Bofur

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Bofur
Dwarf
Angelo Montanini - Bofur.jpg
Biographical Information
LocationThorin's Halls
Erebor
AffiliationThorin and Company
LanguageKhuzdul and Westron
Family
SiblingsBombur
Physical Description
GenderMale
ClothingYellow hood
GalleryImages of Bofur

Bofur most likely lived in the Blue Mountains with Thorin after the loss of Thráin II.[1] Bofur was one of the thirteen Dwarves of Thorin's company who journeyed to Erebor to challenge the dragon Smaug. After the death of Smaug, Bofur lived at the Lonely Mountain.[2]

History

Bofur's parentage is unknown; the only familial connections mentioned are that Bombur is his brother and Bifur is his cousin.[3] He was not of Durin's line although he was descended from Dwarves of Moria.[1] His birth year is also unknown. However, from Bilbo Baggins' account of the quest to Erebor it is known that the brothers Fíli and Kíli were the youngest of the thirteen "by some fifty years"[4] and that after Thorin had been captured, Balin was "the eldest left".[5] Since Fíli was born in T.A. 2859 and Balin was born in 2763,[1] this would put Bofur's birth between 2809 and 2763, and he would have been between 132 and 178 years old during the quest to Erebor.

The Quest of Erebor

In T.A. 2941, Bofur was one of the four Dwarves in the fifth group to arrive at Bag End, wearing a yellow hood. He asked for mince pies and cheese. During the evening when Thorin called for music, Bofur (along with Bifur) played a clarinet.[6]

In the wolves' glade Bofur shared a pine tree with Bifur, Bombur, and Thorin.[7]

When Gandalf was telling the story of the company's adventures to Beorn, Bofur, Bifur, and Bombur were the last of the Dwarves to show up.[8]

After the barrel ride down the River Running both Bofur and Bifur came out fairly dry and not very knocked about, but they lay down and refused to do anything.[9]

Bofur fought in and survived the Battle of Five Armies. He was given his share of the treasure by Dáin Ironfoot, and made his home in Erebor.[10]

Later life

At Rivendell in T.A. 3019, Glóin told Frodo Baggins that Bofur was still alive and living in Erebor.[2]

Etymology

The name Bǫvurr appears in the Dvergatal. Its meaning is unknown.[11]

Other versions of the legendarium

In one of the earliest manuscript fragments of The Hobbit, Bofur and Bifur went into the hall and came back with their walking sticks, which they turned into clarinets.[12] In the published text the two Dwarves came back from the hall with clarinets that they had left with their walking sticks.[6] John Rateliff (author of The History of The Hobbit) said that in the earliest phase Tolkien had added fairy tale touches of Dwarven magic to emphasize the uncanny, other-worldly nature of the Dwarves as opposed to Bilbo.[13]

Originally, when Bombur needed propping up in Mirkwood after being cut from the spiders' webbing, it was his cousins Bofur and Bifur who provided support.[14] In the published story this was changed to Bombur's cousin Bifur and brother Bofur.[3] Also, in the earlier version, when Smaug first came out and the Dwarves in the valley had to be hauled up to the Back Door, Bifur cried out to save Bombur and Bofur, who were both his brothers.[15] In the published text Bifur cried out for his two cousins.[16]

In Tolkien's unfinished 1960 rewrite of The Hobbit, Bifur, Bofur and Bombur were Thorin's attendants.[17] John D. Rateliff assumes this made them either courtiers or honor-guard.[18]

Notes

In the earliest partial manuscript of The Hobbit more of the dialog later assigned to a few of the Dwarves is more evenly distributed. In the opinion of John Rateliff this streamlining strengthened the story through simplification, but at the cost of relegating some of the Dwarves to obscurity since they barely speak at all. Bofur is one of these "silenced" members of the company.[19]

Portrayal in adaptations

Bofur in adaptations
Bofur in The Hobbit films  

Films

1966: The Hobbit (1966 film):

Bofur is omitted. Thorin Oakenshield only travels with an unnamed guard and the princess of Dale.[20]

1977: The Hobbit (1977 film):

No actor is specified for the role of Bofur.

2012-4: The Hobbit films:

Bofur will be played by James Nesbitt.[21] A description of Bofur in The Hobbit films was released by the studio:

Endearing and likeable, Bofur has a disastrous tendency to state the obvious and blurt out things without thinking. With a love of music and a fine singing voice, Bofur delights in good food and good company and is unfailingly optimistic. Though not especially brave, he will do his best to help those in need, especially those he counts as friends. Along with his brother Bombur and his cousin Bifur, Bofur joined the Quest for the Lonely Mountain partly to seek his fortune – and partly because he was told the beer was free.
Warner Bros.[22]

Radio series

1968: The Hobbit (1968 radio series):

Bofur is played by Denis McCarthy.

1979: The Hobbit (1979 radio series):

No actor is specified for the role of Bofur.

Games

1982: The Hobbit (1982 video game):

Bofur is omitted; Thorin is the only companion of the player, Bilbo Baggins.[23]

2003: The Hobbit (2003 video game):

No actor is credited for the role of Bofur.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk"
  2. 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Many Meetings"
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Flies and Spiders"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Over Hill and Under Hill"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Barrels Out of Bond"
  6. 6.0 6.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "An Unexpected Party"
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire"
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Queer Lodgings"
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "A Warm Welcome"
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "The Return Journey"
  11. Chester Nathan Gould, "Dwarf-Names: A Study in Old Icelandic Religion", published in Publications of the Modern Language Association of America, Vol 44 (1929), issue #4, pp. 939-967
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The First Phase, "The Bladorthin Typescript", p. 36
  13. J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The First Phase, "The Bladorthin Typescript", (iii) Dwarven Magic, p. 54
  14. J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The Second Phase, "Mirkwood", p. 313
  15. J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The Second Phase, "Conversations with Smaug"
  16. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Inside Information"
  17. J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Return to Bag-End, "The Fifth Phase", "A Well-Planned Party", p. 774
  18. J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Return to Bag-End, "The Fifth Phase", "Arrival in Rivendell", note 32
  19. J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The First Phase, "The Pryftan Fragment", (i) The Lost Opening, p. 14
  20. "The Hobbit.mp4" dated 5 January 2012, YouTube (accessed 10 January 2012)
  21. Peter Jackson, "Production begins in New Zealand on The Hobbit" dated 20 March 2011, Facebook (accessed 23 December 2011)
  22. Warner Bros., "Hobbit Movies" dated 7 September 2012, Apple iPhone/iPad App (accessed 19 September 2012)
  23. ZX Computing, 8304 (April/May 1983), p. 76, accessed April 24 2011
Members of Thorin and Company
Thorin · Balin · Dwalin · Fíli · Kíli · Dori · Nori · Ori · Óin · Glóin · Bifur · Bofur · Bombur · Gandalf · Bilbo Baggins