The Light in Frodo's Face

[Child of the 7th Age]

Greyhavener--

Did Tolkien create Frodo's lineage the ancient history of Middle-earth, before or after he wrote the LOTR?

I'm unclear what you mean by "Frodo's lineage"? Please clarify, and I'll try to help with information if I can. Do you mean what Tolkien says about the origin of hobbits (which isn't very much) or the general history of middle earth in the earlier ages?

The Silmarillion which traces the history of the earlier ages has virtually nothing to say about hobbits. Many of these stories were written before LOTR, although Tolkien continued working on this material, off and on, right up to his death. Then his son Christopher did the editing, added to the stories, decided which parts to use, etc.

The only real information which Tolkien gives on hobbit origins is in the prologue to the LOTR. This is where he discusses Stoors, Fallohides, and Harfoots, plus their earlier origin in the Vales of Anduin. The appendix of LOTR does have some hobbit pedigrees.

sharon, the 7th age hobbit