The Lord of the Rings: Key Facts

Full title The Lord of the Rings

Leading Actors Sean Astin, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood

Supporting Actors/Actresses Sean Bean, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Billy Boyd, Brad Dourif, Bernard Hill, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Dominic Monaghan, John Noble, Paul Norell, Miranda Otto, Craig Parker, John Rhys-Davies, Andy Serkis, Harry Sinclair, Liv Tyler, Karl Urban, Hugo Weaving, David Wenham

Type of work Feature film

Genre Epic fantasy

Language English

Time and place produced New Zealand, 1999–2001

Awards The Fellowship of the Ring (2002)

Dates of release The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Producers Peter Jackson, Barrie M. Osborne, Fran Walsh

Setting (time) The third age of Middle-earth

Setting (place) Middle-earth

Protagonist Frodo Baggins

Major conflict The major conflict is the battle for Middle-earth between its diverse inhabitants, including humans, elves, dwarves, hobbits, and wizards, and the dark forces of Sauron.

Rising action The war for Middle-earth is largely fought on traditional battlefields between two opposing armies, but the real battle is fought within the hearts of its inhabitants. Symbolizing this internal struggle is Frodo’s quest to destroy the ring of power, which can be accomplished only if he is able to withstand the great temptation the ring represents.

Climax The climax of the film occurs at Mount Doom, as Frodo debates whether to let the ring fall into the fires that created it, thereby destroying it, or to keep the ring for himself.

Falling action The falling action is long and drawn out and includes Sam and Frodo’s rescue from the lava-drenched plains of Mordor, Frodo’s convalescence, the coronation of Aragorn, the hobbits’ return to the Shire, and the departure of Frodo, Bilbo, and Gandalf with the elves.

Themes The king vs. the steward; the limits of fellowship; the Shire as a fantasy of home

Motifs Mordor; the temptation of the ring; journeys

Symbols Water; the ring; Mount Doom

Foreshadowing Bilbo’s restlessness and his reluctance to give up the ring foreshadow the awesome challenge the ring will pose for Frodo.