From within the Shire, an unlikely hero rises. Equipped with a golden ring forged by the fires of Mount Doom, charged with an adventurous quest to save Middle-earth, and accompanied by the clumsy but loyal gardener Samwise Gamgee, young hobbit Frodo Baggins assumes the role of bearer of the ring, traveling through various kingdoms of the world in order to destroy an ancient evil force and restore peace to the land. Through the extraordinary and often unpredictable efforts of Frodo and his companions, the Lord of the Rings films reveal many of the essential criteria of an epic, illustrating the tendency of good to prosper in the face of evil. Crucial to their success as an epic, the iconic films depict a quest of great importance. With origins explained in the opening scene of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, the trilogy depicts the continuation of a past conflict, in which "one master ring to control all others" was created by the dark lord Sauron, and re-emerged years later as the cause of Frodo Baggin's journey. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay This backstory is the first epic plot to present itself in films, mimicking the in-depth depiction of past events that is common to the genre , and first presenting the malevolent force to be faced in the expedition. Continuing in this vein, Sauron, as the main antagonist and root of Frodo's mission, exemplifies the good versus evil element essential to an epic quest. Ruler of the flame-shrouded lands of Mordor, occupied by horrible orcs, Sauron stands in stark contrast to the benevolent and gentle Frodo, a humble hobbit who was chosen by the Council of Elrond to defend Middle-earth from corruption. Not only is this aspect of the quest essential in that it depicts conflicting forces of morality and villainy, but it also shows the great importance of Frodo's mission. By pushing the creature Gollum and the One Ring into the flames of Mount Doom, Frodo ends a war that would most likely have resulted in the deaths of his friends and allowed Sauron to take control of Middle-earth, proving the extreme importance of his mandate. task and displaying the eternal triumph of good over evil. Frodo's adventure, featuring a long story, moral individuals battling a malevolent force, and an overarching task, perfectly fulfills the criteria for an epic quest. Yet, alongside Frodo, characters such as Aragorn, Legolas, and Samwise stand as important advocates of good throughout the trilogy; each individual, in their actions and attributes, represents qualities essential to an epic hero. Frodo and Samwise, two virtuous hobbits, Legolas, a wise elf, and Aragorn, a brave human, all display the values ​​of their society through their efforts, a popular aspect of epic heroes. As the only individual in the Council of Elrond capable of wearing the One Ring without suffering corruption, Frodo exemplifies the goodness of the hobbit species and also reiterates the epic quality of good versus evil because he is a pure individual. This idea also presents itself in the actions of Aragorn, who represents the leadership qualities possessed by humanity as he guides Frodo and his friends away from the Nazgûl, servants of Sauron. Additionally, each of these characters is known for performing extraordinary feats in order to uphold goodness, another essential quality of an epic hero. During the latest film, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Samwise attempts to help Frodo complete his journey to Mt..