Nob
| Nob | |
|---|---|
| Hobbit | |
 | |
| "Nob" by Francesco Amadio | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Location | Bree |
| Birth | Late Third Age |
| Death | Early Fourth Age |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Gallery | Images of Nob |
- "Hi! Nob! ... Where are you, you wolly-footed slow-coach?"
- ― Barliman Butterbur[1]
History
Nob lived at the end of the Third Age and probably the beginning of the Fourth. He worked for Barliman Butterbur at The Prancing Pony with Bob, where he served food and tended to any other needs guests might have.
On September 29, T.A. 3018,[2] four Shire-hobbits came to The Prancing Pony.[1] When one of them, Meriadoc Brandybuck, went missing after a night stroll, Nob found him near the house of Bill Ferny.[3] Realizing the danger, Nob helped the Hobbits to disguise their beds, and kept watch at night. Nonetheless, the Inn was attacked.[4]
When those four hobbits returned on October 28 the following year,[5] Nob still worked at The Prancing Pony.[6]
Etymology
In historical English nob is slang to denote disrespect for a high society person, cf. knob "head".[7]
Hammond and Scull think that Nob was perhaps chosen rhyme with Bob, and that it does not appear to be recognized diminutive or nickname.[8] It is also possible that Nob was a nickname of a person named Robert; Tolkien's review of M. Förster's Die Französierung des englischen Personennamenschatzes mentions the name Nob in one line with better known names as Hob and Rob.[9].
Portrayal in adaptations
_-_Nob.JPG)
1981: The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series):
- Haydn Wood provided the voice for Nob.
2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game):
- No voice actor is specified for this small part. His role in searching for Merry was taken over by Strider.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "At the Sign of the Prancing Pony"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Strider"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Knife in the Dark"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Chief Days from the Fall of Barad-dûr to the End of the Third Age"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Homeward Bound"
- ↑ Jim Allan (ed.), An Introduction to Elvish, Giving of names
- ↑ Wayne G. Hammond, Christina Scull, The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, page 151
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Philology: General works", published in The Year's Work in English Studies, vol. 6 (edited by Boas and Hereford), pages 32-66, esp 39
