[elfling]

I do believe the Shire and the Hobbits are the most important things in JRRT's purposes of LoTR. We can most relate to the hobbits, their lifestyle is pleasant and not awe inspiring. The description of the Shire helps us to understand where they come from and who they are, this also lets us understand how encredible it was that they choose to leave and somehow found the abilities to save ont only their Shire but all of ME. The fact elves, dwarves and men, all trained warriers or leaders kept going against the odds is not as amazing as the hobbits struggle to continue and develope an understanding of the peril of the Ring and their task. They are small unimportant people from a small unimportant place who rise up and do the impossible. This is what I think JRRT is showing us with his descriptions of the Shire and hobbits. Any of us from the most benign backgrounds can do amazing thing. By making the Shire so real and wonderfull we alos see the sacrifice it was to leave it. It would have been easier to stay and hide and await the future.