When Peter Jackson brought the world The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, audiences were introduced to the fascinating race of hobbits. Small, humble, with furry feet and a love for comfort and pies, they unexpectedly became symbols of great courage. But who are they really, where did they come from, and why did they become the heroes in the battle against evil?
Tolkien never provided a definitive answer. In the prologue to The Fellowship of the Ring, he admits that the origins of hobbits are shrouded in mystery. Neither elves nor the wise chroniclers of Middle-earth could say when or how this race came into being. What is known, however, is that hobbits are kin to humans. They are closer to humans than dwarves or elves but took a quieter, more peaceful path.
Once, hobbits lived in the upper reaches of the Anduin, between the Misty Mountains and the Clearwater. But the Shadow came to these lands. The land darkened, the forest became Twilight, and the hobbits fled — small people with large steps — on a journey known as the Days of Wandering. They crossed mountains and followed rivers until they found their future home — the Shire. Thus began their story as a nation.
Among the hobbits, there were three tribes. The Stoutfoots — dark-skinned, nimble, and living in burrows. The Lightfoots — adventurous hunters, more likely to leave their hills behind. The Strongfeet— robust, river-dwelling hobbits, with beards and even a knack for swimming. All of them merged into one people when they settled in the West. And although bravery wasn’t their trait, history proved that hobbits were capable of great deeds.
Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit ventured alone — without a sword, but with a good heart. And in The Lord of the Rings, four hobbits — not warriors, not wizards — took a journey that others couldn’t. This revelation showed that the quietest of souls can be the strongest.
Thus, the hobbits, once forgotten in grand chronicles, became the heroes of Middle-earth. Because even in the smallest burrow, a great soul can reside.
