Summary
- Aragorn is called Strider due to his Ranger skills and ability to move around quickly.
- Aragorn was a Ranger of the North before leading the Fellowship on their journey.
- Aragorn has multiple nicknames, including Longshanks, showing his influence and mystery.
Aragorn is one of the most important characters in the Lord of the Rings franchise due to his impact on the story, which leads to him getting plenty of screen time within Peter Jackson's iconic trilogy. He's a character who brings intensity, kindness, and warmth, which helps to make him an ultimate hero who fans know and remember long after the movie is over.
However, even though all Lord of the Rings fans will be familiar with Aragorn's name, he does get called numerous other names throughout the trilogy. One of those is Strider, which he gets called plenty of times. This can lead to some viewers being confused because it's not the name they're used to hearing, but there is a reason for the nickname.
Why Is He Called Strider
Strider is ultimately a nickname that Aragorn was given, which is why several people opt to call him that rather than his true name. The nickname was created by the people of the Shire and Bree, which is why Samwise Gamgee often slips into calling him that during Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. However, in the novels, it's clear that Aragorn doesn't love that nickname and takes it as a negative for a while. However, he's given the nickname because of his work as a Ranger and his ability to get around places quickly and easily on foot.
The shorter people of Bree are impressed by that ability, which Aragorn showcases throughout the Lord of the Rings, where he consistently walks and uses that skill. The nickname also helps him at times when he's working as a Ranger because it allows Aragorn to conceal his true identity and hide in the shadows, which is exactly what he does when he first meets Frodo Baggins and the other Hobbits.
When Was Aragorn A Ranger?
Long before he led the Fellowship around Middle Earth, Aragorn was a Ranger of the North, which allowed him to develop his skills and understand the world that he could travel. The Shire was an area that often felt the protection of the Rangers and is ultimately one of the reasons why Aragorn has such an infinity towards Frodo and the other Hobbits. He takes particular care of Pippin and Merry throughout the Lord of the Rings, and his history with the Hobbits as a Ranger certainly plays a part in that.
He's also part of many bigger battles than just protecting areas like the Shire and Bree, which is how he ends up connected to Arwen, as he gets to meet Elrond and learn from him in a mentorship role. Aragorn also meets Gandalf the Grey during this period of his life, and it is the wizard who encourages Aragorn to protect the Shite from afar, which helps the Hobbits survive many bigger issues and showcases the love that Gandalf has for the area dating back to his friendship with Bilbo Baggins. It proves that the characters are all connected long before the Fellowship was created, which is why subtle hints of respect are shown right from the start when it comes to Aragorn.
What Other Nicknames Does Aragorn Have?
Strider is the nickname people hear most throughout the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but it's not the only one he's given. Some of his others don't make it from the novel to the movies, but Lord of the Rings fans are certainly familiar with him being called Longshanks. It's another name that originates in Bree and is related to his height and long stride, showcasing how some names can be created simply.
At various points throughout the story, he's also called Isildur's Heir, Estel, and Elessar, as different characters know him for separate reasons and create their own names based on those. While he's not the only character within the franchise to be given a nickname, the fact that Aragorn has so many is something that benefits his character, which is constantly shrouded in mystery before he's crowned the King by the people of Gondor when his identity is impossible to be kept hidden. Having multiple names adds a layer of mystery and intrigue because even the people within Middle Earth aren't sure what to make of him, and that makes his character gripping.
Ultimately, Aragorn's several nicknames only prove his influence around Middle Earth and add to the questions that surround his character from the star of Lord of the Rings. He's someone who has built a clear reputation for himself as someone not to be messed with due to his incredible sword-fighting ability, and word travels fast about him whenever he's around. However, it doesn't matter how many nicknames he's handed within the Lord of the Rings trilogy, as Aragorn is the one that everybody remembers because of how excellent the character is.
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