Was Aragorn a Hobbit? What Happened to Bilbo’s Son? Curious Facts About Middle-earth From Tolkien Drafts
We explore how the creator originally envisioned his fantasy universe.
The canonical image of The Lord of the Rings seems unshakable to us, but Tolkien’s early drafts reveal surprising transformations of familiar characters. It turns out that the world of Middle-earth could have looked entirely different.
A Hobbit Named Trotter
The prototype of Aragorn in the first drafts was a hobbit named Trotter — a "wild ranger in wooden shoes." This character accompanied the hobbits to Bree before eventually evolving into a Dúnadan man.
Frodo Bingo Baggins
The main character of the trilogy was originally named Bingo Baggins and was Bilbo’s son. After numerous revisions, he became Bilbo’s nephew, named Frodo. Frodo’s friends also had different names — Odo, Folco, and Faramond.
The Death of Galadriel That Never Happened
In early versions, the Lady of Lothlórien died at the end of the story. Only in the final version did she sail to Valinor, preserving one of the wisest and most enduring figures in Middle-earth.
A Love Triangle That Wasn’t
Initial drafts suggested a romance between Aragorn and Éowyn. Arwen appeared only in the final version, altering the fate of both characters and creating a new iconic love story.
Elvish Language with Finnish Roots
The Quenya language, spoken by the High Elves, was inspired by Finnish. Tolkien, fascinated by the Kalevala epic, used it as the basis for one of the most well-developed constructed languages in literature. Interestingly, Sindarin (the language of the Grey Elves) has Welsh roots.
