Who is the main hobbit protagonist of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit?

Bilbo Baggins is the main hobbit protagonist of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit.

Bilbo begins the novel as a comfort-loving resident of Hobbiton who prefers regular meals, a quiet home, and predictable routines. The wizard Gandalf and a company of thirteen Dwarves draw him into a journey toward the Lonely Mountain, where the dragon Smaug guards a treasure hoard.

Bilbo is distinct from Frodo Baggins, who becomes the central hobbit of The Lord of the Rings. Bilbo appears in both stories, but The Hobbit is his adventure and follows his personal growth from reluctant traveler to resourceful hero.

During the journey, Bilbo finds a mysterious ring in the Misty Mountains after meeting Gollum. That discovery links the earlier children’s adventure to the much larger history explored in The Lord of the Rings.