How is Frodo a hero?

[BilboGirl]

How is Frodo a Hero?

Can you tell me how frodo is a hero only from scenes in the movie and the book of The Lord of The Rings {Fellowship of the ring}. Give me some examples of why you think he is a hero you could put a certain incident and give your opinions dats what I wanna know :D Lets see how many people think aout Frodos bravery and courage.

[Gothmog]

Using scenes from the film I cannot answer at the moment. But as for the Book.

Frodo showed that he was becoming a Hero when he faced the Nazgul at the Ford of Bruinen:-
'By Elbereth and Luthien the Fair.' said Frodo with a last effort, lifting up his sword, 'you shall have neither the Ring or me!'

[Morwen]

There are so many defintions of "Hero" that Frodo could be one just for being a hobbit. As for my definition of a Hero (one who goes beyond the boundaries of the human(hobbit) soul for something greater than oneself), Frodo would be a Hero for taking on such a burden as the Ring. His willingnes to risk his life and the lives of his friends for something greater than himself makes him a hero.

[ReadWryt]

Frodo was an individual who's life was quite good. He had never seen a war, or the strife caused by the people of the east against each other. He could as easily decided to stay in the shire and live out his life, but as he grew to understand the impending darkness and it's power to enslave the whole land, he took it upon himself to attempt to right a wrong that he had not comitted in hopes that he could stave off a horror that would effect thousands, if not millions, of individuals he did not even know.

In the end, yes...he fails. He is overcome by the power of the Ring and it is only by the act of Gollum that the Ring is destroyed, but Frodo got it there and facilitated the destruction of the thing none the less, so in that regard he is indeed, in my opinion, a Hero, both in a personal sense and in the classical description of a Hero in Mythology.

[Perhana]

How can Frodo be a hero? Well, the answer is simple. he isn't. If frodo would have cast the Ring into mt. doom, yes he would be the hero. But for now, gollum and sam gamgee are he heros. How many heros can a book have? I saw one is plenty. The book already has two.

[GladrielElf1985]

I have to agree with you about Sam being a hero, Sam is my favorite hobbit. He is couragous and loyal beyond comprehension. And though he is nieve, he knows what must be done, and does it. But Gollum??? Gollum is no hero. The only reason the ring was cast into Mount Doom was that he was trying to steal back his Preciousssssssss. He is no hero, just lustful for the ring. Frodo is a hero because he got the ring to where it needed to be. He may have lost the battle in the end to his lust for the ring. But the mere fact that his strength endured that long makes him the greatest hero middle earth has ever seen. Not even the strongest men can resist it. And he could, and it called him many times.

Frodo is a hero of the greatest kind!!!! OF THE HEART!

[Perhana]

For one, Frodo could NOT resist the power of the ring. Granted, he held out for longer than anyone could. (With the possible exception of Tom Bombadil-- but the ring had no power over him....) He is not the hero because without the help of willing others, especially Sam and Smeagol, he would have never even made it to Mordor. Gollum is a hero because he saved Middle-Earth, if he would not of bit off Frodo's finger, the ring of power would have been recaptured by Sauron. Just because something isn't purposeful, does not make it heroic. Gollum also overcame his fears. Gollum feared Mordor and Barad-dur, but he also feared Sauron regaining the ring. Overcoming ones fears is very brave. And by definition, isn't being brave, being somewhat heroic? Also, Gollum had good intentions. Good intentions are great. One final thought, who had no food and no rest and still read Frodo to Mordor under cover of darkness? Who feared the Yellow-face?

[Perhana]

Sorry, the last post says "and read frodo to mordor" it should say "led frodo to Mordor"

[GladrielElf1985]

Gollum led frodo and sam into mordor because he lusted for the ring! Im not saying that he didnt make some attempt at decency, he did, but he failed. I pity him immensly.
But........he didnt have good intentions in leading sam and frodo into mordor. He was a slave of the enemy. Did you even read books 4 and 6. He intentionally led them right into the lair of Shelob, who tried to eat them! She almost killed frodo! I pity gollum, but not enough to call him a hero. His contribution to ending the reign of Sauron was an accident. He didnt try to throw the ring into mount doom. He tried to take it from frodo so he could have it himself. Do yourself a favor and reread books 4 and 6.

Quote:
From Shelobs lair, Book 4 in the Two Towers

"Already, years before, Gollum had beheld her, Smeagol who pried into all dark holes, and in past days he had bowed and worshipped her, and the darkness of her evil will walked through all the ways of his weariness beside him, cutting him off from light and from regret. And he had promised to bring her food. But her lust was not his lust. Little she knew of or cared for towers, or rings, or anything devised by mind or hand, who only desired death for all others, mind and body, and for herself a glut of life, alone, swolen till the mountains could no longer hold her up and the darkness could not contain her."

HE BOWED AND WORSHIPPED HER!

He was a slave to Sauron, and nothing more. Not a hero. There is some good in him, there is no doubt there. But it is overtaken by the evil put in him by his need for the ring. He hasnt the heart of frodo or any hobbit for that matter. Gollum is no hero!

[Snaga]

Frodo used the power of the ring to put a curse on Frodo that if he touched the ring again he would be cast into the Cracks of Doom. It was that curse that made Gollum topple over with the ring.

By the time Frodo reached Oroduin he had already done enough even if he tried claim the ring.

[Lantarion]

I don't think agreeing to take the Ring was enough to make him a hero. It shows obvious bravery, and strength of heart, but he didn't at the time yet know what kind of perils he was walking right into. But as he comes to understand, he becomes more like a hero, along the way. He knows that he faces quite probable death, but he cares only for the peace and safety of both him and all the Free Peoples. I think resisting the lure of the Ring, carrying it as far as he did (to the end), and acting selflessly and nobly in difficult situations excuse him for failing at the very last second.
I wouldn'y call Gollum a hero, even though he is a funny and relatable character. He was driven fully by the lure of the Ring, and had no other thoughts in mind except that he wanted his "Precious", so he could rule the lives of others. In a way I think he might be entitled to this, because of all the hardships he has faced; but most of those hardships were of his own choise. He did not think for a second that he should destroy the Ring in order to free the world of Sauron's evil dominion, and also to save himself from utter corruption and insanity from the force of the Ring.

[syongstar]

I wonder how many hobbits would have thrown the ring in some water.

[Mellyn]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Perhana
[B]For one, Frodo could NOT resist the power of the ring. Granted, he held out for longer than anyone could. (With the possible exception of Tom Bombadil-- but the ring had no power over him....) He is not the hero because without the help of willing others, especially Sam and Smeagol, he would have never even made it to Mordor. Overcoming ones fears is very brave. And by definition, isn't being brave, being somewhat heroic? Also, Gollum had good intentions. [QUOTE]
Gollum had no Good intentions he wanted to regain the ring for himself the only reason he stayed is because he was threatened.

ALso.. you praise Gollum for Bravery?? What of Frodo.. he knew he was going into terrible danger and was terribly afraid but he went anyway.. He was willing to go alone to avoid putting his friends in danger
He defied the black riders at the ford.. HE attacked their leader at Weather Top. He showed bravery at all turns.. ALso.. you praise Gollum for Bravery?? What of Frodo.. he knew he was going into terrible danger and was terribly afraid but he went anyway.. He was willing to go alone to avoid putting his friends in danger

[Rosie Cotton]

Random House's American College Dictionary:

Hero-
1. a man of distinguished valor or performance, admired for his noble qualities.
2. one invested with heroic qualities in the opinion of others
3. the principal male character in a story, play, ect.
4. (in early mythological antiquity) a being of god-like prowess and beneficence, often a "culture hero," who came to be honored as a divinity.
5. (in the Homeric period) a warrior chieftain of special strength, courage, or ability.
6. (in later periods of antiquity) an immmortal being intermediate in nature between gods and men.


I definately think that Frodo is a hobbit of distinguished valor and performance. So by the Random House College Dictionary's terms, Frodo is a hero. And seeing as Gollum fits none of the above definitions, I guess Gollum is not.

Of course..... seeing as neither of them are actually men, I guess the only real heros in LOTR are Aragorn and Boromir. :rolleyes: :D

[Evenstar]

I do think that Frodo is a hero. I believe a hero is someone who goes on even though they are afraid. At the Ford Frodo goes on to Mordor alone to spare his friends even though he knows the evil that awaits him. He got to the moountain and was unable to throw the ring in and Gollum did it instead. However, the reason Gollum was even there was due to Frodo's compassion. So, I belileve that Frodo did complete his task and is a hero.

[Perhana]

Sure, any ever other story, one would say Frodo is the hero, but in this one? No. First and Formost, the biggest hero in the LOTR is Samwise Gamgee. Read the chapter "Choices of Master Samwise" and you'll agree, if you don't already. Now Gollum, the next biggest hero, what evil did he do? None. Well, unless you count getting Frodo to Mordor evil or killing Goblins evil, nothing.

"Gollum led frodo and sam into mordor because he lusted for the ring! Im not saying that he didnt make some attempt at decency, he did, but he failed."

Explain to me how he failed, considering he Destroyed the Ring of Power. He should, and probably would have ( if he would have survived) been praised with great praise. He did more than Gandalf. Suffered more than Frodo. ( Yes, Gollum suffered, he didn't want to go to Mordor, but do you know what? he did and against his will!) Gollum saved lives. You may argue, "But frodo brought the ring to the heart of Mt. Doom". But who was not pure of heart? Who could not cast the ring into the fire. Samwise could have. I have no doubt of that. No Frodo is not a hero, there are too many heros already.

[GladrielElf1985]

How did Gollum fail at decency?? How did he not?!!!! He didnt lead them into Mordor because he wanted to get rid of the ring. He led them there because he wanted to steal the ring. Shelob was his tool to do so. He was going to have her eat them and he was going to ravage their carcasses to get the ring? But frodo and sam were to strong for that (by the way, yes I believe sam is as much a hero as frodo). And when his attempt to rid himself of them with Shelob didnt work, at the cracks of doom, he bit frodos finger off in a desparate attempt to keep it for himself (NOT TO THROW IT IN MOUNT DOOM!!!).

Quote from "Mount Doom" in ROTK pg. 245

" 'Wicked Masster!' it hissed. 'Wicked Masster cheats us; cheats Smeagol, Gollum. He musssn't go that way. He mussn't hurt Preciouss. Give it to Smeagol, yess, give it to uss! Give it to uss!'

With a violent heave Sam rose up. At once he drew his sword; but he could do nothing. Gollum and Frodo were locked together. Gollum was tearing at his master, trying to get at the chain and the ring......"

All he ever wanted was the ring. He never wanted to help Frodo and Sam. Nor did he really want to help Sauron. All he wanted was to help himself. But in helping himself he was helping Sauron. But his becomming the servant of Frodo and Sam was a lie. It was all feigned. He was luring them into a false sense of security, and he hated Frodo secretly. He believed he was a theif. Reread the Slinker and Stinker convos in books 4 and 6 and you'll see this. I dont know what more proof you need to have to show that Gollum is no hero. But I could go on all day. :rolleyes:

[SarumansTreason]

Okay people, lets get back to the topic. The question wasn't if Smeagol was a hero, but if Frodo was a hero. I say yes, but this is an opinionated question.

[Gothmog]

And that makes it a perfect question for the opinionated peoples of this opinionated forum.:D :p :D

That Is just my Not At All Humble Opinion.:D :cool: :D
*Bows and leaves*