The scariest characters in the LOTR?

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

There is many scary charachters in the book so it is hard to point out the scariest one, also because you learn more things about some of them as the book progress.

Personally I found the Nazgul very scary when we only knew them as black ridders that constantly showed up behind Frodo and Sam. . .they really creeped me out.

Another charachter I found scary was Old man willow. . . you could do nothing against him, if you tried to hurt him he would crush your friends and if you did not then he probably would anyway.

[Volo]

Originally Posted by Rune Son of Bjarne

Another charachter I found scary was Old man willow. . . you could do nothing against him, if you tried to hurt him he would crush your friends and if you did not then he probably would anyway.

That sure is one candidate.

[The Might]

I'd say Sauron and Gandalf.
As Gandalf says in "The White Rider" chapter I believe, he is dangerous in his own way, and nothing in ME is as dangerous as he is, unless you would stand before Sauron himself.
He isn't scary because he chooses not to be, but he could potentially be.
So from those ho do choose to be scary, I'd nominate the Nazgul.

[Aganzir]

I agree with Rune about the Nazgul. Although they were scary and real enemies, they were an actual threat only until Bruinen. They were much scarier with living horses than with beasts, living or undead. Horses are living creatures, with a will of their own, and one should be able to predict their behaviour at least a little bit. Thus, it makes me wonder how corrupted those poor animals must have been to carry the Black Riders. I even feel a little pity for them though I am no animal lover. The same cannot be said about the fell beasts. They are just beasts born to serve Sauron, unlike the horses we know. This makes them a little less scary creatures than horses, and it affects also to the Nazgul. They can be ever present without actually being seen. They don't have to be close to keep watch. And in my opinion, the closer they are, the scarier they are.

The most terrible moments I've ever had with Tolkien were the ones with the Balrog. Maybe it's understandable, since I was 11 when I read the Lotr for the first time, and it was the only time I was truly afraid of the Balrog. The movies hadn't come out yet, so I created a very own conception of the Balrog, and I must confess that my balrog has always been much scarier than the one shown us in the movies.

Sauron was scarier in The Silmarillion. In those days he was nothing but a servant, he took risks and fought himself. Now that he's the one commanding armies from his tower, he doesn't seem so strong anymore. Really, I can't imagine he'd win an Elven lord in a song contest anymore. Not without the help of a bunch of Orcs.

Was this thread about the number of nightmares, the scariest characters would be the Nazgul. I've happened to have several nightmares about the Ringwraiths living in our cellar and attacking me when I have nothing better than a flick knife to defend myself with. By now, I have managed to kill already three of them. Still six (or five) to go, but I beat Éowyn.

However, one thing I love in Tolkien's books is that there are no creatures that cannot be slain; nothing that is evil is invincible. They cannot conquer for ever.

[Gil-Galad]

Gothmog has potential

is he a man? is he an orc? you don't know and that lack of knowledge can get you in the end

when i first read it i thought he was a demon, like the balrog, that serves sauron.

[Elmo]

Whoever gave me a bad blank rep for saying Eru was scary... deary me
I only lost five points so it was obviously a newbie but anyway...{shakes head}

He destroyed a whole civilisation!

[The 1,000 Reader]

Originally Posted by hewhoarisesinmight

He destroyed a whole civilisation!

That civilization he destroyed was going to destroy a civilization.

[Thinlómien]

Originally Posted by Aganzir

Really, I can't imagine he'd win an Elven lord in a song contest anymore. Not without the help of a bunch of Orcs.

I hope not!

More seriously, I think neeker-breekers are surely really horrible and possibly even scariest. Even the thought of them makes me shudder.

And in the Hobbit, Thranduil, his Elves (well maybe except the butler, Galion), the River and the whole Mirkwood are much more scary than say Smaug.

[Liriodendron]

Yes....eactly what were those woodelves doing with the movable fires and feasting, in and out, on and off? Were they luring the starving company into a trap? Were they dumbly oblivious? Or were they simply selfish, cold and uncaring......that whole bit was quite annoying. Weird creepy elves ......

[Volo]

Bill Ferny was actually very scary when I read the book for the first time.