Barliman Butterbur
Barliman Butterbur is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth legendarium. He is an innkeeper in Bree associated with the Prancing Pony and with indirect involvement in events leading into the War of the Ring.
Butterbur is discussed in literary studies, fantasy literature analysis, and interpretations of ordinary social spaces within epic narratives.
Status
Butterbur’s role is examined in relation to themes of everyday life, information exchange, and the intersection of local concerns with larger historical events. Interpretations situate his character within Tolkien’s depiction of civilian worlds affected by distant conflict.