Editing Boromir (section)

== Appearances ==

Boromir is the son of [[Denethor II]] and Lady Finduilas of [[Dol Amroth]]. He has a younger brother [[Faramir]]. A year after Faramir was born their father became the ruling Steward of [[Gondor]], and Boromir became heir apparent, inheriting the Horn of Gondor. When Boromir's mother Finduilas dies, he is only 10.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955}}, Appendix B, "The Tale of Years", "The Third Age", entries from 2976 to 2988</ref>
Denethor always favours Boromir over Faramir; he loves Boromir "too much, perhaps; the more so because they were unlike".<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955}}, book 5, ch. 1 "Minas Tirith"</ref>

In response to prophetic dreams that come to Faramir and later to himself, Boromir claims the quest of riding to [[Rivendell]]. His journey lasts a hundred and eleven days, and he travels through "roads forgotten" to reach Rivendell, though, as he says, "few knew where it lay".<ref name="The Council of Elrond" group=T/> Boromir loses his horse while crossing the Greyflood and travels the rest of the way on foot.<ref name="Farewell to Lorien" group=T/>

=== ''The Fellowship of the Ring'' ===

In ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', Boromir arrives at Rivendell just as the [[Council of Elrond]] is commencing. There he tells of Gondor's attempts to keep the power of [[Mordor]] at bay. He tries to persuade the council to let him take the [[One Ring]] to defend Gondor, but is told that it would corrupt and destroy its user, and alert Sauron to its presence. He accepts this for the moment. He agrees to accompany [[Aragorn]] to Gondor's capital, [[Minas Tirith]], and since their path lies with the [[Company of the Ring|Fellowship]] for the first part of the journey, he pledges to protect the Ring-bearer, [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]].<ref name="The Council of Elrond" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a}}, book 2, ch. 2, "[[The Council of Elrond]]"</ref>

Boromir accompanies the Fellowship south from Rivendell. Before departing, he sounds the Horn of Gondor, saying he "would not go forth like a thief into the night". On the journey south, he questions the wisdom of their leader [[Gandalf]]. On the Fellowship's attempt to pass over the [[Misty Mountains]], he advises that firewood be collected before the attempt to climb Caradhras, saving them from freezing in a blizzard. In the retreat from Caradhras, Boromir proves his strength as he and Aragorn force a way through shoulder-high snowbanks back down the mountain.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a}} book 2, ch. 3, "The Ring Goes South"</ref>

The Fellowship then pass under the mountains through the caverns of [[Moria (Middle-earth)|Moria]] where Gandalf is killed, and [[Aragorn]] becomes their guide.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a}} book 2, ch. 4, "A Journey in the Dark"</ref><ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a}} book 2, ch. 5, "The Bridge of Khazad-Dum"</ref> At the borders of the Elven realm of [[Lothlórien]], Boromir is unnerved by the thought of entering, pleading with Aragorn to find another way "though it led through a hedge of swords"; he cites stories of elvish witchcraft, and the "strange paths" they had already taken which had caused Gandalf's death.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a}} book 2, ch. 6, "Lothlórien"</ref> Once in Lórien, Boromir is greatly disturbed by [[Galadriel]]'s testing of his mind, telling Aragorn "not to be too sure of this lady and her purposes". On parting, Galadriel gives Boromir a golden belt and an Elven-cloak.<ref name="Farewell to Lorien" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a}} book 2, ch. 8, "Farewell to Lórien"</ref>

Boromir had always planned to go to Minas Tirith, and despite the consensus reached at Rivendell that the Ring must be destroyed in Mordor, he urges the Fellowship to accompany him to Minas Tirith before going on to Mordor.<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a}} book 2, ch. 9, "The Great River"</ref> As Frodo ponders his course from [[Parth Galen]], Boromir privately urges him to use the Ring in Gondor's defence, rather than to "throw it away". Finally, he succumbs to the temptation to take the Ring for himself, justifying this by his duty to his people and his belief in his own integrity.<ref name="Breaking of the Fellowship" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954a}} book 2, ch. 10, "The Breaking of the Fellowship"</ref>

{{quote|True-hearted [[Man (Middle-earth)|Men]], they will not be corrupted. We of Minas Tirith have been staunch through long years of trial. We do not desire the power of wizard-lords, only strength to defend ourselves, strength in a just cause. And behold! In our need chance brings to light the Ring of Power. It is a gift, I say; a gift to the foes of Mordor. It is mad not to use it, to use the power of the Enemy against him. The fearless, the ruthless, these alone will achieve victory. What could not a warrior do in this hour, a great leader? What could not Aragorn do? Or if he refuses, why not Boromir? The Ring would give me power of Command. How I would drive the hosts of Mordor, and all men would flock to my banner!<ref name="Breaking of the Fellowship" group=T/>}}

After seeing that Frodo is unconvinced, Boromir half begs, half commands him to at least lend the Ring, and when Frodo still refuses, Boromir leaps to seize it. Frodo vanishes by putting on the Ring and flees, intending to continue the quest alone. Boromir, realizing his betrayal, immediately repents of his actions and weeps. Searching unsuccessfully for Frodo, he tells the Fellowship of Frodo's disappearance, though not of his own misdeeds. The hobbits in a frenzy scatter to look for Frodo.  Aragorn, suspecting Boromir's part in Frodo's flight, orders him to follow and protect [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]]. The Fellowship is attacked by a band of [[Orc (Middle-earth)|orcs]].<ref name="Breaking of the Fellowship" group=T/>

=== ''The Two Towers'' ===

Fighting to defend Merry and Pippin, Boromir is mortally wounded by orc-arrows. In Pippin's words:<ref name="Uruk-hai" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954}}, book 3, ch. 1 "The Uruk-hai"</ref>

{{quote|Then Boromir had come leaping through the trees. He had made them fight.  He slew many of them and the rest fled.  But they had not gone far on the way back when they were attacked again, by a hundred Orcs at least, some of them very large, and they shot a rain of arrows: always at Boromir. Boromir had blown his great horn till the woods rang, and at first the Orcs had been dismayed and had drawn back; but when no answer but the echoes came, they had attacked more fiercely than ever.  Pippin did not remember much more. His last memory was of Boromir leaning against a tree, plucking out an arrow; then darkness fell suddenly.<ref name="Uruk-hai" group=T/>}}

Blasts from Boromir's horn alert Aragorn, but he comes too late to prevent the hobbits' capture. As Boromir lies dying, he remorsefully confesses to attempting to take the Ring from Frodo. He urges Aragorn to save Minas Tirith, as he himself has failed. Aragorn reassures him that he has not failed, that indeed "few have gained such a victory". Aragorn, [[Gimli (Middle-earth)|Gimli]], and [[Legolas]] place Boromir's body in one of their Elven boats, with his sword, belt, cloak, broken horn, and the weapons of his slain foes about him. They set the boat adrift in the river toward the Falls of Rauros, singing the "Lament of the Winds" as his funeral song.<ref name="Departure of Boromir" group="T">{{harvnb|Tolkien|1954}}, book 3, ch. 1 "The Departure of Boromir"</ref>

Three days later, Faramir, to his and their father's great grief, see the boat bearing his dead brother floating down the River.<ref name="Window on the West" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1955}}, book 4, ch. 5 "The Window on the West"</ref>