Saxo Runesinger
Member
Is there any textual evidence that Bob (of the Prancing Pony) is a hobbit?
Funny I had always assumed he was Nob's brother. Everyone with rhyming names are siblings after all
You may very well be right about Bob, but I always interpreted this part as being more about Gandalf not trusting anybody else to mess with his horse - much like Aragorn nearly causing a diplomatic incident rather than letting anyone else handle Anduril. And from the opposite angle, condescension by the wise and powerful is a virtue in Tolkien's work, and I can easily see that extending to the care and stabling of one's personal horse, especially when that horse is such a good friend to one, like Shadowfax is to Gandalf.“And you’ll be taking your horse to his stable yourself, Gandalf, I don’t doubt. A fine beast, as I said when I first set eyes on him. Well, come in! Make yourselves at home!”
Yes, Shadowfax is a horse of special magnificence, but that isn’t cause for making an honored guest do the work of a stablehand. I’d argue that it’s because Nob wouldn’t be able to reach the top of the saddle.
And, I suppose, we wouldn't accept someone's job as Elephant Keeper as evidence of them being 11 feet tall.
I wanted to see the picture. I clicked at work. I got this!