um... Help?
 

It says in the beginning of the books that Bilbo plays with his cousins, and his favorite was Frodo. But Bilbo suddenly becomes Frodo's uncle. Which is he???

Well if it said they were cousins in the book, I would expect they are cousins. After all, the book is the basis of the movie. They probably screwed it up in the movie... [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

By the way, welcome to the barrow downs!

I know, but they say Bilbo is Frodo's Uncle in the book, too. [img]smilies/confused.gif[/img]

and thanks! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

I believe the uncle-nephew thing was just what they called each other, like endearing terms. There's a couple of older couples I know that I've always called Uncle__ and Aunt__ , but they're not really related to me.

....oh. *embarrased grin*

Hmm, well, Bilbo was son of Bungo who was in turn son of Mungo, brother to Largo, who's son was Fosco, who's son in turn was Drogo, who's son was Frodo! So, as can be seen, they are cousins. It could be said that Bilbo in a way "adopted" frodo though, naming him his heir and all.

[ January 19, 2003: Message edited by: Beren87 ]

Well, it was like lord of dor-lomin said. But also, Bilbo was officially Frodo's cousin. But when Bilbo 'adopted' Frodo, it was like Bilbo became Frodo's dad. But if you were cousins, it would sound wierd calling each other father/son. So, it was uncle/nephew. Uncle's can have very fatherly qualities to them, but it also means they are not the father. And it has to do with age too. I have cousins who are about 20 years older than me. We call each other uncle/nephew because it seems better like that.

Wow. That's really confusing, but I think I get it! I wouldn't last as a hobbit.... [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Bilbo in fact is Frodo's uncle and cousin Hobbits have very complicated family trees as you know nearly everyone in the shire is someway related or connected to each other.
welcome by the way

eg"frodo is my second cousin once removed on my mothers side and my third cousin twice removed on my father's side" [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Yep, there is a lot of 'family intermarrying' between Hobbits, Elves and the Dunedain. (2nd cousins and more.)