Saturday, March 5, 2011

Peregrin Took

Pippin was the only hobbit who had not yet reached his 'coming of age' when the Fellowship set out (being eight years younger than Merry, while Frodo himself was 50 years of age) and was therefore still in his 'tweens'. He was a worthy accomplice to Merry's plans, but showed his youth as well; he was still a cheerful, if occasionally thoughtless Hobbit, and was first to miss the comforts of Hobbit life. At Rivendell, Elrond almost denied Pippin the chance to accompany Frodo, nearly deciding to send Pippin and Merry as messengers to the Shire. Gandalf, however, supported his and Merry's claims of friendship and loyalty, and they were chosen as the last members of the Fellowship.

After remaining with the Fellowship until its breaking at Amon Hen, Pippin was captured along with Merry by an Orc-band, which included some of Saruman's evil Uruk-hai. While held captive by the Orcs, he purposefully dropped his elven brooch (a gift from Lórien) as a sign for Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, who were in pursuit. During a skirmish amongst his captors, Pippin managed to cut his bonds using a sword held fast by a dead Uruk. In the land of Rohan, Pippin and Merry managed to escape when the Orcs were attacked by a company of Rohirrim, the local people. Upon their escape, he and Merry befriended Treebeard, leader of the Ents. They roused the other Ents to fight against Saruman and they attacked his stronghold of Isengard, partially crippling his power. Due to a special "Ent-draught" that Treebeard made him and Merry drink, Pippin and his cousin became the tallest Hobbits ever in history, at four and a half feet, surpassing Pippin's ancestor, Bullroarer Took, who was four feet and five inches tall.

Pippin picked up the palantír of Orthanc after Gríma Wormtongue foolishly threw it as a missile. Later, Pippin took it out of Gandalf's hands while the wizard slept, putting a rock in its place. Looking into the stone, he had a terrifying encounter with Sauron himself. As a result of this, Gandalf brought Pippin to the city of Minas Tirith, separating him from his friends. After meeting Denethor, Steward of Gondor, Pippin volunteered for service to repay him for the death of Denethor's son Boromir, who had died trying to defend Merry and Pippin from the orcs. This amused Denethor, who accepted the hobbit's offer and made him one of the elite Guards of the Citadel. Later, when a despairing Denethor set out to burn his son Faramir and himself alive, Pippin rushed to fetch Gandalf, saving Faramir's life.

Pippin was part of the Army of the West led by Aragorn, the descendent of the kings of Gondor that assaulted the Black Gate in a desperate gambit. During the final parley with the Mouth of Sauron, Gandalf instructed that members of each race that opposed Sauron be present at the parley, including Gimli son of Glóin for Dwarves, Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of Mirkwood, Elladan and Elrohir (Elrond's twin sons) for Elves, and Pippin for Hobbits. During the last battle before the Morannon, Pippin managed to slay a troll officer before being knocked unconscious when the dying troll fell on him. Gimli later recognised his Hobbit feet under the troll and dragged him out of the battle, saving his life. After the return of the king he was knighted by King Elessar, who then granted him leave to return home. Later he and Merry were instrumental in overthrowing Saruman's forces during the Scouring of the Shire.

In F.A. 6 Pippin married Diamond of Long Cleeve, when she was 32 and he was 37. They had one son, Faramir. Faramir Took later married Samwise Gamgee's daughter Elanor.

In F.A. 13 Pippin inherited his father's title and became 32nd Thain of the Shire, a position he held for 50 years before retiring in F.A. 63. After he retired, he revisited Rohan and Gondor with Merry. He remained in Gondor for the rest of his life.

Pippin died sometime after the year F.A. 70 and his body was set with Merry's in Rath Dínen. Years later, when Aragorn died, they were laid beside him.

Peregrin was the only son of Paladin Took II and wife Eglantine Banks, and therefore inherited Paladin's title of Thain of the Shire upon his death in F.A. 13. He had three older sisters, Pearl Took, Pimpernel Took, and Pervinca Took. His best friend Meriadoc Brandybuck was his cousin, son of Paladin's sister Esmeralda Brandybuck.

31 comments:

  1. Wait what? Frodo was 50? I did not know this. Anyways, one of my favorite parts of the books were the inclusion of the background information. I always wondered what happened outside of the main storyline.

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  2. Good read. I just love LOTR stuff.

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  3. Pippin and Sam are my favorite characters in LoTR ^^

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  4. A really good character Peregrin, one of my favorites!

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  5. Damn, you really know your stuff.

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  6. Peregrin is my favorite!!!

    http://maiorqueportugalbenfica.blogspot.com

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  7. i didn't even know this...little baby peregrin took lol

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  8. Who do you guys prefer, Boromir or Faramir?

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  9. Love LOTR! Bless me little hobbit feet, mister frodo!

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  10. Pippin has always been a favorite character of mine in the LoTR series.

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  11. Ah, it makes me so happy to see someone this dedicated to the wonderful world that Tolkien created. <3 Keep up the good work, I now be following you!

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  12. Peregrin is one of my fav chars in lotr

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  13. good read, lotr is intense stuff.

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  14. pregrin rocks the funniest i think of lotr movies love the part were they are smoking and the ent is there at minas tirith

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  15. Super Interesting. I allready know im goning to be speanding a lot of time here :).
    following, so keep up the good work.

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  16. Does anyone else see the connection to Pippin --> Frodo

    Scottie Pippin --> Michael Jordan?

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  17. wow, how do you keep track of all that lol?
    +follow

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