Hobbit children can be cruel, particularly when they are in their "tweens". Frodo was born a Baggins, but this of course quickly led to such nicknames as "Baggy Pants" and "*** End", followed by excruciating wedgies. Gym class was hell.
So Frodo decided to take the last name of an obscure branch of his family tree and declared he was not, in fact, a Baggins, but an Underhill. "Underwear" and "Underarm" quickly followed.
By the time Frodo had come of age the subject of a last name had become too painful to deal with, and he decided that from now on he would be know only as Frodo. (That's Mr. Frodo to you!) After the events of the War of the Rings, he was known affectionatly as THE Frodo.
His true last name eventually became lost in the mists of time. Which suited him just fine.
--------------------------
When Bilbo left the Shire for the first time, he forgot his handkerchief. Why was this such an important item to him?
[ April 16, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]
|