Frodo Baggins
Frodo Baggins is the main fictional character of J. R. R. Tolkien's monumental and mythological novel, The Lord of the Rings. He is a Hobbit, born on September 22 of the year 2968 of the Third Age (T.A.) to Drogo Baggins and Primula Brandybuck.
In T.A. 2980 he lost both his parents in a boating accident. Being a young minor of twelve he was taken in by his mother's family, the Brandybucks. In 2989, Frodo came under the guardianship of Bilbo Baggins, whom he always calls uncle (though Frodo is actually Bilbo's first and second, once removed, cousin; being that Bilbo's grandfather Mungo and Frodo's great-grandfather Largo were brothers). Frodo was 21 years old at the time, still far short of his coming of adult age at 33. Bilbo, not having children of his own, chose Frodo as his adoptive heir, and brought him to live at Bag End.
Bilbo and Frodo share a common birthday on September 22 but Bilbo is 78 years his senior. At the opening of The Lord of the Rings, Frodo and Bilbo are celebrating their 33rd and 111th birthdays, respectively, on September 22, T.A. 3001.
Frodo was entrusted with the keeping of the One Ring when Bilbo left for Rivendell after the celebration. Frodo was warned by Gandalf that the Ring must never be used but kept secret, and safe. He did not yet know it was the One Ring. Frodo kept the Ring hidden until years later, in T.A. 3018, when Gandalf returned with more lore of the Ring. Gandalf told Frodo that he had to take the Ring away. Even though Hobbits love peace and comfort, Frodo left his village to attempt to save Middle-earth by destroying the Ring. His journey forms the primary action of the novel, when it is determined that Frodo had to take the Ring to Mount Doom (Orodruin), in Mordor, in order to destroy it.
The Lord of the Rings is primarily concerned with Frodo's quest to destroy the Ring and of the many others who seek to aid or stop him. On his quest he carried a small sword called Sting and a mithril coat under his clothes, both given to him by Bilbo.
At the end of the novel, in T.A. 3019, he returned to the Shire where he briefly served as Deputy Mayor. After two years, he, Bilbo, and Gandalf passed over the sea to join the Elves on September 29, T.A. 3021. He had already celebrated his 53rd birthday. Having no children of his own he left his estate to Samwise Gamgee, his gardener.
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 same meaning. Frodo's name in Sindarin was Iorhael (old-wise).
In the German translation he is called Frodo Beutlin, in the Spanish, Frodo Bolsón, in the French, Frodon Sacquet, in the Norwegian, Frodo Lommelun, in the 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.
In the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, Frodo is played by Elijah Wood. In a BBC radio version, he was played by Ian Holm (who also played Bilbo in the movie version).
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