Gimli (Middle-earth)

In J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Gimli is a Dwarf of Durin's Folk who is chosen to accompany Frodo Baggins as a member of the Fellowship of the Ring on the quest to destroy the One Ring. An honourable and tough warrior favouring the axe as his weapon with the occasional flair for poetics, he has become an archetype for dwarves in contemporary fantasy settings.

In the book

Gimli is the son of Glóin, one of the former companions of Bilbo Baggins. He is by far remote a descendant of Durin the Deathless, father of the Dwarven people Gimli belongs to, but is not a member of the royal line. Gimli is introduced at the council of Elrond, which he attends together with his father to bring news of his home, Erebor. Gimli is chosen by Elrond as one of Frodo's companions.

Related Topics:
Glóin - Bilbo Baggins - Durin - Elrond - Erebor

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Within the Fellowship, Gimli initially clashes with Legolas, because of various reasons: Elves and Dwarves are still feuding over the ancient destruction of Doriath, and more recently Thranduil, Legolas' father, once imprisoned Gimli's father Glóin (as described in The Hobbit). Despite this, Gimli and Legolas slowly become friends, as they find mutual respect for each other.

Related Topics:
Legolas - Doriath - Thranduil - The Hobbit

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As the Fellowship is forced to enter the desolate mines of Moria Gimli is at first enthusiastic, hoping to find a colony of his people there. This hope turns to naught however, as Moria is found to be infested with Orcs, and the Fellowship has to fight its way out. After Gandalf the Wizard falls into darkness struggling with a Balrog, the Fellowship finally escapes the mines. It is then that Gimli must enter the forest of Lothlórien, populated by Elves which are not friendly to Dwarves. Gimli is told he alone must be blindfolded if he is to enter the forest, and his refusal nearly leads to a violent situation, which is only defused when Aragorn proposes the entire Fellowship is blindfolded.

Related Topics:
Moria - Orc - Gandalf - Balrog - Lothlórien - Aragorn

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Gimli's opinion of Elves drastically changes when he meets Galadriel, Lady of Lothlórien: her beauty, kindness, and understanding impresses Gimli so much that, when given the opportunity to ask for whatever he wishes, asks not treasures or magical items, but rather one of Galadriel's silver-gold hairs, which he will treasure forever. An interesting historical note is that, according to "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn" in Unfinished Tales, this same request was made, thousands of years previously, by Fëanor, greatest of the Ñoldorin Elves (whose creation of the Silmarils may have been inspired by that same silver-gold hair). Galadriel refused Fëanor's request, but she grants Gimli's, perhaps because of his humility.

Related Topics:
Galadriel - Celeborn - Unfinished Tales - Fëanor - Ñoldorin Elves - Silmaril

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Gimli's love and respect for Galadriel is further demonstrated at his first encounter with Éomer of Rohan. Éomer speaks ill of the name Galadriel, having been told false rumours about her. Gimli responds to this with overtly harsh words, leading to a hostile situation that again had to be defused by Aragorn.

Related Topics:
Galadriel - Éomer - Rohan

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By the end of the first volume, his unlikely friendship with the Elf Legolas is already beginning. In the second (The Two Towers), Gimli proves his valour in combat time and time again. In the Battle of the Hornburg, he and Legolas engage in Orc-slaying contests (Gimli wins by one, but the real result is mutual respect). Later, Gimli's vivid description of the Glittering Caves of Aglarond moves the Elf to promise to come back and visit when the War is over. (They eventually do fulfil this promise, with Gimli also consenting to visit Fangorn Forest.) Their friendship is a model for overcoming prejudice; they even ride together on the same horse.

Related Topics:
Legolas - The Two Towers - Battle of the Hornburg - Aglarond - War - Fangorn Forest

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After the War, Gimli would lead a large number of Durin's folk south to establish a new Dwarf kingdom at Aglarond, and he became the first Lord of the Glittering Caves. The Dwarves of the Glittering Caves, led by their Lord Gimli, would repair much of the physical damage incurring during the War of the Ring. Most notably, they rebuilt the Great Gate of Minas Tirith with a new one made of mithril and steel, as well as improving upon the existing layout of the entire city.

Related Topics:
Durin's folk - War of the Ring - Minas Tirith - Mithril

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Gimli was 139 years old (born in 2879 of the Third Age) when the Fellowship of the Ring set out from Rivendell, making him 52 years older than Aragorn. His date of death is not known, and according to the Red Book of Westmarch, some say that he travelled with Legolas into the West (perhaps granted permission at the request of Galadriel), the first Dwarf to visit the Undying Lands.

Related Topics:
Rivendell - Aragorn - Red Book of Westmarch - Undying Lands

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