Frodo Baggins

From Tolkien Gateway
This article is about the Ring-bearer. For the the son of Samwise Gamgee, see Frodo Gardner.
Frodo Baggins
Hobbit
File:Natalia Volodeva - Frodo Baggins.jpg
Biographical Information
Other namesSee Names below
LocationBag End, Hobbiton, Valinor
BirthSeptember 22, T.A. 2968
DeathDate unknown, Valinor
Family
ParentageDrogo Baggins and Primula Brandybuck
Physical Description
GenderMale
HeightTaller than most Hobbits
Hair colorBrown
GalleryImages of Frodo Baggins

Frodo Baggins was a Hobbit of the Third Age, the most famous of all Hobbits in the histories for his leading role in the Quest of the Ring. During this epic quest, he bore the One Ring to Mount Doom and there destroyed it, giving him renown like no other Halfling throughout Middle-earth. He is also peculiar for being, as a Ring-bearer, one of the three Hobbits who sailed from Middle-earth to Aman, there to die in peace.

History

Main Article: History of Frodo Baggins

Frodo was born to Drogo Baggins and Primula Brandybuck on September 22nd, Third Age 2968. He spent much of his youth at Brandy Hall in Buckland, the home of his mother's family. He was considered something of a rascal, particularly by Farmer Maggot from whom Frodo stole mushrooms. In 2980, when Frodo was only twelve years old, he lost both his parents who took a boat out onto the Brandywine River and drowned. With no siblings, Frodo was taken in by the Brandybucks to live at Brandy Hall until his cousin, Bilbo Baggins, adopted him and made Frodo his heir.

War of the Ring

Lure of Expedience by Rob Alexander.

Frodo was entrusted with the keeping of the One Ring when Bilbo left for Rivendell after the celebration of his 111th birthday. Gandalf warned Frodo that the Ring must never be used and should be kept secret. (At the time, he was not yet certain that it was a Ring of Power.) Frodo kept the Ring hidden for seventeen years, until T.A. 3018, when Gandalf returned to confirm that it was indeed the One Ring. Gandalf sent him away with Sam Gamgee, who was Frodo's gardener and eventually his dearest friend. Together with Peregrin Took, Meriadoc Brandybuck and later Strider, they made it to the House of Elrond. There, at Elrond's Council, it was decided that the Ring must be destroyed by casting it into the Crack of Doom. A Fellowship was formed to protect Frodo as the Ring-bearer. His quest to destroy the Ring forms a large portion of The Lord of the Rings. Eventually, he succeeded in reaching Orodruin, where, at the last moment, he attempted to claim the Ring, whose power had grown too great for him. However, at that moment he was attacked by Gollum, who seized the Ring and then fell into the fire with it. The Ring was destroyed.

Two years after the destruction of the Ring, still troubled by the wounds he received during the War of the Ring, Frodo and Bilbo as Ring-bearers were given the right to travel to Valinor where, though remaining mortal, they might rest and be healed, together with Gandalf, Elrond and Galadriel. They boarded a ship from the Grey Havens and passed over the sea on September 29, T.A. 3021. Having no children of his own, Frodo left his estate and passed on the Red Book to Samwise Gamgee who followed Frodo across the sea 61 years later, following the death of his wife Rose (nee) Cotton.

Etymology and Translations

File:Elizabeth Wyeth - Frodo's Journal.jpg
Frodo's Journal by Elizabeth Wyeth.

The name Frodo Baggins is an English translation of his Westron name Maura Labingi. The name Maura has the element maur- (wise, experienced), which Tolkien equivalated to the Germanic element frod- of the same meaning. Frodo's name in Sindarin was Iorhael ("old-wise").

In the German translation he is called Frodo Beutlin, in Spanish, Frodo Bolsón, in French, Frodon Sacquet, in Norwegian, Frodo Lommelun, in Danish, Frodo Sækker, in Faroese, Fróði Pjøkin in Finnish, Frodo Reppuli and in Dutch, Frodo Balings. In one of three Polish translations he is called Frodo Bagosz, but he keeps his original name in the other two.

Frodo's Struggles

Corruption by Olanda Fong-Surdenas.

Notably, Frodo Baggins never actually killed anything in the course of the Lord of the Rings. He did, however, stand up to fight against some formidable adversaries. He foolishly attempted to fight the Nazgûl at Weathertop, and he stabbed a troll in the foot in Moria to keep it from forcing open a door.

Frodo was wounded several times in the Lord of the Rings. The first came when he tried to fight the Nazgul at Weathertop and was stabbed with a Morgul blade. He was later knocked out by an orc's thrown spear in Moria, but the mithril armor Bilbo had given him saved his life. He was poisoned by Shelob in the pass of Cirith Ungol and later questioned by orcs in the tower. Finally, Gollum bit off his finger to obtain the One Ring as they struggled inside Mount Doom.

Description and Equipment

Frodo's only real description is Gandalf's, and he is declared a "stout fellow with red cheeks." He was a tall hobbit, and fairer than most of his kind, with a cleft chin, a bright eye, and a perky personality.

Frodo carried a small Elven sword (actually a dagger) called Sting and wore a coat of Dwarven chainmail made of Mithril under his clothes, both given to him by Bilbo. At Lothlórien, Galadriel gave him an Elven cloak that blends him in with the natural surroundings and a phial carrying the light of the star Eärendil to aid him on his quest.

Portrayal in Adaptations

1978: Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings:

Frodo was voiced by Christopher Guard. Sharon Baird was the model for Frodo in the live-action recordings Bakshi used for rotoscoping.

1979: Mind's Eye's The Lord of the Rings:

The voice of Frodo is provided by James Arrington.

1980: Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King:

Frodo was voiced by Orson Bean, who had previously played Bilbo in Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit.

1981: BBC Radio's The Lord of the Rings:

Frodo is voiced by Ian Holm.

1992: BBC Radio's Tales from the Perilous Realm:

In two episodes telling of the meeting of Frodo and Tom Bombadil, Nigel Planer provided the voice of Frodo.

2001-3: Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings:

Frodo is played by Elijah Wood. He is portrayed as slightly younger than his character in the book.

2002: Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring:

Frodo is one of the player characters. He is voiced by Steve Staley.

Names

The Line of Frodo

Balbo Baggins = Berylla Boffin
              |
       ------------------------    
       |                      |
     Mungo              Largo Baggins = Tanta Hornblower
(grandfather of Bilbo)                |
                                    Fosco = Ruby Bolger
                                          |
          --------------------------------------------
          |       |                                  |
         Dora   Drogo = Primula Brandybuck         Dudo  
                      |                              |
                    Frodo                          Daisy = Griffo Boffin

See also

Preceded by:
Bilbo Baggins
Ring-bearer
September 22, T.A. 3001 - March 13, 3019
Followed by:
Samwise Gamgee


Preceded by:
Samwise Gamgee
Ring-bearer
March 14, 3019 - March 25, 3019
Followed by:
Gollum
Members of the Fellowship of the Ring
Frodo · Sam · Merry · Pippin · Gandalf · Aragorn · Legolas · Gimli · Boromir