In a franchise known for its formidable warriors, Hobbits are certainly the odd ones out in The Lord of the Rings. Known for their laid-back attitudes and their propensity for distrusting outsiders, the Hobbits rarely involved themselves in others’ affairs. Of course, all of that changed in The Hobbit when Gandalf “took a little nudge out of [Bilbo’s] door,” and the rest of his adventure was history. Years later, Bilbo’s nephew, Frodo, saved all of Middle-earth from Sauron’s Ring.
It’s fair to say that Hobbits, while they kept to themselves, were important to Middle-earth’s history. And from their feet and their love for multiple meals, there are a lot of interesting facts about Hobbits. So, with that being the case, here’s a look at some of the weirdest parts of Hobbit anatomy.
Middle-earth Has Multiple Types of Hobbits
Sometime during the Third Age, Hobbits appeared out of nowhere in the Valley of the Anduin River. When other races discovered them, there were three distinct types of Hobbits. The Stoors (like Smeagol) liked water and boats and even wore boots, the Fallohides were taller and more adventurous than the other two types of Hobbits and were more open to outsiders, and the Harfoots were most like traditional Hobbits because they lived in burrows. However, in the year TA 1601, almost all of the Hobbits migrated to the Shire, and the three types began to intermingle, merging their characteristics and blurring the lines between them.
Hobbits Have Pointed Ears Like Elves
Although no one knew exactly when or how the race of Hobbits first showed up in Middle-earth, it was pretty clear that Hobbits were genetically closest to the race of Men. Proportionally, Hobbits had shorter legs, but for the most part, they were simply small people. There was, however, one exception. Like the Elves, Hobbits had slightly pointed ears, although it can sometimes be hard to see in the films with the Hobbits' curly hair. And given Hobbits’ good eyesight and hearing, it could be possible that Elves had a place somewhere in the Hobbits’ mysterious and undocumented history.
Hobbit Feet Are Amazing
When most people think of Hobbits, they would automatically think of their feet. That makes perfect sense because Hobbits’ most recognizable features are their overly hairy and barefoot feet. It’s worth nothing, though, that, according to J.R.R. Tolkien, Hobbits don’t actually have large feet. That’s a myth perpetuated by artwork from the Brothers Hildebrant and the feet-like shoes that actors wore in Peter Jackson’s adaptation. The myth notwithstanding, Hobbits’ feet are still amazing. While furry on top, Hobbits’ feet were incredibly tough on the bottom, which was why they walked around barefoot. That also allowed them to be ever so quiet with little effort, which was one reason why Gandalf chose Bilbo to be his burglar.
A Heavy Hobbit Is a Happy Hobbit
Make no mistake, Hobbits loved to eat. When they could, Hobbits would eat six or seven meals a day -- breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, luncheon, afternoon tea and dinner. Couple those eating habits with the Hobbits’ dislike for anything requiring physical exertion, and only so many things can happen to a Hobbit’s midsection. So, to a Hobbit, being large wasn’t a reason to exercise -- it was a sign of contentment with life.
Hobbits Love to Smoke and Drink
There are only two things that Hobbits might enjoy more than eating and that’s smoking and drinking. Tolkien confirmed their love of both things, and they became regular, visual elements in The Lord of the Rings movies. Merry and Pippin, especially, were quite fond of ale and pipeweed in the films. And it's entirely possible that smoking may be the reason that Hobbits ate so much, being that it could give them the munchies.