What does the ring in Lord of the Rings do?

Answer 1

It depends on who you are. the more power you have on your own, the more power it will give to you. Sauron uses it to control middle earth, and anyone else powerful enough, like Gandalf, would be able to do the same. For a normal person, it depends on how much you use it. It will turn you invisible, make you live longer, and if you use it a lot it will bascically take over your mind, like gollum where the ring became his "precious." If Gandalf had had the ring he would try to use its power for good but it would take him over and then he would take over middle earth.

Answer 2

The One Ring amplifies the powers of the wearer. Originally it was meant as a focus for Sauron to concentrate his mind control powers, paired with the fact that the 19 lesser rings linked to it would weaken the wearer's power to resist.

In the hands of a mortal, such as a man, or Hobbit, it seeks to preserve what they hold dearest, their lives. It will make them invisible, and prolong their lifespan.

However the ring's powers are not for their benefit. It is a part of Sauron and works for him - it makes people safe by making them invisible, but makes it so Sauron's servants, the Nazgul, can track them down. It lies to the wearer, promising them power, the power to do good if the wearer is so inclined. But it is all a trick to reunite itself with Sauron.

Answer 3

Only the 'One ring' was featured in The Hobbit, but in all there were 20

The one ring grants the wearer with invisibility and whilst wearing they see the 'limbo' world, where the people who are neither living or dead roam. e.g. This is where the nazgul live

9 were given to the kings of Arda. The rings corrupted them, and turned them into ring wraiths or the nazgul. The most famous nazgul being the Witch King of Angmar

7 rings were given to the Dwarfs. 4 were destroyed by Dragons, the other three had been recaptured by Sauron. These rings increased the avarice of the dwarfs; Avarice is basically greed. The dwarfs became greedy and hoarded treasures

3 were given to the Elves, Sauron couldn't control the elves with the rings. One rings was the ring of fire, the other the ring of air and the other the ring of water.

All three are intact and worn by elrond, Galadriel and Gandalf. (Gandalf receives it from an elf)

The one ring was Sauron's personal ring, that he could control or influence the wearers of the other 19. It contains his life force, similar to a horcrux in Harry Potter.

The one ring grants the wearer with invisibility and whilst wearing they see the 'limbo' world, where the people who are neither living or dead roam. e.g. This is where the nazgul live

Answer 4

In The Hobbit, the ring symbolizes luck and good fortune.

In Lord of the Rings, however, it symbolizes pure evil. It also symbolizes a burden that someone (Frodo) must be rid of.