Gerontius Took: Difference between revisions

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{{hobbit
{{hobbit infobox
|image=
| name=Gerontius Took
|name=Gerontius Took
| image=[[File:Liz Danforth - Gerontius took.jpg|250px]]
|othernames=Old Took
| caption="Gerontius Took" by [[Liz Danforth]]
|birth=[[Third Age 2790|S.R. 1190]]
| pronun=
|death=[[Third Age 2920|S.R. 1320]]
| othernames=The Old Took
|parentage=[[Fortinbras Took I]]
| titles=[[Thain]] of [[the Shire]]
|location=[[Great Smials]], [[Tuckborough]]
| position=
|race=Hobbit
| location=[[Great Smials]], [[Tuckborough]]
|gender=Male
| affiliation=
|height=
| language=
|hair=
| birth={{SR|1190}}
|eyes=
| birthlocation=
| rule={{SR|1248}} - {{SR|1320|n}} (72 years)
| death={{SR|1320}}
| deathlocation=
| age=130
| notablefor=
| family=[[Took Family|Took]]
| parentage=[[Fortinbras Took I]]
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Adamanta Chubb]]
| children=[[Isengrim Took III|Isengrim]], [[Hildigard Took|Hildigard]], [[Isumbras Took IV|Isumbras]], [[Hildigrim Took|Hildigrim]], [[Isembold Took|Isembold]], [[Hildifons Took|Hildifons]], [[Isembard Took|Isembard]], [[Hildibrand Took|Hildibrand]], [[Belladonna Took|Belladonna]], [[Donnamira Took|Donnamira]], [[Mirabella Took|Mirabella]] and [[Isengar Took|Isengar]]
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
}}
'''Gerontius Took''' ([[Third Age|T.A.]] 2790 - 2920, died aged 130), also known as '''The Old Took''' because of his longevity, was a renowned [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] of [[the Shire]].
'''Gerontius Took''' ({{SR|1190}} - {{SR|1320|n}}, died aged 130), also known as '''The Old Took''', was a renowned [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] and twenty-sixth [[Thain]] of [[the Shire]].


==History==
==History==
Gerontius was the only son of Fortinbras Took I. Gerontius married [[Adamanta Chubb]], who gave birth to twelve children:
Gerontius was the only son of [[Fortinbras Took I|Fortinbras I]]. He married [[Adamanta Chubb]], who gave birth to twelve children: [[Isengrim Took III|Isengrim III]], [[Hildigard Took|Hildigard]], [[Isumbras Took IV|Isumbras IV]], [[Hildigrim Took|Hildigrim]], [[Isembold Took|Isembold]], [[Hildifons Took|Hildifons]], [[Isembard Took|Isembard]], [[Hildibrand Took|Hildibrand]], [[Belladonna Took|Belladonna]], [[Donnamira Took|Donnamira]], [[Mirabella Took|Mirabella]] and [[Isengar Took|Isengar]].


* [[Isengrim Took III|Isengrim III]] 1232 – 1330
After the death of his father in {{SR|1248|n}}, Gerontius became the twenty-sixth [[Thain]] of [[the Shire]].<ref>{{App|Took}}</ref> He was a friend of [[Gandalf]], who gave him a pair of magic diamond studs<ref>{{H|Party}}</ref> and performed firework tricks during Gerontius' [[Mid-year's Day|midsummer]]-eve parties.<ref>{{H|6}}</ref><ref group="note">Midsummer-eve obviously refers to 1 [[Lithe]].</ref>
* [[Hildigard Took|Hildigard]] 1235 – 1255
* [[Isumbras Took IV|Isumbras IV]] 1238 – 1339
* [[Hildigrim Took|Hildigrim]] 1240 – 1341
* [[Isembold Took|Isembold]] 1242 – 1346
* [[Hildifons Took|Hildifons]] 1244 – ?
* [[Isembard Took|Isembard]] 1247 – 1346
* [[Hildibrand Took|Hildibrand]] 1249 – 1334
* [[Belladonna Took|Belladonna]] 1252 – 1334 ([[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo's]] mother)
* [[Donnamira Took|Donnamira]] 1256 – 1348
* [[Mirabella Took|Mirabella]] 1260 – 1360
* [[Isengar Took|Isengar]] 1262 – 1360


In [[Third Age 2848|T.A. 2848]] after the death of his father, Gerontius became the twenty-sixth [[Thain]] of the [[Shire]]. He was a friend of [[Gandalf]] the wizard, who gave him a pair of magic diamond studs, and Gerontius loved his magic fireworks, too. Gerontius Took reached the impressive age of 130, which made him the second oldest [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] (after Bilbo), that ever lived.
Gerontius Took reached the impressive age of 130, which made him the oldest [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] until his grandson [[Bilbo Baggins]] celebrated his 131st Birthday.<ref>{{RK|Havens}}</ref> He also held the record of most offspring, until [[Samwise Gamgee]] bested him with [[Tolman Gardner|Tom]]'s birth in {{SR|1442}}.<ref>{{App|Gamgee}}</ref>


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
The word element '''geron''' is Greek for ''old''. The name ''Gerontius'' was not used because of the Hobbit's age, but because of his numerous and younger relatives.
He was called ''The Old Took'' not because of his age, but because of his numerous younger relatives.<ref name="RC">{{HM|RC}}, p. 54</ref>


Gerontius was also a Latin name of the Late Roman Empire, and is one of the very few Greco-Latin names appearing in [[Tolkiennymy]]. Perhaps it represents a [[Hobbitish]] name derived from [[Elvish]].
The word element ''geron'' is Greek for ''old''. [[Wikipedia:Gerontius|Gerontius]] was also a Latin name of the Late Roman Empire, and is one of the very few Greco-Latin names appearing in Hobbit lore.


==References==
Gerontius is rendered as ''[[Wikipedia:Geraint|Geraint]]'' in [[Welsh]], found as a royal name in ''The [[Wikipedia:Mabinogion|Mabinogion]]'' and in Tennyson's ''[[Wikipedia:Geraint_and_Enid#Geraint_and_Enid|Geraint and Enid]]''.<ref>[[Mark T. Hooker]], [[Tolkien and Welsh]], p. 133</ref>
* {{H|1}}
* {{HM|AC}}, "[[Took Family|Took of Great Smials]]"
* [[Wayne G. Hammond]], [[Christina Scull]] (eds.), ''[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]]'', page 54


{{Sequence
==Inspiration==
|prev=[[Fortinbras Took I]]
In [[Letter to Mr and Mrs Kloos|a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Kloos]], Tolkien stated that when he wrote ''[[The Hobbit]]'', he had imagined Bilbo's grandfather to be old, because both of his grandparents were around a hundred years old when they died.<ref name="RC"/>
|next=[[Isengrim Took III]]
 
|list=26th [[Thain]] of [[The Shire]]<br>[[Shire Reckoning|S.R.]] [[Third Age 2848|1248]] - [[Third Age 2920|1320]]
== Portrayal in adaptations ==
|}}
[[File:The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey - The Old Took.jpg|The Old Took in ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]''|right|thumb|150px]]
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]
'''2011: ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]'':'''
:The Old Took appears in a scene in the Extended Edition, played by [[Dan Hennah]].
{{references|notes}}
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=hobbit
| house=[[Took Family]]
| born={{SR|1190}}
| died={{SR|1320}}
}}
{{Seq
| prev=[[Fortinbras Took I]]
| list=26th [[Thain]] of [[The Shire]]
| dates={{SR|1248}} - {{SR|1320|n}}
| next=[[Isengrim Took III]]
}}
{{seq-end}}
{{thains}}
[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Thains]]
[[Category:Took]]
[[Category:Took]]
[[Category:Greco-Roman names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]
[[de:Alter Tuk]]
[[de:Alter Tuk]]
[[fi:Gerontius Tuk]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/hobbits/touque/gerontius_touque]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/hobbits/touque/gerontius_touque]]
[[fi:Gerontius Tuk]]

Revision as of 16:03, 20 December 2015

Gerontius Took
Hobbit
Liz Danforth - Gerontius took.jpg
"Gerontius Took" by Liz Danforth
Biographical Information
Other namesThe Old Took
TitlesThain of the Shire
LocationGreat Smials, Tuckborough
BirthS.R. 1190
RuleS.R. 1248 - 1320 (72 years)
DeathS.R. 1320 (aged 130)
Family
FamilyTook
ParentageFortinbras Took I
SpouseAdamanta Chubb
ChildrenIsengrim, Hildigard, Isumbras, Hildigrim, Isembold, Hildifons, Isembard, Hildibrand, Belladonna, Donnamira, Mirabella and Isengar
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Gerontius Took

Gerontius Took (S.R. 1190 - 1320, died aged 130), also known as The Old Took, was a renowned Hobbit and twenty-sixth Thain of the Shire.

History

Gerontius was the only son of Fortinbras I. He married Adamanta Chubb, who gave birth to twelve children: Isengrim III, Hildigard, Isumbras IV, Hildigrim, Isembold, Hildifons, Isembard, Hildibrand, Belladonna, Donnamira, Mirabella and Isengar.

After the death of his father in 1248, Gerontius became the twenty-sixth Thain of the Shire.[1] He was a friend of Gandalf, who gave him a pair of magic diamond studs[2] and performed firework tricks during Gerontius' midsummer-eve parties.[3][note 1]

Gerontius Took reached the impressive age of 130, which made him the oldest Hobbit until his grandson Bilbo Baggins celebrated his 131st Birthday.[4] He also held the record of most offspring, until Samwise Gamgee bested him with Tom's birth in S.R. 1442.[5]

Etymology

He was called The Old Took not because of his age, but because of his numerous younger relatives.[6]

The word element geron is Greek for old. Gerontius was also a Latin name of the Late Roman Empire, and is one of the very few Greco-Latin names appearing in Hobbit lore.

Gerontius is rendered as Geraint in Welsh, found as a royal name in The Mabinogion and in Tennyson's Geraint and Enid.[7]

Inspiration

In a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Kloos, Tolkien stated that when he wrote The Hobbit, he had imagined Bilbo's grandfather to be old, because both of his grandparents were around a hundred years old when they died.[6]

Portrayal in adaptations

2011: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey:

The Old Took appears in a scene in the Extended Edition, played by Dan Hennah.

Notes

  1. Midsummer-eve obviously refers to 1 Lithe.

References

Gerontius Took
Took Family
Born: S.R. 1190 Died: S.R. 1320
Preceded by:
Fortinbras Took I
26th Thain of The Shire
S.R. 1248 - 1320
Followed by:
Isengrim Took III


Thains of the Shire
Bucca of the Marish (from S.R. 379) · 10 unknown Oldbucks · Gorhendad Oldbuck (until S.R. 740) · Isumbras I (from S.R. 740) · 8 unknown Tooks (includes: Isengrim I · Ferumbras I · Paladin I · Isumbras II) · Isengrim II (S.R. 1083 - 1122) · Isumbras III (1122 - 1159) · Ferumbras II (1159 - 1201) · Fortinbras I (1201 - 1248) · Gerontius (1248 - 1320) · Isengrim III (1320 - 1330) · Isumbras IV (1330 - 1339) · Fortinbras II (1339 - 1380) · Ferumbras III (1380 - 1415) · Paladin II (1415 - 1434) · Peregrin I (1434 - 1484) · Faramir I (from 1484)