Cue 17:  Stereotypes.  Men, in the eyes of Hobbits:  big, clumsy, stupid, slow

“I Was Mistaken”

             From tales told him by his kinsmen who’d traded in Bree, Frodo had been convinced Men were mostly slow, clumsy, and stupid.  Certainly Butterbur appeared thusly, as did Bill Ferny.

            But Strider proved to be quick, perhaps more intelligent than Frodo, and anything but clumsy.

            Boromir didn’t have Aragorn’s intelligence, but his strength, endurance, and compassion impressed the Hobbit greatly.

            Faramir appeared greater than his brother, nearly to Aragorn’s standards.

            “I can tell you,” Frodo assured Paladin, “that the Men I have come to know are at least as varied as are Hobbits, and need to be treated with respect.”