Frodo Baggins' life took an unexpected turn for the worse in The Lord of the Rings when he was tasked with destroying Sauron's One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom. Yet, this perilous quest succeeded in large part due to his particular set of character traits which helped him navigate one pitfall after another, and scrape his way over the finish line.
While normal Hobbits would have found it difficult to make it past the borders of the Shire, Frodo faced down horror after horror and lived to tell the tale. His actions ended up saving the entirety of Middle Earth from Sauron's evil wrath, but it took its toll on his soul as a result, and he was never quite the same.
His Sense Of Adventure
Frodo might not have thought much about adventuring, but he was influenced by the stories his Uncle Bilbo told him over the years. That's a far cry from actually venturing out himself, but it's important to remember that even Bilbo was not initially sold on the idea, either.
When the time came for Frodo to embark on his quest, he took to it with remarkable ease. He even had little trouble sleeping on the ground, as opposed to the comfort of his bed, which many Hobbits had a lot of trouble adapting to. Unfortunately, leaving the Shire would become one of the saddest things about Frodo's character.
His Maturity
While Frodo could be viewed as the typical Hobbit, he did seem to possess a maturity above many of the Shire-folk. He was just as interested in food, drink, and celebration, but he always seemed to be more down to earth and aware that there was more to life than the status quo.
This maturity was undoubtedly a big part of what allowed him to tackle his quest. He knew that in moments of dire circumstance, he would need to put aside the comforts of his leisurely existence, and strive for something more important.
His Common Sense
Many Hobbits were incredibly stuck in their ways, and their isolated nature prevented them from understanding the world writ large. However, Frodo seemed to adapt remarkably well to new surroundings and situations, simply by relying on common sense.
Whether it was paying proper respect to the Elves of Rivendell, or deciding which path to take during his perilous quest, Frodo relied a lot on gut instinct. It didn't always pan out, and nearly led to his death on several occasions, but he could be touted as one of the smarter Hobbits in Shire history.
His Dedication To The Quest
Frodo understood the ramifications of the One Ring, and the individual trying to reacquire it. He knew that if he didn't complete his quest, not even the Shire would be safe from Sauron's wrath. Against all his wishes, he soldiered on to Mordor to complete his task.
Ironically, Frodo could have walked away the moment he delivered the Ring to Rivendell, but he did not. He sacrificed running back to the safety and comforts of the Shire to personally escort the Ring to Mount Doom, where he intended to destroy it.
His Bonds With His Friends
Frodo was extremely loyal to his friends, both old and new alike. Throughout the Fellowship's quest, he befriended a lot of new people, all of whom he grew to love in equal measure. Those bonds transcended culture, class, and creed, which spoke to Frodo's character.
This was not always true of Hobbits, who tended to be distrustful of outsiders. Part of this stemmed from the negative attitudes of other cultures, while some Hobbits developed an animosity of outsiders who tended to make fun of their size and joviality. Frodo was not one of those people.
His Sense Of Humor
Frodo was a rather low-key Hobbit in comparison to some of his fellow folk, but he had just as great a sense of humor. While many Hobbits preferred being at the center of the action, which usually led to them making fools of themselves, Frodo liked to laugh from the sidelines.
As such, he could usually be found watching others lampooning themselves for the cheers of the crowd, though he wasn't above stepping into the spotlight, himself. Frodo's sense of humor was dulled after his arduous quest, but he still retained enough to keep himself happy.
His Connection To The Ring
A big part of Frodo's character in both novel and film was his connection to the One Ring, forged by Sauron, one of his greatest enemies. Even the most stalwart and pure-hearted individuals could never hope to resist its power for very long, and eventually, even Frodo began falling victim to its influence.
Over time, he began bonding with the Ring in a way that seemed outside of his normal character. The experience would forever change him, much like it did his Uncle Bilbo, who never felt completely whole after losing the Ring.
His Friendship With Gandalf
Frodo's relationship with Gandalf the Wizard was arguably closer than that of Bilbo Baggins himself, and that ended up shaping his character as he grew up. The two were so fond of each other that Frodo probably viewed Gandalf as a surrogate grandfather.
He was devastated when Gandalf appeared to have died in the Mines of Moria, and the experience shook him to his core. It would not be until the end of his quest that he discovered his old friend was alive and well, which probably helped heal a lot of emotional wounds.
His Bond With Bilbo
Bilbo Baggins might as well have been a father to Frodo, which went a long way towards influencing the man he'd later become. Frodo grew up under wealth and privilege thanks to Bilbo's dangerous adventure to the Lonely Mountain so many decades prior.
Even Bilbo himself admitted that Frodo had a spirit and character that showed real promise, and he wanted to help influence the young lad to grow up well. Their bond seemed to have paid off, especially when Frodo was "gifted" the One Ring, which was one of the saddest aspects of Bilbo's character.
His Dark Side
Frodo got worse and worse throughout Lord of the Rings, but it truly began to manifest when he began falling under the spell of the One Ring, bringing his most negative traits to the surface.
Under normal circumstances, these impulses would have been suppressed, but the Ring's influence, coupled with the stress of his quest turned Frodo into a vindictive, paranoid, and selfish individual. Whether that was the "real" Frodo or not, is irrelevant. This was as much a part of his character as any other trait previously mentioned.