Ainur
Angelic spirits who came to Eä (the Creation or the "Universe that is") to fullfil the Ainulindale (the Great music which expresses the destiny of Eä and the creatures within it), Although there are some which have entered Eä to hinder the Great Music.

Dragons
Evil creatures of northern ME, huge, scale-covered, long-lived, greedy for treasure and full of malice. They can bewilder anyone who looked into their eyes and their words are cunning and seductive.

Dwarves
One of the speaking races of the Middle-Earth. Created by Aulë because of his impatience to wait for the Children of Iluvatar, they are not counted among the Children though their existence is confirmed by Iluvatar. After their creation, the Seven Fathers slept in seven different locations until the elves woke up. From them came the seven different groups of dwarves, each one with his own king and ancestral home. For example, Durin's Folk (named after their king, Durin) dwelt in Khazad-dum until the late TA. Dwarves are short, stocky, resistant to fire and hardy. They are also proud, tough, resistant to evil but are quick to anger and greed. As Children of Aulë, they are attracted to the earthly substances and crafts such that they are excellent miners and craftsmen of stone, metal or jewels. They are mortal but lives for about 250 years.

Eagles
Greatest and noblest of birds, created by Manwë and Yavanna before the awakening of the Children of Iluvatar, to become the lord of the kelvar (fauna). They are charged with the aiding of the Free People of Arda against the evil of Morgoth and Sauron. They are large enough to carry a man and can speak the languages of men and elves. They live for a very long time and are probably immortal.

Elves
The Firstborn of the Children of Iluvatar. They are divided into two groups: the Eldar (Vanyar, Noldor and Teleri), who undertook the Great Journey to Aman and the Avari, who refused the Summons and became the Silvan Elves. Though they flourished during the First Age, their powers waned during the Second and Third Age until almost all elves have left Middle-Earth in the Fourth Age. The elves are the fairest of all earthly creatures and could not die or age but they could be slain or die from grief. They are, by nature, good and abhor all work of evil but they could be seduced by evil that seems to be good.

Ents
Tree-herds, probably trees inhabited by spirits summoned by the thought of Yavanna to be guardians of the olvar (flora) until the Dominion of Men. An Ent looks like a 14 feet cross between a tree and a man. They do not die naturally and though their skin is tough, they could be burned. They are slow to think and to act but once aroused, they possess incredible strength.

Great Spiders
Large, evil creatures originally found in Nan Dungortheb in Beleriand. They came about when Ungoliant bred with the spiders in that area which had undoubtedly increased their power and malice.

Hobbits
One of the speaking races of Middle-Earth, closely related to Men. Although existing even during the FA, they lived in the Vales of Anduin and later in Eriador in relative obscurity until the later part of TA. They are divided into three groups: the Stoors, the Fallohides and the Harfoots. They are shorter than the dwarves and are prone to being fat but they are nimble and deft in their movements. Although provincial and comfort-loving, they can be courageous, skillful and undaunted by great terrors when needed to be. They lived for about 100 years with 33 being the age of adulthood.

Maiar
Those of the lesser Ainur who accompanied the Valar to Eä, although some, like Sauron and the Balrogs, are seduced by Melkor to serve him. The Istari (wizards) are also among the Maiar.

Men
The younger of the two Children of Iluvatar. When they woke up they are first befriended by the Avari but Melkor also approached them and eventually his Shadow fell into them. Men are divided into many different races, among them are the Edain, elf-friends from whom the Dunedain came from; the Rohirrim, the horse-lords of Rohan; the Men of Vale and Anduin and many more. Though some races, like the ones mentioned, have risen up from the Shadow, many others have remained in the service of the Shadow. Men, unlike the elves, are subject to aging and disease and therefore can easily die. Yet, even if they're in many ways inferior to elves, the history of the Arda (world) is that of the rise of Men since they are outside the fate of the World. In the end, they may approach Iluvatar and dwell with him.

Orcs
Evil race of the Middle-Earth. They are bred by Melkor early in the FA. Some speculate that they are from elves Melkor captured and then corrupted in his dungeons while some think that they are from Men who fell into Melkor's Shadow. They appeared throughout the ages and are the most numerous of Melkor's, Sauron's and Saruman's servants. Orcs are fierce warriors and does not die naturally. Although varying from tribe to tribe, they are generally short, squat, bow-legged with long arms, dark faces, squinty eyes and long fangs (But there can be others who are bred for specific functions; an example are the larger Uruk-hais). They hate all things of beauty and love to kill and destroy. They like blood and raw flesh, whether it is from men, horses or even their own kind.

Valar
The 14 greatest (excluding Melkor) of the Ainur with Manwë and Varda as the leaders. The others are Ulmo, Aulë, Yavanna, Mandos, Oromë, Nienna, Lórien, Tulkas, Estë, Vairë, Vána and Nessa.