Farmer Cotton Character Analysis in The Return of the King

Farmer Cotton is a prominent hobbit and Rosie Cotton’s father. Sam visits his farm to ask for help in the hobbits’ battle against the ruffians, and Farmer Cotton proves vital to the hobbits’ fight, standing briefly as a lone challenger before a swarm of hobbits joins him. He informs Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin of the changes that happened in the Shire since their departure, and his optimism is evident when he tells them he knew the hobbits could stand and fight, as long as the right leader came along.

Farmer Cotton Character Timeline in The Return of the King

The timeline below shows where the character Farmer Cotton appears in The Return of the King. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...The hobbits stand aside to let the ruffians pass, but follow after them quietly. Farmer Cotton stands ahead, challenging the men, and soon the other hobbits swarm them with weapons. Merry... (full context)

The hobbits take the men and tie them up. Farmer Cotton says he knew that the hobbits could rise up, but that they needed to be... (full context)

That night, Frodo and Merry go with Farmer Cotton back to his farm, where he tells them what happened in the Shire since they... (full context)

Merry asks who Sharkey is. Cotton says he’s the most wicked of all the ruffians and orders the rest of them... (full context)

...a hundred ruffians is on the way, and they’re lighting fires as they go. Farmer Cotton says they should hide and prepare to shoot at the men, but the Tooks arrive... (full context)