Hobbits

History and context

The Prologue to The Lord of the Rings distinguishes Harfoots, Stoors and Fallohides in the earlier history of hobbits. Their westward movements precede the settlement of the Shire. Shire society values agriculture, food, family history and settled habits, but its outward provincialism should not be mistaken for a complete absence of institutions. The Thain, Master of Buckland and Mayor occupy different positions. Hobbits also preserve traditions of the kings while living for long periods without direct royal government. The expression “halfling” reflects the perspective of larger people rather than a hobbit biological category.

Literary context and distinctions

Tolkien’s hobbits are neither uniformly heroic nor naturally immune to corruption. Their limited appetite for grand political power can make certain temptations less immediate, but Gollum and the ending at Mount Doom rule out any general immunity to the Ring. Their literary significance comes partly from the pressure placed on ordinary attachments: gardens, meals and familiar roads become reasons for undertaking extraordinary dangers. Adaptations may simplify distinctions among early hobbit peoples or rearrange their relationships to larger historical events. The Prologue and appendices remain the primary reference points for the book’s account.

Primary references

• The Lord of the Rings, Prologue, “Concerning Hobbits” and “Of the Ordering of the Shire”.
• The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, Third Age chronology.
• The Hobbit, “An Unexpected Party”.