- “I am glad to share within your perils, Thorin, each and every one of them. It is far more than any Baggins deserves”
- ―Bilbo to Thorin
Bilbo Baggins is the titular main protagonist of the 1937 novel The Hobbit and one of the overarching protagonists of its sequel series, The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. He is a Hobbit from the Shire and recruited by Thorin and Company for a quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug as their fourteenth adventure. Bilbo's journey changes him as he struggles in the novel between his love of the home from his father and his sense of adventure from his mother.
In the 1977 and 1980 animated films The Hobbit and The Return of the King, he is voiced by Orson Bean, and in the live-action film series, is portrayed by Ian Holm with his younger self played by Martin Freeman, who also portrayed Dr John Watson and Everett Ross from Black Panther.
Background[]
In the Middle-earth timeline, he was born in TA 2890 before the Quest of Erebor on September 22 in Bag End to Bungo Baggins and Belladonna Took. There, his parents raise him in their hobbit home and their hometown, Hobbiton. However, Bilbo wants adventure as he grows older.
As a child, Bilbo often stays out past his bedtime in search of Elves, late after dark while trailing in mud, twigs, and fireflies. During one of the Old Took's parties, Bilbo often enjoyed Gandalf's fireworks and stories. He once acquired about his missing uncle's disappearance, but Gandalf did not have a clue.
Time goes on and Bilbo grows up into a young mature hobbit. He is about 24 years old when the Fell Winter hits. At 36 years old, his father passed away, and eight years later so did Belladonna. Bilbo later takes ownership of all his parents' possessions, including their family home, Bag End.
Appearances[]
The Book[]
Débuting in the 1937 novel, Bilbo Baggins sits out on his porch on a peaceful Tuesday afternoon when he is approached by the Wizard Gandalf, who has come to propose an adventure for the fifty-year-old hobbit. However, Bilbo declines but not before inviting the old wizard for tea. Come Wednesday, Bilbo finds that it is not Gandalf who is only joining him but thirteen dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield. At first, declining to join, the hobbit finds himself on the journey to reclaim Erebor from Smaug.
During their first night, the company comes across three trolls and sends Bilbo to steal their food. When the hobbit attempts to rob them, the trolls find Bilbo sneaking around and learn that he is not alone. There are dwarves there as well, and they all but forget Bilbo and chase after his companions. During this time, Bilbo finds a hidden door that leads to the trolls' cave. When Gandalf returns, Bilbo leads his companions to the troll's hoard, where he arms himself with Sting.
After getting advice from Elrond, Bilbo, and the dwarves continue to the Misty Mountains but are captured by the Great Goblin. After Gandalf rescues them, Bilbo is separated from his companions and lands in the cavern of Gollum. While in the cave, Bilbo comes across a Ring and Gollum, who challenges the hobbit to a game of riddles. After Bilbo wins the game fair and square, he runs away from Gollum and escapes, reuniting with his companions. When he retells his tale to the Dwarves, they ask how he escaped the Trolls but Bilbo doesn't give the clear answer that he had a ring that turned him invisible.
The Lord of the Rings[]
The Fellowship of the Ring[]
Bilbo appears in the book series twice. In the first book, he leaves the One Ring in the possession of his "nephew" Frodo Baggins.
He later appears in Rivendell reunited with Frodo Baggins after he recovers from the wound the Witch-king of Angmar gave him in the shoulder. Attending the Council of Elrond', Bilbo was insisting on being the ring-bearer to destroy the Ring. However, the Council deemed Bilbo too old and unfit to do it. Instead, his nephew was chosen. Despite his attempts, Bilbo accepted it was his nephew's responsibility.
Before Frodo leaves for his journey, Bilbo gives him Sting and his Mithril shirt.
The Return of the King[]
Later, during the War of the Ring, Bilbo remained safely in Rivendell.
After celebrating his 131st birthday, Bilbo left Middle-earth and ended up in the Grey Havens.
Personality[]
Born between two families Bilbo was adventurous, and determined, but also, a gentlemanly hobbit. He had been interested in Gandalf's stories about the outside world and one day, wished to see it. Most people would say Bilbo had more of his mother's blood within him instead of his father's. Most of the time, he stayed out late after dark, looking for elves in the woods. However, when he was a young man and inherited Bag End after the death of his parents, Bilbo became a highly respectable hobbit throughout the Shire but still retained his desire for adventure.
Unlike the dwarves, who use their weapons to get themselves out of tricky situations, Bilbo uses his wits and thoughts to get himself and others out of trouble. For instance, he was able to stall Smaug for a very long time, being able to keep a long conversation with him.
Physical Appearance[]
Bilbo has curly brown hair and stands short, about four feet tall.
Powers and Abilities[]
- Keen hearing: Because of his leaf-like hobbit ears Bilbo can hear from a long distance and can hear things before anyone else does. He hears the Spider's whispers from the trees very far away.
- Keen sight:*Because of his hobbit eyes and younger self, Bilbo can see things for miles. He has an excellent eyesight without anyone interfering with it. In the book, Bilbo locates a boat to see that they can get across the enchanted River and find the boat before everyone else does. At their journey's end, Bilbo catches the sight of the stairs the Stone dwarves hold and Thorin comments on Bilbo's eyesight.
- Limited Longevity: During his life with the One Ring, Bilbo was granted a longer life than his normal life, living up to 131 years, surpassing his grandfather the Old took as the oldest hobbit living known to man. He was also said to have not aged a day since Gandalf met him, as Bilbo still looks fifty years old when he was in his hundreds.
- Multilingual: Because Bilbo has been a friend of the Elves for years, Bilbo learned their language, speaking Sindarin. It is unknown if Bilbo knows any other language except the elven language and Common speech. While wearing the ring, though, Bilbo understands the spiders completely without any trouble.
- Stealth: Bilbo can be sneaky as being a burglar and no one can hear or see Bilbo coming.
- Sword-fighting: Bilbo does have an experience of sword fighting but learned how to fight on his own.
Gallery[]
Relationships[]
Trivia[]
- Bilbo's original name in Westron is Bilba Labingi. His name is associated with the term Bilbao, a Spanish sword
- Bilbo is often called "The Hobbit" in the title and by those outside of his species (An Unexpected Journey, The battle of the Five Armies)
- By the time of the quest of Erebor, Bilbo is fifty years old.
- Bilbo is the first individual to give up the Ring willingly.
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