Every true Potterhead has had deep self reflections on which Hogwarts House they would belong to. Many have sought out online quizzes on fan sites to see whether they truly have the chivalry of a Gryffindor, loyalty of a Hufflepuff, wit of a Ravenclaw, or the ambition of a Slytherin.
But what happens when a Potterhead’s enthusiasm spills over into other fantasy realms? What would happen if the Sorting Hat found its way into the Council of Elrond in The Lord of the Rings?
Here we applied the values of each Hogwarts House to the nine tasked with destroying the greatest source of power Middle Earth had ever seen. It is important to note that these decisions were based off of the characters actions through the entire trilogy and not just the first movie (book), The Fellowship of the Ring.
“It is our choices, Harry, that show us who we truly are, far more than our abilities.“
—Albus Dumbledore
Aragorn:
The easiest to sort has to be Aragorn. His daring in battle and commitment to fighting the good fight throws away all possibilities but Gryffindor. While I have heard arguments for him to be placed in Slytherin, due to his royal bloodline and Slytherins propensity to favor the pure blooded, I have to dismissed this for the simple fact that Aragorn was reluctant to retake his rightful place as King until he was sure it was right to do so.
Gandalf:
Slytherin! (Wait what?!) You read that right. Slytherin for days. It is important to remember that not all Slytherins are evil. The true traits of a Slytherin are cunning, ambition, resourcefulness and above all the possession of some ridiculously strong raw power. Slytherins will go to any length to achieve their goals. Things like, I don’t know, convincing a hobbit to light a beacon while standing on it (against the Stewards wishes).
Legolas:
One of the hardest to sort was Legolas. He shows the courage of a Gryffindor, the loyalty of a Hufflepuff, the wisdom of a Ravenclaw and a magic bloodline sought after by Slytherin. While the bloodline alone isn’t enough to go to Slytherin. He also favors the bow, a powerful weapon that does some serious damage while keeping you away from the main combat. This is a characteristic of a Slytherin who favors power without the risk. BUT WAIT! What about that kick ass fight scene in The Two Towers where he shield surfs through the thickest fighting at Helm’s Deep while picking off the Uruk-hai?! That was totally a Gryffindor move.
All of these things are good and well but at the end of the day he truly embodies the Ravenclaw sigil. The Eagle. He is observant, thoughtful and incredibly intelligent. Final answer. Ravenclaw.
Gimli:
Hufflepuff no doubt. Fairplay and loyalty are the cornerstones to this house. Gimli embodies both of these through his friendship with Legolas and their never ending game of who can slaughter more orcs.
Boromir:
Prepare to gasp. Gryffindor. Now hear me out. Sure he tried to take the ring from Frodo, but even Gryffindors have the potential to be corrupted by powerful magical objects.(Do I need to mention how Harry, Ron and Hermione turned into giant d@cks when they came in contact with the Horcruxes?) What you saw was a man that had honor marbled throughout his entire being but had a single weak moment. If Legolas is an eagle, Boromir is the Lion. He fought to the death to defend Merry and Pippin, ultimately giving his life for those in need. A truly courageous and ultimately Gryffindor-esk act.
Meriadoc Brandybuck (Merry):
While most would sort this happy go lucky Hobbit in Hufflepuff for his loyalty to his friends, this judgement doesn’t do Merry justice. Ravenclaw is the true home for this miniature adventurer. Being perceptive and intelligent are of the utmost importance to a Ravenclaw. Merry is the one that gets Frodo on the right path for solving the riddle to enter the Mines of Moria. A riddle in elvish that both the already established Ravenclaw elf Legolas and wise wizard Gandalf overlooked. It was also Merry that was always pouring over maps yearning to learn as much as he could about the world outside the Shire.
Peregrin Took (Pippin):
Another fun sized adventurer that many would place in Hufflepuff for his loyalty to his friends. Once again, this doesn’t give him justice. One of Hufflepuffs greatest virtues is honesty. Pippin, and Merry, first join Frodo and Sam while on the run from a farmer after piliging his harvest. This not so honest thievery continues when he takes the palantir from Gandalf through which he accidently becomes the only character to actually talk to Sauron. These actions disqualify him from Hufflepuff, leaving only one reasonable option. Pippin, you’re a Slytherin. Slytherins place high value on resourcefulness. Something Pippin has an abundance of. While captured by the Uruk-hai, he leaves his brooch behind as a signal to Aragon to follow. Following that he frees himself from his bonds with a dead orcs sword. These are just a few times he used his cunning to get out of sticky situations.
Samwise Gamgee:
While I have heard many very reasonable arguments for Gryffindor, Sam is the embodiment of a true Hufflepuff. Every heroic moment Sam has throughout the adventure is out of a fierce loyalty to Frodo. Never once did he falter in his friendship, even following Frodo after he tried to abandon him (twice).
Frodo Baggins:
Slytherin. If Frodo ever appeared to be a Gryffindor, it was only as a guise for him to get what he wanted. Throughout the adventure, Frodo continually makes incredibly selfish decisions, like trying to leave the fellowship behind following the battle at the end of The Fellowship of the Ring. Even when he gets to Mount Doom, he fails to complete his task and chooses to keep the ring for himself. But if one weak moment wasn’t enough to keep Boromir out of Gryffindor, why is it enough to make Frodo a Slytherin? Boromir sought to take the ring and use it to defeat evil. Frodo had no intention of using it for good, or evil. He wanted it solely because it was powerful, a true Slytherin move.