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| Frodo Baggins |
| Also called: Master Frodo, Ringbearer Age: (during the War of the Ring) 50-51 Race: Hobbit (of Hobbiton) Parents: Drogo Baggins and Primula Brandybuck Played by: Elijah Wood |
| Frodo is the adopted heir of Bilbo Baggins, and hence, becomes the next Ringbearer when the One Ring is passed onto him. When Gandalf becomes aware of the Ring�s power, he advises Frodo to leave the Shire as soon as possible. Frodo leaves, hiding behind a story that he plans to move to Buckland. With Pippin and Sam, Frodo sets out on the first leg of his journey, feeling safe since he is still within the Shire. But it soon becomes apparent, that even the Shire is no longer a safe place for the Ringbearer. The hobbit threesome is pursued by �Black Riders� � the Nazg�l. When he finally reaches Buckland, Frodo discovers the �conspiracy� against him, and agrees to let Merry, Pippin and Sam join him on his journey to Rivendell. This journey takes them through the Old Forest, to the House of Tom Bombadil, and over the Barrow-downs, until they reach the village Bree, and The Prancing Pony Inn. It is here that Frodo meets �Strider�, who is really Aragorn. Aragorn becomes the hobbits� guide to Rivendell. Being led by Aragorn, Frodo and the other hobbits come to Weathertop, where they are attacked by the Nazg�l. Frodo is stabbed by a �Morgul Blade�, and thus, the hobbits and Aragorn must get to Rivendell as soon as possible. They are helped by an elf named Glorfindel. Frodo makes it to Rivendell just in time, and Elrond is able to treat his wound. Frodo is present at the Council of Elrond, and volunteers to take the Ring to Mordor. The Fellowship to go with him is chosen, at they set out (okay, a couple of months later). Eventually, Frodo decides to leave the Fellowship and go to Mordor alone (this happens after the loss of Gandalf in Moria, a visit to the Galadhrim [elves of Lorien] and a confrontation with Boromir). Sam joins him, and the two of them travel to Mordor together. Sm�agol (Gollum) becomes their guide, but he betrays them to the spider creature Shelob. After reviving from his spider sting, Frodo, along with Sam, makes his way to Mount Doom to destroy the Ring. But he finds that he cannot, and it is up to Gollum (of all people!) to finish the job. Frodo and Sam are honoured as the heroes of Middle-Earth. When they return to the Shire and find it under Sharky�s rule, Frodo plays little part in the Battle, forever weary from his burden. On each anniversary of his injuries (the stabbing at Weathertop, the sting from Shelob and the destruction of the Ring), Frodo lies in pain. He finds peace eventually when he leaves for the Grey Havens and passes into the West, along with Bilbo, Gandalf, Elrond and Galadriel. |
| Samwise Gamgee |
| Also called: Sam, Master Samwise Age: (during the War of the Ring) 38-39 (according to Gamgee Family Tree) or 35-36 (according to the Tale of Years) Race: Hobbit (of Hobbiton) Parents: Hamfast Gamgee and Bell Goodchild Played by: Sean Astin |
| Sam is the gardener and faithful companion of Frodo, who is first chosen to join Frodo on his quest. Sam agrees to go, though a lot of this decision is based on his desire to see elves. Because of his close bond to Frodo, it is Sam who is the main �conspirator�, a spy for Merry, Pippin and Fatty. Sam remains the loyal and reliable companion to Frodo, being the only member of the Fellowship who goes with Frodo all the way to Mordor. The arrival of Sm�agol causes much tension between the two hobbits. When they are ultimately betrayed by Sm�agol to Shelob, and Frodo is stung (presumed by Sam to be dead), Sam takes on the burden of the Ring. He changes his mind at the last moment, deciding to forsake the quest, and return to Frodo, but he then learns that Frodo is not dead and has been taken to the tower of Cirith Ungol. Sam rescues Frodo from the tower and they finish the journey to Mount Doom together. When they at last return to the Shire, and find it under Saruman�s rule (a vision which Sam saw in the Mirror of Galadriel), Sam also plays a fairly major part in the Battle of Bywater. He marries his sweetheart, Rose Cotton and they move into Bag-End with Frodo. Frodo names Sam his heir when he leaves for the West, leaving him Bag-End and all of his riches. Later, Sam is elected Mayor of Hobbiton, and he has thirteen children with Rosie. Eventually, as the last of the Ringbearers, Sam journeys to the Grey Havens and passes into the West. |
| Meriadoc Brandybuck |
| Also called: Merry, Master Holbytlan, Master Perian, Master Holdwine, Meriadoc the Magnificent, Master of Buckland Age: (during the War of the Ring) 36-37 Race: Hobbit (of Buckland) Parents: Saradoc Brandybuck and Esmeralda Took Played by: Dominic Monaghan |
| Merry is, along with Pippin, the comic relief of the story. He starts out almost as immature and foolish as his younger cousin � which technically makes Merry worse than Pippin in this aspect, since, at the age of 36, Merry has already �come of age�. Merry seems to be most of the Brains in the Merry-Pippin unit (this �unit� is a tight friendship, and Merry and Pippin are almost as tightly bonded as Frodo and Sam). He is certainly the brains behind the �conspiracy� against Frodo. It is Merry who leads Frodo, Pippin and Sam through the Old Forest, where, he, along with Pippin, is trapped inside Old Man Willow, and has to be rescued by Tom Bombadil. Like Pippin, Merry becomes a member of the Fellowship against Elrond�s wishes, though Gandalf almost insists that they both come along. Also with Pippin, Merry is captured by the Uruk-hai, but thanks to Pippin, they are both able to escape. Merry (because he studied the maps in Rivendell, while Pippin engaged in too much sex and drugs and rock �n� roll) is able to �locate� where he and Pippin are � Fangorn (it is here that they meet Treebeard, and thus, become involved in the �Entmoot� assault on Isengard.) After Pippin looks into the palantir, Merry and Pippin are split up. While Pippin goes with Gandalf to Minas Tirith, Merry becomes an esquire of Th�oden, King of the Rohirrim. He is �befriended� by a rider named Dernhelm, who bears him to The Battle of the Pelannor Fields. Dernhelm is there revealed as �owyn, sister of Th�oden�s heir �omer. Together, Merry and �owyn avenge Th�oden�s death by destroying the Witch King (leader of the Nazg�l). Merry does not take part in the battle at the Black Gates of Mordor, since he is still recovering from the attack against the Witch King. Just as Pippin becomes a Knight of Gondor, Merry becomes a Knight of Rohan and dear friend to �owyn. Upon their return to the Shire, the hobbits find it not how they left it. Merry and Pippin lead the attack against �Sharkey�s� men, and free the Shire. For this, Merry is honoured in the Shire. He becomes the Master of Buckland (and in later editions of �The Lord of the Rings�, he marries Estella Bolger, Fredegar's sister). |
| Bilbo Baggins |
| Also called: Ring-finder, Mad Baggins Age: (during the War of the Ring) 128-129 Race: Hobbit (of Hobbiton) Parents: Bungo Baggins and Belladonna Took Played by: Ian Holm |
| Bilbo was the �Ring-finder� and first of the hobbit Ring-bearers. He discovered the Ring while on his journey to the Lonely Mountain, with Gandalf and several dwarves (including Gimli�s father, Gl�in). The Ring had left its former bearer, Gollum, and by using it, Bilbo is able to escape from Gollum. When he returns to the Shire, Bilbo lives for many years (around 60, to be exact), seemingly unchanged, due to the power of the Ring. Eventually, he grows tired of the Shire, and decides to leave. Upon the advice of Gandalf, he leaves the Ring to Frodo, but not before having one last bit of fun. Using the Ring, Bilbo shocks all of his relatives at his 111th birthday party by disappearing before their very eyes. Bilbo has some difficulty giving up the Ring, and is in fact, the first bearer to ever give it away freely (Sauron had it cut from his hand, Isildur was slain when the Ring slipped from his finger, and Gollum lost it in his cave). Bilbo finally settles down in Rivendell, where he spends his days eating, writing and reciting poetry and attempting to finish his book about his journeys. Eventually, he leaves the task of finishing the book to Frodo (when Frodo and his companions return after destroying the Ring). Bilbo lives to be 131, surpassing the Old Took by a year, and hence becoming the oldest Hobbit to ever live. But on his 131st birthday, Bilbo leaves for the Grey Havens, and so passes to the Undying Lands in the West. |
| Other Hobbits of Importance |
| Hamfast �Gaffer� Gamgee: Sam�s father. The Gaffer was approached by one of the Nazg�l (Black Rider), who demanded to know where �Baggins� could be found. Farmer Maggot: Farmer who lives on the opposite side of the Brandywine River to Buckland. Maggot had a reputation for punishing trespassers (especially young Bradybuck�s who try to steal his mushrooms), and keeps several ferocious dogs. He was also approached by a Nazg�l, who he directed to Hobbiton. Farmer Maggot aids Frodo, Sam and Pippin, by taking them to the Brandywine Ferry, safely hidden in his cart. Fredegar �Fatty� Bolger: Part of the �conspiracy� against Frodo, Fatty does not leave with Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin. Fatty instead, stays at Crickhollow, pretending that Frodo is still living there. After Lotho Sackville-Baggins becomes the Chief of the Shire, Fatty is locked up for leading a band of rebels. He is freed after the Battle of Bywater, �Fatty no longer�. Rose Cotton: Rose is the daughter of Farmer Cotton, a friend of Sam�s family. She eventually marries Sam, and together they have 13 children. Her family gained fame and fortune after the Battle of Bywater (1419 by Shire calenders) due to the involvement of her father and brothers. Lobelia Sackville-Baggins: Wife of Otho Sackville-Baggins, who would�ve been heir to Bilbo if not for the adoption of Frodo. Originally, she is not a very nice hobbitess, with a great dislike for both Frodo and Bilbo, but she becomes a much nicer person, and gains the respect of many after the Battle of Bywater (and after hearing about the murder of her son). Lotho Sackville-Baggins: Lobelia�s son. He becomes the master if Bag-end after Frodo sells the property to Lobelia. However, Lotho (nick-named �Pimple� by many) begins �trading� with Saruman, and names himself the Chief of the Shire. He is eventually murdered by Wormtongue (by Saruman�s order). |