Bifur: Difference between revisions

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==Portrayal in Adaptations==
==Portrayal in Adaptations==
[[File:The Hobbit-Unexpected Journey-Bifur2.png|200px|thumb|[[William Kircher]] as Bifur in [[The Hobbit films|The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]].]]
[[File:New Line Cinema - Bifur 2.png|200px|thumb|[[William Kircher]] as Bifur in [[The Hobbit films|The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]].]]


'''1966: ''[[The Hobbit (1966 film)]]'':'''
'''1966: ''[[The Hobbit (1966 film)]]'':'''

Revision as of 11:34, 10 July 2012

Bifur
Dwarf
Angelo Montanini - Bifur.jpg
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Bifur

Bifur most likely lived in the Blue Mountains with Thorin after the loss of Thráin II.[1] Bifur was one of the thirteen Dwarves of Thorin's company who journeyed to Erebor to challenge the dragon Smaug. After the death of Smaug, Bifur lived at the Lonely Mountain.[2]

History

Bifur's parentage is unknown; the only familial connections mentioned are that the brothers Bombur and Bofur[3] are his cousins.[4] He was not of Durin's line although he was descended from Dwarves of Moria.[1] His birth year is also unknown. However, from Bilbo Baggins' account of the quest to Erebor it is known that the brothers Fíli and Kíli were the youngest of the thirteen "by some fifty years"[5] and that after Thorin had been captured, Balin was "the eldest left".[6] Since Fíli was born in T.A. 2859 and Balin was born in 2763,[1] this would put Bifur's birth between 2809 and 2763, and he would have been between 132 and 178 years old during the quest to Erebor.

The Quest of Erebor

In T.A. 2941, Bifur was one of the four Dwarves in the fifth group to arrive at Bag End, wearing a yellow hood. He asked for raspberry jam and apple-tart. During the evening when Thorin called for music, Bifur (along with Bofur) played a clarinet.[7]

In the wolves' glade Bifur shared a pine tree with Bofur, Bombur, and Thorin.[8]

When Gandalf was telling the story of the company's adventures to Beorn, Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur were the last of the Dwarves to show up.[9]

After the barrel ride down the River Running both Bifur and Bofur came out fairly dry and not very knocked about, but they lay down and refused to do anything.[10]

On the doorstep on the side of the Lonely Mountain, when Thorin commented that the next day was the beginning of the last week of autumn, Bifur pointedly added, "And winter comes after autumn".[11]

Bifur fought in and survived the Battle of Five Armies. He was given his share of the treasure by Dáin Ironfoot, and made his home in Erebor.[12]

Later Life

By T.A. 3019 Bifur was living in Erebor, as Glóin told Frodo Baggins at Rivendell.[2]

Etymology

The name of Bívurr originates in the Dvergatal. It is of Old Frisian origin, meaning "Beaver" or, by extension, "Hard Worker".[13]

Other Versions of the Legendarium

In one of the earliest manuscript fragments of The Hobbit, Bifur and Bofur went into the hall and came back with their walking sticks, which they turned into clarinets.[14] In the published text the two Dwarves came back from the hall with clarinets that they had left with their walking sticks.[7] John Rateliff (author of The History of The Hobbit) said that in the earliest phase Tolkien had added fairy tale touches of Dwarven magic to emphasize the uncanny, other-worldly nature of the Dwarves as opposed to Bilbo.[15]

Originally, when Bombur needed propping up in Mirkwood after being cut from the spiders' webbing, it was his cousins Bifur and Bofur who provided support.[16] In the published story this was changed to Bombur's cousin Bifur and brother Bofur.[3] Also, in the earlier version, when Smaug first came out and the Dwarves in the valley had to be hauled up to the Back Door, Bifur cried out to save Bombur and Bofur, who were both his brothers.[17] In the published text Bifur cried out for his two cousins.[4]

In Tolkien's unfinished 1960 rewrite of The Hobbit, Bifur, Bofur and Bombur were Thorin's attendants.[18] John D. Rateliff assumes this made them either courtiers or honor-guard.[19]

Notes

In the earliest partial manuscript of The Hobbit more of the dialog later assigned to a few of the Dwarves is more evenly distributed. In the opinion of John Rateliff (author of The History of The Hobbit) this streamlining strengthened the story through simplification, but at the cost of relegating some of the Dwarves to obscurity since they barely speak at all. Bifur is one of these "silenced" members of the company.[20]

Portrayal in Adaptations

1966: The Hobbit (1966 film):

Bifur is omitted. Thorin Oakenshield only travels with an unnamed guard and the princess of Dale.[21]

1968: The Hobbit (1968 radio series):

Bifur is played by Brian Haines.

1977: The Hobbit (1977 film):

No actor is specified for the role of Bifur.

1979: The Hobbit (1979 radio series):

No actor is specified for the role of Bifur.

1982: The Hobbit (1982 video game):

Bifur is omitted; Thorin is the only companion of the player, Bilbo Baggins.[22]

2003: The Hobbit (2003 video game):

No actor is credited for the role of Bifur.

2012-3: The Hobbit films:

Bifur will be played by William Kircher.[23]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk"
  2. 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Many Meetings"
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Flies and Spiders"
  4. 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Inside Information"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Over Hill and Under Hill"
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Barrels Out of Bond"
  7. 7.0 7.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "An Unexpected Party"
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire"
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Queer Lodgings"
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "A Warm Welcome"
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "On the Doorstep"
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "The Return Journey"
  13. Chester Nathan Gould, "Dwarf-Names: A Study in Old Icelandic Religion", published in Publications of the Modern Language Association of America, Vol 44 (1929), issue #4, pp. 939-967
  14. J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The First Phase, "The Bladorthin Typescript", p. 36
  15. J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The First Phase, "The Bladorthin Typescript", (iii) Dwarven Magic, p. 54
  16. J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The Second Phase, "Mirkwood", p. 313
  17. J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The Second Phase, "Conversations with Smaug"
  18. J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Return to Bag-End, "The Fifth Phase", "A Well-Planned Party", p. 774
  19. J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Return to Bag-End, "The Fifth Phase", "Arrival in Rivendell", note 32
  20. J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The First Phase, "The Pryftan Fragment", (i) The Lost Opening, p. 14
  21. "The Hobbit.mp4" dated 5 January 2012, YouTube (accessed 10 January 2012)
  22. ZX Computing, 8304 (April/May 1983), p. 76, accessed April 24 2011
  23. Peter Jackson, "Production begins in New Zealand on The Hobbit" dated 20 March 2011, Facebook (accessed 23 December 2011)
Members of Thorin and Company
Thorin · Balin · Dwalin · Fíli · Kíli · Dori · Nori · Ori · Óin · Glóin · Bifur · Bofur · Bombur · Gandalf · Bilbo Baggins