J.R.R Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy might have a few different protagonists, but Frodo Baggins is arguably the main character. While the movies follow a lot of his journey, they aren’t able to go into as much detail about some things about him as the books.
There are many facts about Frodo, especially from his past before Bilbo leaves the Shire, that are left out in the movies. There are also some facts about Frodo’s life after he destroys the One Ring that don’t make it into the final film.
We’ve collected a list of ten of the most interesting facts about Frodo that aren’t in the movies.
FRODO WAS KNOWN TO HAVE A REBELLIOUS SIDE
In the books, most Hobbits are known to keep their noses down and not be interested in adventure at all. This is why Bilbo is seen as such an anomaly. However, it’s known that the Brandybuck family has a bit of an adventurous side in them.
Frodo definitely got this adventurous spirit on both sides of his family it seems. He was known to be somewhat rebellious and would cause trouble with his friends Pippin and Merry. They would often steal mushrooms from Farmer Maggot.
HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH HIS RELATIVES MERRY AND PIPPIN
Seeing as how he clearly had some of the traits from his Brandybuck side, it’s not that surprising that Frodo spent a lot of his childhood in Brandy Hall in Buckland with his mother's side of the family. This was the ancestral home of the Brandybuck family.
His mother was Primula Brandybuck and Meriadoc Brandybuck was his first cousin once removed. He was also related to Peregrin Took who was his second cousin twice removed.
WHEN HE WAS 12 YEARS OLD, HIS PARENTS DIED IN A BOATING ACCIDENT.
While it’s implied in the movies, there isn’t much detail given about Frodo’s family. When he was only twelve years old, Frodo became an orphan. This happened after both of his parents drowned on the Brandywine River in a boating accident.
His father's name was Drogo Baggins. After his parents' death, he stayed for a while at Brandy Hall and was cared for by relatives there.
HE LIVED AT BRANDY HALL UNTIL HE WAS ADOPTED BY BILBO AS HIS HEIR
While he was taken care of by multiple relatives for a while at Brandy Hall, this didn’t last forever. He was adopted by Bilbo Baggins when Bilbo was 99 years old. Bilbo then had Frodo come live with him at Bag End. He also made Frodo the heir of his rather large fortune.
Bilbo was actually his first cousin once removed on his mother’s side and his second cousin once removed on his father’s side. But, they saw each other as uncle and nephew.
HE LEARNED ELVISH AND ABOUT THE LORE OF MIDDLE-EARTH FROM BILBO
It’s no secret that Bilbo went on quite the adventure in his younger years. As such, he learned a lot about the world and had a thirst for knowledge about Middle-Earth. He then passed on a lot of this knowledge to Frodo.
Frodo was taught Elvish by Bilbo and also a lot about the maps and lore of Middle-Earth. This gave everyone the sense that Frodo was rather intelligent and not like most Hobbits.
HIS DEPARTURE FROM HOBBITON WASN’T AS DRAMATIC IN THE BOOKS
In the movies, Frodo is sent with the ring from Bag End in quite a dramatic fashion. Gandalf tells him he has to leave and he flees quickly with Sam. But, in the books, leaving the Shire was planned for a while.
Frodo makes plans to purchase a house in Crickhollow and move to Buckland as a cover while planning with Sam to go to Rivendell. Frodo leaves Bag End because he plans to, but he does do so just in time before the Black Riders come to the Shire.
FRODO AND HIS FRIENDS HAD TO FIGHT SARUMAN WHO HAD TAKEN OVER THE SHIRE
One of the biggest differences between the books and the movies is that the movies don’t show all of the events that happened after the Ring was destroyed.
In the movies, Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin return to the Shire and it has been untouched by the war. But, in the books, when they return they find that Saruman has taken over the Shire. Frodo and the other three have to gather the Shire together and have them defeat Saurman’s forces in what is known as the Battle of Bywater.
HE WAS BRIEFLY DEPUTY MAYOR OF THE SHIRE
After the Battle of Bywater, Saruman is killed by Wormtongue. The Shire is then returned to a state of relative peace and Frodo spends some time as Deputy Mayor of the Shire.
While he takes on this role for a while, he doesn’t do so for too long. He struggles with the impacts of the quest to destroy the One Ring. Plus, his shoulder wound given to him from the Nazgul continues to cause him pain throughout his entire life.
HE WAS SAID TO BE TALLER AND BETTER LOOKING THAN MOST HOBBITS
One interesting fact about Frodo that many people might miss when watching the movies, and even when reading the books, is that he’s seen as a rather good looking Hobbit. It’s noted by Gandalf that he is taller than most Hobbits as well and has bright eyes.
Aragorn also notes that he is good looking for a Hobbit. There is also the sense given in the books that he looks more aristocratic than the average Hobbit.
SAM LATER JOINED HIM IN THE GREY HAVENS
In the movies, it’s shown that Frodo is able to get a place to the Grey Havens, or the Undying Lands, because of his status as a Ringbearer. He leaves as an attempt to find peace and healing.
While in the movies we see his departure and how hard that is for Sam, these two actually are able to be reunited. In the 61st year of the Fourth Age, Sam is able to reunite with Frodo when he sails to the Undying Lands himself.