Bilbo Baggins

2009-01-17T14:35:45Z

74.225.41.162: /* Portrayal in Adaptations */

{{sources}}
{{Hobbit
| image = [[Image:Ian Holm as Bilbo.jpg|250px]]
| name = Bilbo Baggins
| othernames =
| birth = [[September 22]], [[Third Age 2890|T.A. 2890]]
| death = Sailed [[West]] [[September 29]], [[Third Age 3021|T.A. 3021]]
| parentage= [[Bungo Baggins]] and [[Belladonna Took]]
| location = [[Bag End]], [[Hobbiton]], [[Rivendell]]
| race = [[Hobbits]]
| gender = Male
| height = Between 3' and 3'6"
| hair = Brown
| eyes =
}}
{{quote|In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole and that means comfort.|[[The Hobbit]], "[[An Unexpected Party]]"}}

'''Bilbo Baggins''' was a hobbit who lived in the Shire during the final years of the Third Age. His adventure with the dwarves Thorin and company was related in 'The Hobbit' (originally known as 'There and Back Again'). It was during this adventure that Bilbo Baggins obtained the [[One Ring]] of [[Sauron]] from the creature [[Gollum]]. Bilbo was noteworthy as the first [[ring-bearer]] in the history of [[Middle-earth]] to give up the [[One Ring]] voluntarily; he surrendered the ring to [[Frodo Baggins]] at [[Gandalf]]'s request.

== History ==
===Early Life and Adventures===
Bilbo Baggins was born on [[September 22]], [[Third Age 2890|2890]] of the [[Third Age]], the son of Bungo [[Baggins family|Baggins]] and [[Belladonna Took]]. To the eyes of his neighbors, he seemed just like his father - a solid, sensible, unadventurous and respectable hobbit. In [[Third Age 2941|2941]], he reluctantly joined [[Gandalf]], [[Thorin Oakenshield]] and his twelve [[Dwarves]] on the [[Quest of Erebor|quest]] to reclaim the [[Lonely Mountain]] (and its sizeable hoard) from the [[Dragons|dragon]] [[Smaug]]. Gandalf had convinced Thorin that Bilbo was the right hobbit to be a burglar for them, despite Bilbo's feeble objections. Thus the hobbit became part of the [[Thorin and Company|company]].

[[Image:Donato Giancola - The Hobbit - Expulsion.jpg|300px|thumb|left|''Expulsion'' by [[Donato Giancola]].]]Bilbo, out the door early without a pocket handkercheif, aroused doubts in his dwarvish comrades when they fell in with some [[trolls]]. Bilbo was sent to check them out, and only got captured. He escaped the trolls but was helpless to prevent all the dwarves from being captured. Gandalf, however, came in the nick of time and saved them all with his voice imitations. Upon the discovery of the troll-cave and the swords of Gondolin, Bilbo discovered [[Sting|a small blade]] and bore it with him ever after.

Eventually they came to Rivendell, where Bilbo was enchanted with the [[Elves]]. After their stay there, the company entered the [[Misty Mountains]]. Bilbo and the dwarves were captured by [[goblins]], but saved by Gandalf once more. However Bilbo, carried by [[Dori]], was dropped in the escape. Wandering in the dark passages, he picked up a strange [[One Ring|golden ring]], and came to the lake of [[Gollum]]. Gollum, desiring to eat the hobbit but not willing to face his blade, engaged in a riddle contest. If Bilbo won, according to the predetermined rules, Gollum would lead him to safety. If Gollum won, however, Bilbo would submit to be eaten.

[[Image:Michael Hague - Riddles in the Dark.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Riddles in the Dark'' by [[Michael Hague]].]]Bilbo won the contest by accident, wondering outloud as he fingered the ring he had picked up, "What have I got in my pocket?" Gollum mistook this for a question, and Bilbo decided to stick to it. Gollum lost, but went back to his little island to take the ring Bilbo had picked up (as it was a magic ring) to turn himself invisible and kill the hobbit anyway. But of course the ring was not there, and Gollum, enraged, suddenly guessed that Bilbo had it. He chased Bilbo, but Bilbo unwittingly used the ring and escaped his notice. Gollum led Bilbo to the eastern door of the goblin-tunnels, through which Bilbo departed in safety and rejoined his fellow adventurers. But he said nothing of the ring.

===Across Rhovanion===
The company had not journeyed long when they were chased and treed by [[wargs]]. Gandalf kept them at bay with pyrotechnical pinecones, but eventually goblins came and set the trees to fire. Even Gandalf had begun to despair, but the [[Eagles]] of [[Gwaihir]] came to rescue them, bringing them first to the eyry, then to the [[Carrock]]. Bilbo did not enjoy his experience of being carried by his rescuers, apparently suffering from a fear of heights.

From the Carrock they came to [[Beorn]]'s [[Beorn's Hall|Hall]]. Gandalf took only Bilbo at first, but with his story introduced the dwarves in pairs, convincing Beorn to house them for a time. Eventually, Beorn even gave them mounts and set them on their way to [[Mirkwood]]. Bilbo alone (save for perhaps Gandalf) noticed that Beorn still followed them in bear-form. Gandalf turned back at the edge of Mirkwood, and left them to brave the perils on their own.

Bilbo "helped" the dwarves by climbing a tree midway through the wood, and declaring he could see only trees, not realizing they were at the bottom of a bowl formation. Later, when the dwarves were taken by spiders, Bilbo rescued them with his ring and little blade, which he named ''[[Sting]]'' after its first kill. Calling the spiders names, he lured them away and came back around to help with the battle between the dwarves and spiders. Eventually, the company won with no serious injuries, but was later captured when intruding on the feasts of [[Wood-elves]]. Bilbo, with his ring, escaped notice and thus capture. He followed the elves into the [[Halls of Thranduil]], where the dwarves refused to tell their errand to [[Thranduil]] King and were locked up. Later, getting used to the elven halls and with the aid of his magic ring, he devised a plan for the dwarves to escape. It worked, with the dwarves being packed away in barrels and launched into the [[Forest River]]. Poor Bilbo was forced to cling to the barrels, invisible, and grew cold and wet. Upon reaching [[Lake-town]], he had an awful cold, despite the feigned hospitality of the [[Master of Lake-town]] and the people of that town.

===Encounter with the Dragon===
On their way again, the party came to the [[Lonely Mountain]], where they followed the instructions of the map to find the secret entrance. Bilbo, and the dwarves, were unable to open it. Bilbo sat days on the [[doorstep]], thinking, and before long autumn waned. Soon the dwarves began to grumble against the hobbit, but Bilbo finally solved the riddle of the thrush knocking at the last light of Durin's Day. The dwarves found that he was right, and with the key managed to open the passage.

Bilbo was, of course, elected to enter the passage first, taking only [[Balin]] with him. Soon Balin halted, but Bilbo went on, finding Smaug's lair and stealing a single jewelled cup before returning. But he did ill in this, for when Smaug awoke he ravaged the mountain. Despite their grumbling, the dwarves had begun to rely on Bilbo's advice for their course of action, and agreed to wait. Bilbo soon decided, however, to return and try and find a weakness in Smaug. Slipping on his ring, he approached the dragon's hoard.

Gandalf had indeed done well in choosing Bilbo, for the old worm did not recognize Bilbo's scent, and was puzzled. Nevertheless he sensed the hobbit's presence, and challenged him. Bilbo riddled with him about his own identity and flattered the dragon. This confrontation did not last especially long, for Bilbo tricked Smaug into showing his underside. Bilbo then saw the gap in the dragon's hard scales, an unprotected place. Bilbo, upon seeing this, cracked a joke and hastily departed, and for this was nearly burned to death. All the same, he escaped and recovered, and told the dwarves what he had learned. This indirectly aided the company, for a [[thrush]] overheard, and this would prove beneficial in the end.

===Death of Smaug===
[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Scouring the Mountain.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''Scouring the Mountain'' by [[Ted Nasmith]].]]As darkness came, Bilbo urged the dwarves to close the door for fear of Smaug's vengeance. Reluctantly, and at last, they gave in. Just as the door closed, Smaug ravaged the side of the mountain, blocking up the door and destroying the doorstep. Then Smaug went on to wreck his vengeance on Laketown. There, armed with the knowledge given him by the Thrush who overheard Bilbo telling about the unprotected patch of Smaug's skin, [[Bard]] the bowman of the heirs of [[Dale]] shot Smaug dead. The people, no longer afraid, proclaimed him king of a restored [[Dale]]. Bard summoned [[Thranduil]] to help rebuild Laketown and Dale, in return for part of the treasure.

Meanwhile, in the Lonely Mountain, Bilbo and the dwarves decided to inspect the hoard while Smaug was away. During this time Bilbo stumbled across a gigantic and beautiful gem. Recalling an earlier conversation, Bilbo decided it was the famous [[Arkenstone]], but felt strangely reluctant to give it up. Instead, he put it in his pocket and continued on. After a song and gathering of treasure, the party eventually found the [[Front Gate]], and sheltered in a [[guardroom]]. Thorin gave Bilbo a beautiful [[Mithril#The Mithril Coat|coat]] of [[mithril]] as a first reward for his services.

At that time [[Roäc]] the raven came to them, and told of the death of Smaug. He counseled them to make peace with Bard and Thranduil, though it cost him dearly in gold. Thorin rejected this advice, and harshly responded to the polite words of Bard at his door. Bard's reasoning did little for the stubborn King under the Mountain. Bilbo feared war, and to prevent this gave the Arkenstone into the hands of [[Bard]] for negotiation. With the praise of Bard, Thranduil, and Gandalf he returned, only to be rejected and cast away for his deed by Thorin. But Bilbo was successful in that Thorin was willing to negotiate, and war was prevented temporarily.

===Battle and Return Journey===
And yet war did come. [[Dáin II Ironfoot]], at the summons of Thorin, came from the [[Iron Hills]] with an army of dwarves. Bard refused to let the dwarves enter the mountain, which would mean a long and almost certainly unsuccessful siege. But just as battle was about to be joined, Gandalf called them all to be wary of the new coming danger - the alliance of [[Wargs]] and [[Goblins]] against them. Dáin, Bard, and Thranduil took council together, and decided upon a strategy of defending the slopes of the Lonely Mountain. Then the enemy came. Thus was the [[Battle of Five Armies]] fought.

[[Image:Darrell Sweet - The Death of Thorin Oakenshield.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''The Death of Thorin'' by [[Darrell Sweet]].]]During the battle Bilbo stood with Thranduil and Gandalf on [[Ravenhill]]. As the battle went against the men, dwarves, and elves, Bilbo reflected gloomily on the ungloriousness of war and the bitterness of the end. But then the [[Eagles]] of [[Gwaihir]] came, and [[Beorn]] too, and the battle was won. But Bilbo did not see this result, for a falling stone knocked him out. Invisible as he was, his bruised body was not discovered until the next day. Bilbo then bade farewell to the mortally wounded Thorin and his other friends. Then, taking his share of the treasure, he returned with Gandalf to the [[Shire]]. There he discovered that he was believed dead, and an auction was going on of his house and possessions. He bought back his own things, and settled once more peacefully into [[Bag End]].

===The Years Between===
Bilbo lived on in health and comfort, high in the regard of those who new him best, but considered somewhat of an oddity. He adopted his young cousin [[Frodo Baggins]] as his heir, and raised him in Bag End. Occasionally he received visitors; dwarves, Gandalf, or even elves from time to time. Most of his time was spent reading, writing his memoirs, writing poetry, and avoiding his nasty relatives the [[Sackville-Bagginses]].

His life was extended by the ring (actually the [[One Ring]] of ancient history), and yet as he lived on with no apparent sign of aging, he began to feel stretched and thin. At last, in September of [[Third Age 3001|3001]], Bilbo threw a [[Bilbo's Birthday Party|grand party]] for his 111th birthday (which happened to be shared with Frodo). During this party he did a vanishing act with his ring and left with three dwarves for [[Rivendell]], to live with [[Elrond]] and the elves there. He left all his possessions to Frodo, including, urged by Gandalf, the One Ring. He was the first ringbearer to so give up the object.

===End of the Third Age===

[[Image:Bilbo smoking a pipe.jpg|thumb|250px|Bilbo smoking a pipe in [[Peter Jackson]]'s ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring|Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring]]''.]]He lived a very pleasant life of retirement in Rivendell: eating, sleeping, writing poetry, and working on his memoir, ''There and Back Again'', known to us as ''[[The Hobbit]]''. He also wrote a book called ''Translations from the Elvish'', which formed the basis of what is known to us as ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.

Upon the coming of Frodo eighteen years later on the [[Quest for the Ring]], Bilbo attended the [[Council of Elrond]], offering to take the Ring to [[Mount Doom]]. Nevertheless this task fell to the younger Frodo, and in farewell Bilbo gave him [[Sting]] and his old mithril coat, both of which bore him well in the struggles to come.

The [[War of the Ring]] was fought far from where Bilbo dwelt, but successfully, and in the end Frodo returned home. Two years later, however, Bilbo as a former ringbearer accompanied Frodo Baggins, Gandalf, and certain Elves to the [[Grey Havens]], there to take ship for [[Valinor]] across the sea, on [[September 29]], [[Third Age 3021|3021]]. He had already celebrated his 131st birthday, becoming the oldest Hobbit in the history of Middle-earth. So he passed West to die in peace in Valinor.

The last writing of Bilbo appears in the form of the poem "''[[Bilbo's Last Song]]''." It is a poem Bilbo conceivably composed while sailing west, and looking back on Middle-earth in farewell. It was published after Tolkien's death.

==Names==
* Bilbo Baggins
* Burglar, from a note on Bilbo's door left by [[Gandalf]]
* Thief, from [[Gollum]] after Bilbo stole [[the One Ring]]. [[Smaug]] also gave the name to Bilbo after he stole a cup.
* Clue-finder, a name given to Bilbo by himself during his conversation with Smaug
* Web-cutter, a name given to Bilbo by himself during his conversation with Smaug
* Stinging Fly, a name given to Bilbo by himself during his conversation with Smaug
* Ringwinner, a name given to Bilbo by himself during his conversation with Smaug
* Luckwearer, a name given to Bilbo by himself during his conversation with Smaug
* Barrel-rider, a name given to Bilbo by himself during his conversation with Smaug, Smaug also later addressed Bilbo by this name.
* Mr. Lucky Number, a name given to Bilbo by Smaug.
* Child of the Kindly West, a name given to Bilbo by [[Thorin II Oakenshield]].
* Bilbo the Magnificient, a name given to Bilbo by [[Thranduil]]
* Elf-friend, a name given to Bilbo by [[Thranduil]]
* Madd Baggins, a name given to Bilbo by [[Rorimac Brandybuck]] after Bilbo disappeared from [[the Shire]] suddenly.
* Ring-bearer, for his bearing of [[the One Ring]].
* Bilba Labingi, the original hobbit name for Bilbo.

== Portrayal in Adaptations ==
<gallery>
Image:Bilbo Baggins from Rankin-Bass' The Hobbit.jpg|<center>''[[Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit]]''</center>
Image:Bilbo smoking a pipe.jpg|<center>''[[Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring]]''</center>
Image:Bilbo viv lotr.JPG|<center>''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring]]''</center>
Image:The Hobbit (2003) One Ring.JPG|<center>''[[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|Sierra's The Hobbit]]''</center>
</gallery>
'''1968: ''[[The Hobbit (1968 radio series)|BBC Radio's The Hobbit]]'':'''
:Bilbo is portrayed by [[Paul Daneman]], and several times, when he introduces himself, he spells out his last name ("B-A-GG-I-N-S").

'''1977: ''[[Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit]]'':'''
:[[Orson Bean]] was the voice of Bilbo.

'''1978: ''[[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:[[Norman Bird]] was the voice of Bilbo, and [[Billy Barty]] the body double.

'''1980: ''[[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Orson Bean reprised his role as Bilbo. He lives in [[Rivendell]], and listens to the tale of Frodo of the Nine Fingers. Some archive footage from ''Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit'' is also shown at the starto f the film.

'''1981: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|BBC Radio's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:Bilbo is portrayed by [[John Le Mesurier]].

'''2001-3: ''[[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:Bilbo is played by [[Ian Holm]], who also played [[Frodo Baggins]] in the radio series 20 years earlier.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Bilbo has a short appearance in Rivendell, after the [[Council of Elrond]]. He is voiced by [[Jim Piddock]].

'''2003: ''[[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|Sierra's The Hobbit]]'':'''
:[[Michael Beattie]] provides the voice of a young, redheaded Bilbo.

==Genealogy==
{{Baggins}}

== See Also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Bilbo Baggins|Images of Bilbo Baggins]]

==References==
<small><references/></small>

{{sequence
|prev=[[Gollum]]
|next=[[Frodo Baggins]]
|list=[[Ring-bearer]]<br>[[Third Age 2941|T.A. 2941]] - [[September 22]] [[Third Age 3001|3001]]}}{{Template:Thorin and Company}}
[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Baggins]]
[[Category:Ring-bearers]]
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[de:Bilbo Beutlin]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:hobbits:sacquet:bilbo_sacquet]]
[[fi:Bilbo Reppuli]]

Tolkien Gateway - User contributions [en]

Bilbo Baggins