Pippin Took

Lore & Background

Pippin's history is marked by pivotal moments of error and redemption. While crossing the Misty Mountains in Moria, he dropped a stone down a deep hole, waking something below signaled by hammer-tapping; Gandalf dubbed him a 'fool of a Took.' Later, at Parth Galen, captured Orcs took him and Merry. Pippin purposefully dropped his elven brooch given by Galadriel to signal Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. After escaping his captors with Merry, they met Treebeard, rousing the Ents to destroy Isengard; drinking 'Ent-draught' made them the tallest hobbits in history. In Minas Tirith, Pippin looked into Saruman's palantír without permission, seeing Sauron himself. This act led Gandalf to take him to safety as Steward Denethor wrongly assumed Pippin held the One Ring. There, he volunteered to serve Denethor out of respect for Boromir, becoming a Guard of the Citadel under Beregond's assistance.

In Their Own Story

The narrative turns on Pippin's actions during the War of the Ring. When Denethor descended into despair and planned to burn his son Faramir alive in the street of tombs (Rath Dínen), Pippin fetched Gandalf and Beregond, saving Faramir but pulling Gandalf away from the Battle of the Pelennor Fields at a crucial moment. In a feint to distract Sauron while Frodo approached Mount Doom, Pippin joined the Army of the West led by Aragorn as it assaulted the Black Gate. During this battle, he killed a troll that subsequently fell on him; Gimli noticed his feet and dragged him out, saving his life. Returning home, Pippin helped lead the Scouring of the Shire against Saruman's forces, achieving greater local fame than Frodo. He married Diamond of Long Cleeve, had a son named Faramir, and eventually became Thain, the hereditary leader of the Shire.

Reader's Guide

Pippin serves as a guide for readers into non-human characters like Ents, described as looking like 'gnarled old men' or tree stumps. His character arc illustrates a rapid ethical makeover: before seeing Sauron in the palantír, he was thoughtless and immature; the encounter shocked him into maturity. He acts as a beacon of courage when strong men doubt victory, notably comforting the Gondor soldier Beregond as Mordor's hordes approached. Critics note his 'simple optimism' touched Beregond enough to spur the rescue of Faramir. His role is described by Gandalf as 'small stones that starts an avalanche,' highlighting how minor actions drive great events. Pippin and Merry also provide simple humor that balances the higher romance involving kings like Aragorn, Théoden, and Denethor.

Did You Know?

• Pippin is the only one of the four Hobbits who had not yet come of age when they left the Shire.
• After drinking Treebeard's 'Ent-draught,' Pippin and Merry became the tallest hobbits in history.
• Gandalf called Pippin a 'fool of a Took' after he dropped a stone that woke something deep within Moria.
• Pippin killed a troll during the Battle of the Morannon, only to be saved by Gimli who dragged him out from under the falling beast.
• Pippin and Merry roused the Hobbits to destroy Saruman's forces in the Scouring of the Shire, achieving greater fame in their homeland than Frodo.