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'''William Huggins''', with [[Tom]] and [[Bert]], one of the three trolls encountered by [[Bilbo]] and the [[Dwarves]] on their eastward journey to the [[Lonely Mountain]]. He seems to have been the leader of the troll-band - at least, it was he who led them to the woodlands of [[Trollshaws]], according to his companions. It was William's pocket that [[Bilbo]] tried to pick as his first act of 'burglary', an attempt that brought the entire expedition close to disaster. Luckily, [[Gandalf]] was able to trick William and his two companions into arguing together until sunrise, whereupon they all turned to stone.
{{evil infobox
| name=William Huggins
| image=[[File:Liz Danforth - William.jpg|250px]]
| caption="William" by [[Liz Danforth]]
| pronun=
| othernames="Bill"
| titles=
| position=
| location=[[Trollshaws]]
| affiliation=
| language=[[Westron]]
| birth=
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| death={{TA|2941}}
| deathlocation=[[Trollshaws]]
| age=
| notablefor=Capturing [[Thorin and Company]]
| parentage=
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=
| race=[[Trolls|Troll]]
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
'''William Huggins''', also known as '''Bill''', was with [[Tom]] and [[Bert]], one of the three trolls encountered by [[Bilbo Baggins]] and the [[Dwarves]] on their eastward journey to the [[Lonely Mountain]].  
==History==
Bill seems to have been the leader of the troll-band at least, it was he who led them to the woodlands of [[Trollshaws]], according to his companions. It was [[Talking purse|William's purse]] that [[Bilbo Baggins]] tried to pickpocket as his first act of "burglary", an attempt that brought the entire expedition close to disaster. Luckily, [[Gandalf]] was able to trick William and his two companions into arguing together until sunrise, whereupon they all turned to stone.<ref>{{H|2}}</ref>


The name 'William Huggins' seems a very remarkable and unlikely one for a troll. It seems to be a translation by [[Tolkien]] of the troll's 'real' name, as with the [[Hobbits]], [[Dwarves]], [[Rohirrim]] and so on, and the fact that it is recognisably English suggests that his original name was from a [[Mannish]] language. What William's name actually was, though, is a mystery. (By a curious coincidence, there was a real historical figure named William Huggins, a pioneering astronomer of the mid-nineteenth century, though it seems extremely unlikely that Tolkien's foul-mouthed troll would be based on this noted scientist!)
==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=William in adaptations
|height=150
|width=250
|lines=2
|File:The Hobbit (1977 film) - Trolls.png|[[The Hobbit (1977 film)|''The Hobbit'' (1977 film)]]
|File:Omar Rayyan - Wuluag.jpg|Wûluag in the ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Tom, Bert and Bill.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Tom, Bert and Bill.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
|File:The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey - Bert, Bill and Tom.jpg|''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]''
|File:Games Workshop - The Hobbit - Bill.png|''[[The Hobbit Strategy Battle Game]]''
}}
'''[[1968]]: [[The Hobbit (1968 radio series)|''The Hobbit'' (1968 radio series)]]:'''
:The Trolls are encountered in the second episode, "[[Out of the Frying-pan into the Fire (episode)|Out of the Frying-pan into the Fire]]". [[Brian Haines]] plays [[Bert]], [[Victor Lucas]] Bill, and [[Francis de Wolff]] [[Tom]]. The scene is taken verbatim from the book.


'''[[1979]]: [[The Hobbit (1979 radio series)|''The Hobbit'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The troll's scene is abbreviated but largely adapted without alterations. No actors are credited for the individual parts of the three trolls.


==External links==
'''[[1982]]: [[The Hobbit (1982 video game)|''The Hobbit'' (1982 video game)]]:'''
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Huggins William Huggins the famous astronomer]
:The three trolls are the first obstacle encountered after leaving Bag End.


'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
:William is a member of the Hugath tribe of Stone Trolls of the Trollshaw. In Hobbit lore he is known as "William Huggins", while his real name is ''Wûluag Hugath''.<ref>{{ICE|8004}}</ref>
'''1995-8: ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]'':'''
:William is playable both as a Hazard Creature and as a Minion. The troll is also given the [[Middle-earth Role Playing|MERP]] variant name, ''Wûluag''.
'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:[[Aragorn]] and the Hobbits rest at the petrified Trolls after Frodo is stabbed by the [[Witch-king]].
'''2003: [[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|''The Hobbit'' (2003 video game)]]:'''
:Bert, Bill and Tom are the first bosses of the game, though they cannot be fought. Bilbo has to sneak around the Trolls, waiting for them to turn or walk away.
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Bert, Tom and Bill, turned to stone, can be found in the wilderness of the [[Trollshaws]].
'''2012: ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey|''The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'']]'''
:William is portrayed (through motion capture) by [[Peter Hambleton]].
==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of William|Images of William]]
{{references}}
{{hobbitfilms}}
[[Category:Trolls]]
[[Category:Trolls]]
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]
[[de:Bill Huggins]]
[[fi:Viljami (peikko)]]

Revision as of 01:29, 19 February 2021

William Huggins
Troll
Liz Danforth - William.jpg
"William" by Liz Danforth
Biographical Information
Other names"Bill"
LocationTrollshaws
LanguageWestron
DeathT.A. 2941
Trollshaws
Notable forCapturing Thorin and Company
Physical Description
RaceTroll
GenderMale
GalleryImages of William Huggins

William Huggins, also known as Bill, was with Tom and Bert, one of the three trolls encountered by Bilbo Baggins and the Dwarves on their eastward journey to the Lonely Mountain.

History

Bill seems to have been the leader of the troll-band — at least, it was he who led them to the woodlands of Trollshaws, according to his companions. It was William's purse that Bilbo Baggins tried to pickpocket as his first act of "burglary", an attempt that brought the entire expedition close to disaster. Luckily, Gandalf was able to trick William and his two companions into arguing together until sunrise, whereupon they all turned to stone.[1]

Portrayal in adaptations

William in adaptations

1968: The Hobbit (1968 radio series):

The Trolls are encountered in the second episode, "Out of the Frying-pan into the Fire". Brian Haines plays Bert, Victor Lucas Bill, and Francis de Wolff Tom. The scene is taken verbatim from the book.

1979: The Hobbit (1979 radio series):

The troll's scene is abbreviated but largely adapted without alterations. No actors are credited for the individual parts of the three trolls.

1982: The Hobbit (1982 video game):

The three trolls are the first obstacle encountered after leaving Bag End.

1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:

William is a member of the Hugath tribe of Stone Trolls of the Trollshaw. In Hobbit lore he is known as "William Huggins", while his real name is Wûluag Hugath.[2]

1995-8: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:

William is playable both as a Hazard Creature and as a Minion. The troll is also given the MERP variant name, Wûluag.

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

Aragorn and the Hobbits rest at the petrified Trolls after Frodo is stabbed by the Witch-king.

2003: The Hobbit (2003 video game):

Bert, Bill and Tom are the first bosses of the game, though they cannot be fought. Bilbo has to sneak around the Trolls, waiting for them to turn or walk away.

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Bert, Tom and Bill, turned to stone, can be found in the wilderness of the Trollshaws.

2012: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

William is portrayed (through motion capture) by Peter Hambleton.

See also

References

The Hobbit film series
Source material: The Hobbit · The Lord of the Rings
Films An Unexpected Journey (extended editionThe Desolation of Smaug (extended edition) · The Battle of the Five Armies (extended edition)
Music An Unexpected Journey (Special Edition) · The Desolation of Smaug (Special Edition) · The Battle of the Five Armies (Special Edition) · "Song of the Lonely Mountain" · "I See Fire" · "The Last Goodbye"
Tie-in books An Unexpected Journey Official Movie Guide · Visual Companion · Movie Storybook · Annual 2013 · Chronicles: Art & Design · Chronicles: Creatures & Characters · The World of Hobbits
The Desolation of Smaug Official Movie Guide · Visual Companion · Movie Storybook · Annual 2014 · Chronicles: Art & Design · Chronicles: Cloaks & Daggers · Smaug: Unleashing the Dragon · Activity Book · Sticker Book · Ultimate Sticker Collection
The Battle of the Five Armies Official Movie Guide · Visual Companion · Movie Storybook · Annual 2015 · Chronicles: Art & Design · Chronicles: The Art of War · Activity Book
Video games Kingdoms of Middle-earth · Armies of The Third Age · Lego The Hobbit
Characters Bilbo · Thorin · Gandalf · Balin · Fíli · Kíli · Dwalin · Dori · Nori · Ori · Óin · Glóin · Bifur · Bofur · Bombur · Smaug · Radagast · Elrond · Galadriel · Saruman · Azog · Bolg · Thranduil · Legolas · Tauriel · Bard · Bain · Tilda · Sigrid · Master of Lake-town · Alfrid · Dáin Ironfoot · Necromancer · Bert · William · Tom · Beorn · Thráin · Thrór · Goblin King · Gollum · Frodo