1. Arwen giving her place on the ship to Frodo [LOTR – ROTK]
Arwen giving up her place on the ship to Frodo made quite an impression on readers everywhere. The chance to leave his pains behind by going into the West and spending the remaining years of his life in peace and tranquillity was a very noble and generous gift from Arwen. One could say that she wasn’t going to use it anyway, but to absolutely cast away her chance of leaving the pain of Middle-earth behind is still like shutting the door on hope. Her life after marrying Aragorn, as it is so bleakly depicted in the movie version of ‘The Two Towers’ by Elrond, is too long and she suffers the loss of him she stayed for. One can imagine that during the years of despair between Aragorn’s death and her own passing in Lothlórien she often thought of that place on the last ship to Valinor…
2. Frodo’s Gift to Middle-earth, by taking the Ring to be destroyed [LOTR – ROTK]
He really was the only person who could have done it. The fact that he was willing to risk his life to save not only his home but the entire world is just awesomely mind-bending.
3. Ilúvatar’s gift to Men [S]
The Gift of Freedom spiced up with the gift of Death, that’s how someone can perceive the special gift of Ilúvatar to the Second Kindred. Men were free from the bindings of the Music of the Ainur, free to determine their own fate. But the gift came with a mandatory death. Melkor made it dark and scary, but it was really a gift that even the Mightiest would envy in time, because in death Men would get a release from the sorrows of Arda.
4. Galadriel’s Gift of three hairs to Gimli [LOTR – FOTR]
A simple gift, and maybe ridiculous….but Galadriel granted Gimli’s request without saying “Man, that is a stupid thing to ask for.” And this gift is surely one of the most significant. Galadriel had refused Fëanor just one hair but generously gave Gimli three. The fact that Gimli was a Dwarf and all that had played in history between Dwarves and Elves, and that Gimli was at first so wary of Galadriel were all washed away with her gift. He asked for so little and received so much.
5. Galadriel’s Gift to Sam [LOTR – FOTR]
Galadriel’s gift to Sam is certainly one of the most memorable ones in ‘The Lord of the Rings’. The box he received was quite a small and simple looking gift compared to the others, but the content was invaluable. The marring of the Shire was one of the saddest things that happened during the course of the War of the Ring, but Galadriel foresaw it and through Sam’s gift she helped the Shire to get back some of what it lost.
6. Elves and Dwarves helping to rebuild the City of Gondor [LOTR – ROTK]
The combined efforts of Men, Elves and Dwarves to rebuild the devastated Gondor to a beauty which managed to surpass its former state. This was a gift which showed that not only could they unite against a common enemy, but were willing and capable to continue the trust, generosity and friendship of those who had discovered that many former grievances were petty or unfounded in the peoples that had shown their true colours by standing together against evil which would have destroyed all with no regard as to race, except perhaps to meet out some particularly soul-destroying punishment.
7. The gift from Éomer and Éowyn of the Small Horn to Merry [LOTR – ROTK]
It is probably one of the less known gifts. Those who read about it, though, will agree with us that it is quite lovely. Merry is distressed following the funeral of Théoden, the man he promised would be ‘like a father to him’, if only in fact for a little while. So it is fitting that, after the offer of many gifts, all refused by Merry, Éowyn insists that he accepts an exquisitely and intricately carved horn which was made by Dwarves. The fact that Merry must have felt that he had enough honour being Théoden’s Esquire, and then Éomer and Éowyn insisting on him taking what must have been of some significance in Rohan’s past, as the horn had been brought to the Mark by Eorl the Young, from Scatha’s hoard, shows how loved he was. It was a very touching gift. And among the more unsung ones, as mentioned.
8. Pippin offering service to Denethor [LOTR – ROTK]
“Generous deed should not be checked by cold counsel” Pippin enters the service with a feeling of love for the man who sacrificed himself to save him and Merry. The Hobbit heart is one capable of astonishing loyalty and Pippin’s acceptance of his debt to Boromir and the manner in which he repays him – serving Denethor and then saving Faramir’s life, shows just how far that Hobbit from the Shire had come. It is a mighty gift: to offer a life for a life, service for service, loyalty for loyalty.
9. Túrin’s gift of the sword to Sador [UT]
The idea of a child wanting so badly to give something to his only friend that he’d give away his birthday present, because at least that is his own, is stunning, beautiful and sad in all its crumbling familiarity. Knowing the man that Túrin will grow up to be, this deep-rooted desire to please and to be loved shows how well Tolkien was able to provide his characters with psychological depth.
10. Ilúvatar giving life to the Dwarves [S]
Ilúvatar giving life to the Dwarves was a gift to Aulë. In his desire for companionship, someone who could learn from him, someone he could teach, Aulë crossed the line. But Ilúvatar saw the good intentions of his heart, and decided not only to allow the Dwarves to exist, but to give them life, a soul.
by the Realm of Nienna
