including some first editions. So I guess you could say I appreciate him.

And I'm familiar with Pippin's character in the books. He wasn't the clown from the movies.

Neither was Gimli, first that matter

 

[Deimos]

My comment was addressed to others as well.
("You all" -- because English has no plural "you"--as opposed to "you").
btw way.... coming almost right on the heels of my comment [#9] who were you addressing? 😉

Anyone here should by this time know that the possibility of me confusing movie characters with book characters is as likely as me confusing a camel with a horse.

 

[Olorgando]

If you appreciate PG Wodehouse raise your hand....Anyone?
.... See what I mean?

I have at least read about PG Woodhouse (and that his name is correctly pronounced "Woodhose"), as he was one of the favorite authors of Douglas Adams - I own and have read all three biographies about the latter. Jeeves the butler seems to be a central figure in one series.
And yes, "less than gruntled" does have a ring all its own ...

 

[Olorgando]

Anyone here should by this time know that the possibility of me confusing movie characters with book characters is as likely as me confusing a camel with a horse.

That doesn't do some of PJ's mutilations justice. Squirrel vs. jellyfish comes to my mind ...

 

[Deimos]

Re Wodehouse.... I know some folks here, a not just a few, do appreciate "Wodehouse-ian" humour.
But it's going to be a small minority (the raised hands might reach the low double digits.)
and FWIW Pippin's humor is presented like the Gaffer's...i.e., understated.

 

[Deimos]

That doesn't do some of PJ's mutilations justice. Squirrel vs. jellyfish comes to my mind ...

Even the jellyfish should feel insulted.....

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

who were you addressing? 😉

Anyone who might be tempted to confuse book Pippin with movie Pippin. 😉