Trotter, the Ranger Hobbit! - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Birdland · 04-03-2002, 05:38 PM

I'm in the Middle of Reading The History of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the Shadow, and enjoying it immensely. More than I would have figured.

In an early draft of the book, the Hobbits run into a mysterious Halfling at the Prancing Pony. He is smoking by the fire, shrouded in a cloak despite the warmth, and wearing WOODEN SHOES! (OK, that part is kinda lame.)

"Who is that over there?" said Bingo. (Later to become Frodo.)

"Him?" said Barnabas (A Hobbit, later to become Barliman) "O! that is one of the wild folk - Rangers we call' em. ...What his right name is I never heard, but he's known 'round here as Trotter...But there's no accounting for East or West, as we say here, meaning the Rangers and the Shire-Folk, beggin' your pardon."

Of course, we all know that Trotter the "Wild Hobbit", (Tolkien also referred to him as an "Aborigine") evolved into our beloved Strider. And no trace of Trotter remains, except for few descriptions of the "bold" Fallohides in the Prologue and Appendices.

I myself was enchanted by this early concept of Tolkien, having always wondered what type of Hobbit a Fallohide would be. (Remember, that Frodo was thought to have a strong Fallohide "streak" in him.)

But what about the rest of you? Would you have liked to see Tolkien continue down this road? Should LoTR have been an "All Hobbits, all the time" book? Would Trotter have turned out to be an Ernil i Periannath (Prince of the Halflings)? Would he have gone to Mordor with Bin - I mean, Frodo?
(Remember, Sam is not even a gleam in Tolkien's eye yet, but the character of the Dark Lord was evolving.)

Or perhaps you are down on your knees thanking the One that J.R.R. commited Trotter to the "circular file drawer". [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] Or maybe you would have liked a blend of the early and the late drafts. Any thoughts?

04-03-2002, 05:38 PM	#1
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	Trotter, the Ranger Hobbit! I'm in the Middle of Reading The History of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the Shadow, and enjoying it immensely. More than I would have figured. In an early draft of the book, the Hobbits run into a mysterious Halfling at the Prancing Pony. He is smoking by the fire, shrouded in a cloak despite the warmth, and wearing WOODEN SHOES! (OK, that part is kinda lame.) "Who is that over there?" said Bingo. (Later to become Frodo.) "Him?" said Barnabas (A Hobbit, later to become Barliman) "O! that is one of the wild folk - Rangers we call' em. ...What his right name is I never heard, but he's known 'round here as Trotter...But there's no accounting for East or West, as we say here, meaning the Rangers and the Shire-Folk, beggin' your pardon." Of course, we all know that Trotter the "Wild Hobbit", (Tolkien also referred to him as an "Aborigine") evolved into our beloved Strider. And no trace of Trotter remains, except for few descriptions of the "bold" Fallohides in the Prologue and Appendices. I myself was enchanted by this early concept of Tolkien, having always wondered what type of Hobbit a Fallohide would be. (Remember, that Frodo was thought to have a strong Fallohide "streak" in him.) But what about the rest of you? Would you have liked to see Tolkien continue down this road? Should LoTR have been an "All Hobbits, all the time" book? Would Trotter have turned out to be an Ernil i Periannath (Prince of the Halflings)? Would he have gone to Mordor with Bin - I mean, Frodo? (Remember, Sam is not even a gleam in Tolkien's eye yet, but the character of the Dark Lord was evolving.) Or perhaps you are down on your knees thanking the One that J.R.R. commited Trotter to the "circular file drawer". [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] Or maybe you would have liked a blend of the early and the late drafts. Any thoughts?