At the Sign of the Prancing Pony

Summary

Tom escorts the Hobbits to the town of Bree, the chief village of Breeland, a small inhabited region. Both Hobbits and big people live in Bree. They are the original descendants of the first men that ever wandered into the west of Middle-earth. In the wild lands beyond Bree, mysterious wanderers called Rangers roam the lands as far as the misty mountains. The Rangers have special powers.

When the Hobbits reach Bree they go to the Prancing Pony, an inn recommended by Tom. Another stranger, a man named Strider, is also in the Prancing Pony. During the revelry in the Inn, Frodo accidentally dons the ring and his sudden invisibility shocks everyone.

When he reappears, he tries to explain away his sudden disappearance, but Strider approaches him, saying he needs to talk to Frodo. The innkeeper Butterbur tells Frodo not to cause any more trouble; he also tells Frodo that he will come up to this room because he has something of interest to say to him. Frodo suspects the innkeeper and Strider, as he has become increasingly paranoid.

The Ring seems to have a mind of its own when Frodo accidentally dons it. As Gandalf had warned Frodo, it is no ordinary ring and Frodo must not take it for granted. Also, its hold on Frodo seems to have increased. FrodoÂ’s increasing paranoia must have something to do with the power of the ring.

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