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“He found himself wondering at times, especially in the autumn, about the wild lands, and strange visions of mountains that he had never seen came into his dreams.”
Here, Frodo reflects that there is a part of him that regrets not going with Bilbo when he left the Shire. This line is important for Frodo’s characterization because it suggests that he, like Bilbo, is not a typical Hobbit. In the prologue, Tolkien explains that Hobbits value peace and tranquility above all else. Tolkien solidifies that Frodo is the perfect choice for the Ring-bearer because he longs for the type of adventure he will never find in the Shire.
“And I suppose I must go alone, if I am to do that and save the Shire.”
Frodo delivers this line to Gandalf after Gandalf tells him that the Ring must be taken to the Elves because the dark forces know that the Ring is in the Shire. This line is a crucial turning point for Frodo; it is here that he accepts his quest. Even more importantly, this line reveals the depth of Frodo’s selfless nature, as he decides to overcome his own fears in an effort to protect his home.
“But though his fear was so great that it seemed to be part of the very darkness that was round him, he found himself as he lay thinking about Bilbo Baggins and his stories, of their jogging along together in the lanes of the Shire and talking about roads and adventures. There is a seed of courage hidden (often deeply, it is true) in the heart of the fattest and most timid Hobbit, waiting for some final and desperate danger to make it grow…He thought he had come to the end of his adventure, and a terrible end, but the thought hardened him. He found himself stiffening, as if for a final spring; he no longer felt limp like a helpless prey.”
Here, Frodo decides to save himself and his friends from the barrow-wights instead of giving into fear. This is a crucial moment for Frodo’s character development because it is Frodo’s first act of valor. Every hero’s journey story includes a moment when the hero truly becomes a hero for the first time. Frodo’s brave decision to save his friends instead of simply slipping on the Ring and saving himself marks Frodo’s heroic transformation, something that will only continue as the novel, and the trilogy as a whole, progresses.
“I will take the Ring… though I do not know the way.”
Frodo delivers this famous line during the Council of Elrond when he decides that he will be the Ring-bearer and journey to Mordor so that he can destroy the Ring and defeat Sauron. This moment reveals the depth of Frodo’s heroism, selflessness, and inherent goodness because he, a young Hobbit from the Shire, is the first to volunteer for this potentially fatal mission. It is important to note that Frodo is the only one who steps forward at first despite being in a room filled with Elves, Dwarves, and Men who are much more seasoned fighters and adventurers than he is.
“He wished with all his heart that he was back [in the Shire], and in those days, mowing the lawn, or pottering among the flowers, and that he had never heard of Moria, or mithril – or the Ring.”
In a staggeringly honest moment, Frodo longs for the comforts of home while the rest of the Fellowship sleeps. Frodo understands the importance of his mission but here, in a quiet moment alone, he allows himself to briefly wonder what his life would be like if he had never been pulled into the fight against Sauron. This moment is significant because it reveals that Frodo is not always confident in his ability to complete the task ahead. The moment is also a testament to Frodo’s resilience because he continues to persevere in spite of his occasional doubts.
