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History of Frodo Baggins

From Tolkien Gateway

Frodo Baggins had a long and distinguished history as the most famous hobbit in the history of Middle-earth.

Contents 1 Childhood and Youth 2 Master of Bag End 3 Early Quest of the Ring 3.1 Hobbiton to Crickhollow 3.2 Crickhollow to Bree 3.3 Strider and Weathertop

[edit] Childhood and Youth

Frodo was the child of the respectable Drogo Baggins and Primula Brandybuck, born on September 22 of Shire Reckoning 1368/Third Age 2968. Despite his solid Baggins paternity, after his parents died in a boating accident he went to live in Brandy Hall with his mother’s relatives, under the guardianship of Rorimac "Goldfather" Brandybuck. In Brandy Hall he soon developed a reputation as a troublemaker, stealing mushrooms and causing a general fuss. He was raised by Rory until his "uncle" Bilbo (really his cousin) took him in to live at his estate in Hobbiton called Bag End.

He enjoyed life with his "queer" Uncle Bilbo, who taught him to read, and told him stories of the past, even giving him some instruction in the elvish tongue. It is possible Bilbo even took his young cousin to see the elves that wandered about outside the Shire. Frodo developed a profound affection for his mentor. The liking was mutual, and Bilbo made him his heir, frustrating the attempts of the disagreeable Sackville-Bagginses who coveted the inheritance.

Frodo and Bilbo got on like this until Third Age 3001. At this time Bilbo threw an enormous birthday party for himself, as he was turning one hundred and eleven. Frodo shared birthdays with Bilbo, so he was turning thirty-three at this same time. Frodo helped to manage the preparations, and Bilbo told him that he would be leaving the Shire after his party. This is indeed what happened, though Bilbo disappeared suddenly during the party to the shock of the Hobbits assembled. Frodo returned to Bag End, where he found that Bilbo had left him the "magic ring". Frodo now was the Master of Bag End.

[edit] Master of Bag End

Frodo took charge of distributing the presents Bilbo had left for the other hobbits, a long and tiring task. The Baggins' old friend Gandalf the wizard, who had come for the festivities, warned Frodo not to use the magic ring, and to keep it secret and safe. He then left back into the wide world, curiosity nagging his mind about the ring.

Frodo, meanwhile, was pretty well off. He lived in peace and respectability for seventeen years, when Gandalf returned with the dreadful revelation that the "magic ring" was really the One Ring of Sauron, a thing of evil power thousands of years old. Furthermore, the Dark Lord was now aware of its survival, and would be searching for it. Gollum had told under torture where it was. After a long discussion and a test by fire of Gandalf's conclusions, the two agreed that Frodo would have to leave the Shire for his own safety and Samwise Gamgee the gardener would go with him. Gandalf recommended Rivendell as a destination, as the road was likely safe and the haven good. He told Frodo to take the alias Underhill abroad. Frodo was reluctant, but bought a house in Crickhollow as an excuse to head east.

Gandalf stayed for two months while Frodo worked out the details. At the end of that time he left to "get some news", as rather disturbing tidings had come to his ears. He promised to be back for the farewell party.

But as autumn passed Gandalf did not return, and Frodo grew quite anxious. His friends, Fredegar "Fatty" Bolger, Folco Boffin, Peregrin "Pippin" Took, and Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck helped him to pack. Merry and Fatty later drove the cart of Frodo's belongings ahead to Crickhollow, while Frodo still waited for Gandalf. At the last possible day he departed, having sold Bag End to the Sackville-Baggins. Pippin and Sam went with him.

[edit] Early Quest of the Ring

[edit] Hobbiton to Crickhollow

Almost a day into their journeying, Frodo, strangely nervous, requested that the threesome hide upon the approach of a horseman. The rider was dressed in black, upon a black horse, making queer sniffing noises. Frodo felt the urge to put on the Ring and vanish, but just as he was giving in the rider departed at a trot. Samwise (or Sam as he was usually called) then remarked upon the Black Rider that had spoken to his father, Gaffer Gamgee, some time earlier. This made Frodo wary, curious, and frightened at the same time. He wished that he had waited for Gandalf.

That night, they were again overtaken by a Black Horseman. This time it seemed to be able to sniff out their hiding place. But as it approached, it was driven away by the song of a group of Elves. Frodo, knowing the most about Elves, identified them as High Elves, and suggested that they wait to meet them. Their leader, Gildor, greeted the hobbits warmly, and lauded Frodo for his knowledge of their tongue. Frodo tried to get information from Gildor on the Black Riders, but the elf would tell him very little. Gildor foresaw that Frodo would have many dealings with the Riders in the future, and urged him to flee them whenever he met them. He and his party left the Hobbits before daybreak, while they slept.

The next day the threesome agreed to stay off the road. After a brief scare when Sam sighted a Rider, they worried about losing their way. That evening they heard a terrible wail, and Frodo distinguished words in it. Before long they came to Bamfurlong, the property of Farmer Maggot. Although Pippin knew Maggot, Frodo recalled a scare he had received at a young age after caught stealing the farmer’s mushrooms, being threatened with the dogs. He froze when Grip, Fang, and Wolf came forth from the house, but Maggot's hospitality soon won him over. When Maggot told of a Black Rider who had stopped at his house asking for "Baggins," and made several shrewd guesses, Frodo grew uncomfortable. Maggot took them to Bucklebury Ferry in his wagon. There they joined up with Meriadoc. As they were ferried across into Buckland, they caught sight of a dark shape on the landing from which they had come.

[edit] Crickhollow to Bree

When they reached the house in Crickhollow, Frodo was pleased to find that Merry and Fatty had made everything very homey, and three hot baths were waiting. After relaxing and eating, the other hobbits reveal their knowledge of the One Ring, and promise to stick with him on the road to Rivendell. The next morning, leaving Fatty to keep house, they plunged into the Old Forest. In time they were driven by the trees down to the Withywindle, where they were ensnared by Old Man Willow. Rescued by Tom Bombadil, the hobbits came to his house. There they met Tom's wife, Goldberry, and Frodo was moved to poetry over her loveliness. He was interested in Bombadil himself, and several times tried to learn who he was. That night he dreamed of a white-haired figure on a pinnacle of stone, borne away by an eagle.

The next day Frodo tried on the Ring, after finding it had no effect on Bombadil. Tom nevertheless could see him, for he was not subjected to the Ring’s power. That night he dreamed once more, a dream he never forgot.

"Frodo heard a sweet singing running in his mind: a song that seemed to come like a pale light behind a grey rain-curtain, and growing stronger to turn the veil all to glass and silver, until at last it was rolled back, and a far green country opened before him under a swift sunrise."

– The Fellowship of the Ring, Fog on the Barrow-downs

After bidding Goldberry and Tom farewell, the Hobbits went on and passed through the barrow-downs. Getting lost in the mist, however, they were taken by the barrow-wights, Frodo last of all. Frodo woke in the barrow to find the barrow-wight bending over his three friends. He rose and in a tremendous act of bravery and resilience took a sword and smote off the wight's hand. Then he summoned Bombadil with a song taught him, and Bombadil drove the wight away. Bombadil helped him wake Merry, Pippin, and Sam, gave them their ponies, and escorted them all to the road before turning his face back toward Withywindle. The hobbits, meanwhile, entered Bree and took lodging (at Bombadil’s recommendation) at The Prancing Pony inn, Frodo under the name of Underhill, as Gandalf had suggested.

[edit] Strider and Weathertop

While Merry went out to take a walk in the night air, the other hobbits came down to the common-room and were introduced by the landlord Barliman Butterbur to the gathering, Frodo under his alias and with the story that he was writing a book and came to Bree to gather information. While Pippin and Sam enjoyed the drink and conversation, Frodo remained withdrawn, soon falling into conversation with a curious ranger called Strider, who gave him a warning about letting his friends talk to much. Pippin began to tell about Bilbo's Birthday Party, and Frodo, at Strider’s encouragement and in an attempt to prevent the name of Baggins from being raised, began to sing The Man in the Moon Stayed Up Too Late. This proved popular with the gathering, but unfortunately, as Frodo relaxed, he fell from the table and the Ring slipped on his finger, causing him to vanish.

Frodo crawled over to Strider's corner and slipped off the Ring. Then he tried to make the best of a bad situation, saying that he had rolled quickly to the side. The suspicious Breelanders, however, grew angry or frightened, and eventually all left the common-room. Frodo and his comrades retired to their room, where they found Strider waiting to talk to them. Strider was honest and blunt, telling what he had overheard and what he knew of them, as well as warning them of the Black Riders and traitors in Bree. He urged them to accept his aide by inviting him into the company. Frodo was leaning to believe the ranger when Butterbur broke in, giving Frodo the long-awaited letter from Gandalf, undelivered by Butterbur’s forgetfulness. After some little bit of light was shed on the situation to the innkeeper, he swore to help the hobbits in any way he could, as a friend of Gandalf and one very much afraid of Mordor. Frodo, reading the letter, learned that Gandalf recommended Strider as one to whom Frodo could go for help. After some further debate, Frodo agreed to let Strider lead them to Rivendell.

Strider arranged for a deception which saved the hobbits’ lives, by moving them to a different room. The next morning, their ponies were gone and the room was ravaged. Butterbur paid for a replacement pony, and the four hobbits and ranger set out into the Wilds. They passed through Chetwood and Midgewater, and finally to the Weather Hills before coming up to Weathertop. Black Riders were sighted from the top of the cairn, and Strider counseled to remain where they were. That night, around a fire, Frodo began to tell of Gil-galad but was cut off by Strider, who chose instead to chant a part of the Lay of Leithian. Shortly after the Black Riders came, and Frodo was stricken down. In desperation he put on the Ring and saw the Nazgûl in their true forms. Frodo then tried to attack in Elbereth’s name, but their leader, the Witch-king of Angmar, stabbed Frodo in the chest before fleeing with his minions from Weathertop.

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