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{{hobbit
{{hobbit infobox
| image=[[Image:Brothers Hildebrandt - Farmer Maggot's Hospitality.jpg|300px]]
| name=Farmer Maggot
| name="Farmer" Maggot
| image=[[File:Henning Janssen - Harvesting Maggots.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Harvesting Maggots" by [[Henning Janssen]]
| pronun=
| othernames=
| othernames=
| birth=
| titles=
| position=Farmer
| location=[[Bamfurlong]], the [[Marish]]
| affiliation=
| language=
| birth=Late [[Third Age]]
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| death=
| death=
| deathlocation=
| age=
| notablefor=
| family=
| parentage=
| parentage=
| location=[[Bamfurlong]]
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Mrs. Maggot]]
| children=Five children (at least)
| gender=Male
| gender=Male
| hair=Probably brown
| height=
|}}
| hair=
'''Farmer Maggot''' was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] who lived in [[Bamfurlong]] in the [[Eastfarthing]] of the [[Shire]]. He farmed in the [[Marish]], close to the Shire's borders. Like many Hobbits of the borderlands he lived above ground, as opposed to a [[Hobbit-holes|Hobbit-hole]].
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
'''Farmer Maggot''' was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] who at the time of the [[War of the Ring]] owned a farm called [[Bamfurlong]]<ref name="Boating">{{AB|2}}</ref> in the [[Marish]] in the [[Eastfarthing]] of [[the Shire]]. Like most inhabitants of the Marish, which was fertile but boggy, Maggot and his family lived in a house instead of a [[Hobbit-holes|hobbit-hole]]. Maggot had a wife, at least two sons and three daughters, plus a few other hobbits who belonged to the farm.<ref name="mushroom">{{FR|I4}}</ref>
Farmer Maggot was a shrewd hobbit who was familiar with [[Tom Bombadil]]<ref name="Boating"/> and friendly to all [[Brandybuck Family|Brandybucks]]. Living in the borderlands Maggot had to be more on his guard than most Hobbits and for protection he kept three huge dogs called [[Grip]], [[Fang (dog)|Fang]], and [[Wolf (dog)|Wolf]].<ref name="mushroom"/>


==History==
==History==
Maggot was very cautious for a Hobbit and kept three large dogs to protect him: [[Fang (dog)|Fang]], [[Grip]], and [[Wolf (dog)|Wolf]]. Because [[Frodo Baggins]], while he lived in [[Brandy Hall]], used to steal [[mushrooms]] from him, Maggot once beat him and terrified him with his dogs.
When [[Frodo Baggins]] was young he lived in [[Brandy Hall]] and used to sneak into Farmer Maggot's fields to steal [[mushrooms]].  After catching Frodo thieving several times, Maggot finally beat the young mushroom poacher and had his dogs chase Frodo all the way to the [[Bucklebury Ferry]].  Frodo remained terrified of the old farmer and his dogs thereafter.<ref name="mushroom"/>
On [[25 September]] of {{TA|3018}}, Maggot was approached by a [[Nazgûl|Black Rider]] who asked him if he has seen ''[[Baggins Family|Baggins]]''.  Maggot told him that the Bagginses were in [[Hobbiton]]. The rider said that this Baggins had left Hobbiton and that he would reward Maggot with gold if he informed him the next time he came. Maggot however, despite the chill this stranger caused him, was enraged by his trespassing and threatened him with his dogs. Though Maggot's dogs yelped and ran, the rider, infuriated by the hobbit's defiance, hissed and left like thunder.
Later that day Frodo, [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] came to Maggot's farm. After [[Mrs. Maggot]] served the travelers mugs of beer, Maggot related his story about the stranger.  Frodo thanked the farmer for his hospitality and said that they had to hurry along. Maggot then offered the hobbits supper and said that he would take them by wagon to the Ferry thereafter.  The invitation was gratefully accepted.
In the night Maggot and his passengers headed for the Ferry, and they encountered [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] looking for them.  Upon reaching their destination, Maggot set out for home after giving Frodo a gift from Mrs Maggot.  The gift was a basket of mushrooms.<ref name="mushroom"/>


Farmer Maggot was familiar with [[Tom Bombadil]] and friendly to all [[Brandybuck Family|Brandybucks]].
==Etymology==
Tolkien says that the name "Maggot" was a [[Hobbitish]] name whose meaning has been lost in history. ''Maggot'' should not be understood as the English word [[Wikipedia:maggot|maggot]] or larva. The similarity is coincidental.
 
==Other Versions of the Legendarium==
In the first phase of writing ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' the visit to Farmer Maggot was roughly the same as the final version, but in a much abbreviated form.  Bingo (who would later be named Frodo Baggins) had never stolen mushrooms from Bamfurlong.  The farmer had only one small dog named Gip and while he had a wife, no children or other members of the household were mentioned.  At the first sight of the dog, Bingo put on his [[The One Ring|Ring]] and stayed invisible during the visit.  Odo and Frodo Took (who were later changed into Pippin and Sam) enjoyed a beer while Maggot told them of the visit by the Black Rider.  At the end of the story invisible Bingo lifted Maggot's mug and drank his beer, scaring the old farmer who was glad to see the two (visible) hobbits run away.  The hobbits did not get a wagon ride to the Ferry nor did they receive any mushrooms.<ref>{{RS|Maggot}}</ref>
When [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] came to write about [[Tom Bombadil]] he toyed with the idea of making Farmer Maggot some other creature than a hobbit, possibly akin to Tom himself.<ref>{{RS|Tom}}</ref> As this notion brewed a line was given to Frodo Took stating that Maggot was "not a hobbit – not a pure hobbit anyway" and that he had hair under his chin.<ref>{{RS|1VIN}}, note 7</ref>
Farmer Maggot changed considerably in the second phase of writing the story, although he was still a hobbit. Now the One Ring was much more dangerous and Bingo was not supposed to wear it frivolously. However, Tolkien still wanted to retain the mysteriously levitating beer mug incident, which meant that Bingo had to wear the Ring in Maggot's house.  To justify this the visit to Bamfurlong took on a much darker hue.  Young Bingo used to steal mushrooms.  One day, in fear of being mauled, he threw a rock at one of the farmer's dogs and killed it.  Maggot beat Bingo and told him he would kill him the next time he trespassed, and would have killed him then if Bingo had not belonged to a rich and powerful family. When the hobbits approached the farm, terrified Bingo slipped on the Ring. Inside the house Maggot emphasized his unrelenting hostility toward all Bagginses.  Bingo pulls the floating beer mug trick but then berates the bewildered farmer, pushes him into the fire-irons, and makes his hat sail out of the house.
[[Christopher Tolkien]] commented that the difficulty of keeping the Ring secret eventually killed this version. When the story was rewritten again to make Maggot a shrewd but kindly soul the last of the lighthearted tricks with the Ring was removed from the developing story.<ref>{{RS|Short}}</ref>
In yet another version of the beginning Farmer Maggot's hostility,it was [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] and Bingo who stumbled onto Maggot's farm one foggy evening.  They accidentally got into his garden and Maggot set a great wolf-like dog upon them.  Bilbo broke the dog's head to save Bingo from a mauling and Maggot flung Bilbo into a ditch. Maggot threatened to kill Bingo, Bilbo threatened to come back armed, and Maggot said he had a weapon or two himself.<ref>{{RS|2XVIIN}}, note 6</ref>
 
==Portrayal in adaptations==


On [[September 25]] of [[Third Age 3018]], Maggot was approached by a [[Nazgûl]] who asked him about the name ''[[Baggins]]''. Maggot told him that the Bagginses are in [[Hobbiton]]. The rider told him that this Baggins left Hobbiton and that he would reward him with gold if he informed him the next time he comes. Maggot however, despite the chill this stranger cause to him, was enraged for the trespass, and threatened him with his dogs. The rider hissed, and left like thunder.
<center><gallery>
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Farmer Maggot.png|''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''
File:Maggot viv lotr.JPG|[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
File:Farmer Maggot in LOTRO.png|''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
</gallery></center>


Before entering [[Buckland]], Frodo, [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] had a stop from his farm. Although Frodo was afraid of him, he met his true personality. [[Mrs. Maggot]] served them mugs of beer, and Maggot said the story about the stranger and offered his hospitality for the night. Frodo understood how likable he is in person and felt sorry that he missed a friend for so many years. Since the Hobbits were hasty, Maggot offered them to transport them with his wagon up to the [[Bucklebury Ferry]].  
'''1981: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|BBC Radio's The Lord of the Ring]]'':'''
:[[John Bott]] provided the voice of Farmer Maggot.


In the night they saw [[Meriadoc Brandybuck Family|Merry]] looking for them. After they reached their destination, Maggot went back, not before giving him a gift from Mrs Maggot, a pack of mushrooms.
'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
==Etymology==
:[[Cameron Rhodes]] portrays Farmer Maggot when he is questioned by a Ringwraith. In a later scene where he chases away the four hobbits from his fields, his voice is provided by sound engineer [[Mike Hopkins]].
Tolkien says that the name "Maggot" is a [[Hobbitish]] name whose meaning is lost in history. ''Maggot'' should not be understood as the English word [[Wikipedia:maggot|maggot]] or larva. The similarity is coincidental.
 
'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:Farmer Maggot appears at the end of the Shire levels.


== See Also ==
== See Also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Farmer Maggot|Images of Farmer Maggot]]
* [[:Category:Images of Farmer Maggot|Images of Farmer Maggot]]
{{references}}
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Maggot]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]


[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[de:Maggot]]
[[de:Maggot]]
[[fi:Magot]]
[[fi:Magot]]

Revision as of 08:47, 15 January 2017

Farmer Maggot
Hobbit
Henning Janssen - Harvesting Maggots.jpg
"Harvesting Maggots" by Henning Janssen
Biographical Information
PositionFarmer
LocationBamfurlong, the Marish
BirthLate Third Age
Family
SpouseMrs. Maggot
ChildrenFive children (at least)
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Farmer Maggot

Farmer Maggot was a Hobbit who at the time of the War of the Ring owned a farm called Bamfurlong[1] in the Marish in the Eastfarthing of the Shire. Like most inhabitants of the Marish, which was fertile but boggy, Maggot and his family lived in a house instead of a hobbit-hole. Maggot had a wife, at least two sons and three daughters, plus a few other hobbits who belonged to the farm.[2]

Farmer Maggot was a shrewd hobbit who was familiar with Tom Bombadil[1] and friendly to all Brandybucks. Living in the borderlands Maggot had to be more on his guard than most Hobbits and for protection he kept three huge dogs called Grip, Fang, and Wolf.[2]

History

When Frodo Baggins was young he lived in Brandy Hall and used to sneak into Farmer Maggot's fields to steal mushrooms. After catching Frodo thieving several times, Maggot finally beat the young mushroom poacher and had his dogs chase Frodo all the way to the Bucklebury Ferry. Frodo remained terrified of the old farmer and his dogs thereafter.[2]

On 25 September of T.A. 3018, Maggot was approached by a Black Rider who asked him if he has seen Baggins. Maggot told him that the Bagginses were in Hobbiton. The rider said that this Baggins had left Hobbiton and that he would reward Maggot with gold if he informed him the next time he came. Maggot however, despite the chill this stranger caused him, was enraged by his trespassing and threatened him with his dogs. Though Maggot's dogs yelped and ran, the rider, infuriated by the hobbit's defiance, hissed and left like thunder.

Later that day Frodo, Sam and Pippin came to Maggot's farm. After Mrs. Maggot served the travelers mugs of beer, Maggot related his story about the stranger. Frodo thanked the farmer for his hospitality and said that they had to hurry along. Maggot then offered the hobbits supper and said that he would take them by wagon to the Ferry thereafter. The invitation was gratefully accepted.

In the night Maggot and his passengers headed for the Ferry, and they encountered Merry looking for them. Upon reaching their destination, Maggot set out for home after giving Frodo a gift from Mrs Maggot. The gift was a basket of mushrooms.[2]

Etymology

Tolkien says that the name "Maggot" was a Hobbitish name whose meaning has been lost in history. Maggot should not be understood as the English word maggot or larva. The similarity is coincidental.

Other Versions of the Legendarium

In the first phase of writing The Lord of the Rings the visit to Farmer Maggot was roughly the same as the final version, but in a much abbreviated form. Bingo (who would later be named Frodo Baggins) had never stolen mushrooms from Bamfurlong. The farmer had only one small dog named Gip and while he had a wife, no children or other members of the household were mentioned. At the first sight of the dog, Bingo put on his Ring and stayed invisible during the visit. Odo and Frodo Took (who were later changed into Pippin and Sam) enjoyed a beer while Maggot told them of the visit by the Black Rider. At the end of the story invisible Bingo lifted Maggot's mug and drank his beer, scaring the old farmer who was glad to see the two (visible) hobbits run away. The hobbits did not get a wagon ride to the Ferry nor did they receive any mushrooms.[3]

When J.R.R. Tolkien came to write about Tom Bombadil he toyed with the idea of making Farmer Maggot some other creature than a hobbit, possibly akin to Tom himself.[4] As this notion brewed a line was given to Frodo Took stating that Maggot was "not a hobbit – not a pure hobbit anyway" and that he had hair under his chin.[5]

Farmer Maggot changed considerably in the second phase of writing the story, although he was still a hobbit. Now the One Ring was much more dangerous and Bingo was not supposed to wear it frivolously. However, Tolkien still wanted to retain the mysteriously levitating beer mug incident, which meant that Bingo had to wear the Ring in Maggot's house. To justify this the visit to Bamfurlong took on a much darker hue. Young Bingo used to steal mushrooms. One day, in fear of being mauled, he threw a rock at one of the farmer's dogs and killed it. Maggot beat Bingo and told him he would kill him the next time he trespassed, and would have killed him then if Bingo had not belonged to a rich and powerful family. When the hobbits approached the farm, terrified Bingo slipped on the Ring. Inside the house Maggot emphasized his unrelenting hostility toward all Bagginses. Bingo pulls the floating beer mug trick but then berates the bewildered farmer, pushes him into the fire-irons, and makes his hat sail out of the house.

Christopher Tolkien commented that the difficulty of keeping the Ring secret eventually killed this version. When the story was rewritten again to make Maggot a shrewd but kindly soul the last of the lighthearted tricks with the Ring was removed from the developing story.[6]

In yet another version of the beginning Farmer Maggot's hostility,it was Bilbo and Bingo who stumbled onto Maggot's farm one foggy evening. They accidentally got into his garden and Maggot set a great wolf-like dog upon them. Bilbo broke the dog's head to save Bingo from a mauling and Maggot flung Bilbo into a ditch. Maggot threatened to kill Bingo, Bilbo threatened to come back armed, and Maggot said he had a weapon or two himself.[7]

Portrayal in adaptations

1981: BBC Radio's The Lord of the Ring:

John Bott provided the voice of Farmer Maggot.

2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring:

Cameron Rhodes portrays Farmer Maggot when he is questioned by a Ringwraith. In a later scene where he chases away the four hobbits from his fields, his voice is provided by sound engineer Mike Hopkins.

2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game):

Farmer Maggot appears at the end of the Shire levels.

See Also

References