How tall is Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit movie trilogy?
Hobbits are always described according to their small stature, but just what how small can they really be?
We took a closer look at the real height of a hobbit, as well as all that you need to know about these curious creatures.
What Is A Hobbit?
According to literature, hobbits are diminutive humanoids who live in the Shire and other parts of Middle-earth.
Hobbits are known for being very short, with most hobbits standing between two and four feet tall, making them one of the smallest races in Tolkien’s world.
In fact, hobbits have been compared to elves, dwarves, and even goblins!
The word “hobbit” was first used and made famous by JRR Tolkien in his book The Hobbit, and he later defined it as “a creature of little more than three feet high,” and most experts in this field agree that hobbits tend to be around two to four feet in height.
What Do Hobbits Look Like?
Tolkien describes hobbits as being “short and squat.
“He also notes that they have big heads, round faces, slightly pointed ears – described as being “only slightly elvish”, and curly brown hair all over their feet and heads – as a result of the former, hobbits are rarely, if ever, seen in shoes.
Hobbits have a long life expectancy of around 100 years, but there are a number of hobbit characters in Tolkien’s narrative who live for far longer.
Both Old Took and Bilbo Baggins are described as being over 130 years old. Hobbits are considered to have “come of age” at 33.
Types Of Hobbits
According to Tolkein, there are three types of hobbits: Harfoots, Fallohides, and Stoors, and these are essentially the ancestors of the hobbits seen in the book by Tolkein.
Harfoots are the original inhabitants of the Shire and the most common types of hobbit, and were originally called “Halflings”.
They are the tallest of the three types and are usually found living in the mountains or hills surrounding the Shire.
Their skin color ranges from light tan to dark brown, and they often wear boots and trousers.
Fallohides are another type of hobbit – the least common type – and tend to be bolder and more adventurous, with many taking up roles as leaders
Stoors are the third type of hobbits, and primarily inhabited areas of swamps and marshes, and are the ancestors of another famous creature from the books, Gollum.
Where Do The Hobbits Appear?
In The Hobbit, we see hobbits living in the Shire, which is located in the North Downs region of England.
This area has a temperate climate and is home to rolling hills, forests, rivers, lakes, and meadows. It is also surrounded by mountains and is close to the sea.
We also meet some hobbits in Rivendell, where Gandalf lives, and in Bree, where Bilbo lives.
These locations are not actually part of the Shire, but rather are places outside of it.
The hobbits are best known for appearing in The Hobbit, and although they do appear in several other stories, such as Farmer Giles of Ham, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, and The Lord of the Rings, they don’t appear in any great numbers.
What Happens In The Hobbit?
As we mentioned, the Hobbit is a novel by Tolkein, and so it follows the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, an ordinary hobbit who finds himself on a quest to reclaim a treasure that was stolen from him.
Bilbo meets Thorin Oakenshield, a dwarf prince who is looking for a way into Erebor, a mountain filled with gold and precious stones.
Together, they travel through the Misty Mountains, where they encounter trolls, goblins, orcs, wargs, elves, and even dragons!
Bilbo eventually discovers that he must go to Smaug’s lair, where the dragon resides, and steal back the treasure that was taken from him.
Along the way, he encounters lots of dangers, including a giant spider, a pack of wolves, and a troll named Bard.
At the end of the story, Bilbo returns the treasure to its rightful owner, Thorin Oakenshield, and then leaves Middle-earth forever.
The Lord of the Rings is set about 50 years after the events of The Hobbit and tells the tale of Frodo Baggins, a young hobbit who joins a fellowship led by Gandalf and travels to destroy the One Ring.
Frodo and his companion’s journey across Middle-earth, encountering many dangerous creatures along the way, including Orcs, Uruk-hai, and Sauron himself.
They finally reach Mount Doom, where they face their greatest challenge yet: destroying the ring itself.
After this, Frodo and his friends return to the Shire and live happily ever after.
The Legacy Of The Hobbit
The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings novels are considered by many people to be two of the most important fantasy novels of all time.
They have inspired countless artists, writers, filmmakers, and game designers over the past century.
Many people believe that Tolkien created these characters because he felt that there were no good role models for children in literature.
He wanted to create a world where children could find heroes and villains equally appealing, and wanted them to feel like they had something special inside themselves, too; essentially, Tolkien believed that if children read books like The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, they would grow up feeling more confident and independent, and he hoped that reading these books would inspire them to become creative and imaginative adults.
In addition, Tolkien thought that the hobbits were perfect examples of how to live life; they were kind, brave, loyal, and honest.
They didn’t care what others thought of them, and they always tried to help those around them.
Final Thoughts
Both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are classic works of fantasy fiction, and both have been adapted into films, games, and television shows (see also ‘65-Inch TV Dimensions‘).
They offer an incredible insight into fantasy fiction, and are often included on many must-read lists; so, what are you waiting for?
What Size Is It started because of that passion, but I have also chosen to write about other size, weight, and value related topics that have interested me.
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