How Old Is Frodo?

Frodo is 33 years old at the very start of the Lord of the Rings. This is at Bilbo, and Frodo’s birthday party. 

How Old Is Frodo

Frodo is then 50 years old when he sets out for Hobbiton with Pippin and Sam. This means that throughout most of the Lord of the Rings films, he is 50 years old. 

Who Is Frodo?

Frodo Baggins is a fictional character in The Lord of the Rings. The Lord of the Rings is written by J. R. R. Tolkien. Curious about when was Lord of the Rings written?

Frodo is a hobbit in the fantasy novel, who inherits the One Ring from his cousin Bilbo Baggins, and heads out on a quest to destroy the ring on instruction from Bilbo. He takes it to Mount Doom in Mordor to the fires in order to destroy it. 

Frodo’s name comes from Fróda, a word found in Old English that means wise. He’s the very embodiment of selflessness and courage, and he is a very good character. 

As a character, he grows throughout his quest and through the story, becoming a heroic character eventually. 

How Old Is Elijah Wood? 

Elijah Wood plays Frodo in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy. He was 18 when filming started for the movies. There is some controversy surrounding this decision.

It is stated in the books that hobbies reach maturity at the age of 33, and so some people think it is appropriate to hire such a young actor to play an older character.

However, there is no indication that hobbies age slower than humans, so for this reason, it may seem strange that a young actor is playing Frodo. 

Frodo’s Background

Frodo is introduced in the Lord of the Rings as the cousin of Bilbo Baggins. Frodo had lost his parents in a boating accident when he was just 12 years old.

Frodo moved to Bag End with Bilbo at the age of 21, where he learnt Elvish. The two went on walking adventures together.

What Is Frodo’s Character Like?

Frodo is described as a character who is selfless and full of courage. This is why he is set up to be the ring-bearer over Sam, Merry and Pippin, who all accompany Frodo on his quest.

Sam is sturdy, and Merry and Pippin are clowns, making Frodo the courageous and reliable one of the group. 

Frodo is shy and young in comparison to a lot of the other hobbits, and he had lighter skin due to his ancestry. Due to the influence of the ring, Frodo is described as appearing to be 33 even when he has aged to 50. 

Frodo was considered to be quite odd in comparison to the other hobbits. He was interested in faraway places and he didn’t fit the personality of most of the other Hobbits. 

Frodo pities Gollum, showing him to be extremely kind and compassionate. He also seems to have an innate sense for dangerous situations.

What Does Frodo Wear?

Frodo dresses in typical Hobbit clothing when he sets off on his quest. This consists of knee breeches, waistcoat, jacket, shirt and cloak. He doesn’t carry any weapons with him aside from a pocket knife, though that changes when he receives Sting from Bilbo.

Throughout the trilogy, Frodo changes a few times, putting on heavier woolen clothing that is more suitable for colder weather. 

He later removes this clothing when he finds some Elven clothes that fit him. Frodo then receives a special cloak from Galadriel in Lórien from the fellowship of the ring, which gives him special powers to blend in with his surroundings.

However, when he is captured by Orcs, he loses all of his clothing and possessions. Frodo’s clothing changes throughout the trilogy. 

Facts About Frodo 

Frodo is a very interesting character who is central to the story. However, there are lots of interesting facts about Frodo that you wouldn’t be aware of. These include: 

Frodo And Bilbo Share A Birthday 

The film adaptations of the book downplay the fact that Frodo and Bilbo share a birthday. The party that takes place in the film is on September 22nd – the day of both of their birthdays. 

At the beginning of this film, Bilbo is turning 111 years old, and Frodo is turning 33.

According to Tolkien in the novel, 33 is the age at which hobbits become adults. 

Frodo Has The Ring For 17 Years 

Frodo gets the ring on his 33rd birthday, however, Frodo does not leave on his quest until he is 50 years old. This means that he has had the ring for 17 years without it being a problem.

The Lord of the Rings films miss out these years, as Gandalf is off researching the ring and Frodo stays in the Shire. 

Why did Frodo leave at the end of the books, though? The answer is quite a doozie!

Frodo’s Parents

Frodo’s parents are not mentioned in the film adaptation, however the death of Frodo’s parents is much talked about in the gossip surrounding the novels. Drogo and Primula suffer suspicious deaths during a boating accident.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How Old Is Frodo In Human Years?

This is a difficult question to answer, however, because hobbits celebrate their coming of age at the age of 33, some people presume that the age of 33 is the equivalent of humans reaching maturity at the age of 18.

However, some people believe that Tolkein would have said that humans came of age at 33, too, meaning that humans and hobbit years were the same as each other. 

Was Frodo Always Named Frodo?

Originally, Frodo was named Bingo, and was supposed to be Bilbo’s son. However, over time, the character developed and the name changed to Frodo. In the first draft of the book, there was no character that resembled Frodo whatsoever. 

Final Thoughts 

Frodo is 33 years old when the Lord of the Rings begins. This is the age that he is turning at his birthday party at the very beginning of the story. Frodo is 50 years old when he leaves Hobbiton and sets out on his quest.

Be sure to check out more of our guides where we talk about many interest aspects of Lord of the Rings. For instance, does Gandalf die? And what happened after Lord of the Rings?

Alternatively, check out our Nobel prize winning books post or learn how to gift an Audible book right now!

Sophie Andrea