Bombur



In The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, Bombur is a fat dwarf who accompanies Thorin Oakenshield and Bilbo Baggins on their journey to Erebor. His brother Bofur and cousin Bifur also joined the quest.

History
"Poor, fat" Bombur is frequently described as foolish and being the last for everything. Because he counts for two, he is the last to enter Beorn's house and the last to cross the enchanted river in Mirkwood. And he makes mistakes when he is last: He tumbles with Bifur and Bofur onto Thorin when they enter Bag End last, he enters Beorn's house early than intended, and he also slips into the enchanted river (and falls asleep). He chooses to stay and guard the supplies camp while the others move up Erebor because he trusts neither mountain paths nor ropes. Later though, he is forced to use the ropes to escape the rampaging dragon Smaug.

Bombur sleeps at several key moments in the book. When he trips into the Mirkwood River, he falls under a spell that makes him sleep for days, burdening the others with his weight as they walked on. And while he is on a midnight lookout in the fortified Erebor, Bilbo promises to keep watch so that he can sleep in the warmth (Bilbo used this opportunity to sneak the Arkenstone out of the mountain). Incidentally, he was asleep when they opened his barrel after escaping the elves of Mirkwood and also when Bilbo discovered the secret entrance to Erebor. Bombur is always last and doesn't enjoy it. When the dwarves, Gandalf, and Bilbo meet Beorn, Bombur comes last. He comes along straight after Bifur and Bofur so he won't be last.

Later accounts
In The Lord of the Rings, many years later, Frodo Baggins inquires after Bombur and learns that he has grown so fat it takes six dwarves to lift him to the dinner table.

Adaptations
In the animated version of the Hobbit he plays the most major role in Thorin's company besides Balin and Dori, unlike the book he is killed during the Battle of Five Armies. He was voiced by Paul Frees.

In the 2012/2013 live-action The Hobbit films, he is portrayed by Stephen Hunter who while not having the longest CV in the business is an actor of the highest quality.

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Bombur