In the Lord of the Rings movies, Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) seems to consider Bilbo (Ian Holm) his uncle. He calls him "uncle Bilbo", and treats his relation with a great deal of respect. This makes sense given the difference in the two Hobbits' ages. But how the two Baggins' are actually related might surprise some fans.
Frodo came to live with his relative Bilbo after the unfortunate passing of his parents, Drogo Baggins and Primula Brandybuck-Baggins. Bilbo and Frodo were always very close and seemingly Bilbo was close with Frodo's parents as well. He would've had to be to think of adopting Frodo. After adopting his "nephew" Frodo, Bilbo loved him as if he was his own child. Bilbo, of course, had no children of his own.
Bilbo would tell Frodo tales of his adventures, which led to Frodo pretending to be Bilbo. However, Bilbo never told Frodo the full story. Yet he always meant to, even writing down that he should tell Frodo the truth of his adventure stories. Bilbo wanted to bring Frodo with him to Rivendell, but he also knew that Frodo would not want to leave the Shire. So Bilbo did not bring his young relative along, and instead set off for Rivendell alone, leaving the Ring and Bag End to Frodo. When Frodo and Bilbo reunite in Rivendell after Frodo is injured, Bilbo gives Frodo his Mithril shirt and his sword, Sting. Bilbo also feels guilty for putting the burden of the Ring on Frodo, but Frodo comforts his older relative. There is a lot of love and care on both sides of the relationship of Bilbo and Frodo in Lord of the Rings. Both men seem to put the other's interests and feelings above their own. Both care deeply about their relative and want to see the other happy.
In fact, when Bilbo asks about the Ring in the end, Frodo, to prevent his "uncle" from suffering, says that he lost it. So how are these two caring men really related? If Bilbo isn't Frodo's uncle, who is he to him? Well, Bilbo and Frodo are actually cousins. To be specific, Frodo's mother Primula Brandybuck-Baggins was Bilbo's first cousin on his mother's side while Frodo's father Drogo Baggins was his second cousin on his father's side. This would make Frodo his first and second cousin, once removed on both sides. Wow, Hobbit family trees are definitely complicated. It makes sense, therefore, that for convenience's sake, Bilbo and Frodo simplified it to "uncle" and "nephew." This also might have made more sense since Bilbo adopted Frodo. An uncle adopting his nephew would make more sense than a cousin adopting his cousin.
Despite the difference in their ages, Bilbo and Frodo appear to get along very well. They seem to be kindred spirits, and whether they see each other as cousins or uncle and nephew, they are definitely a huge part of each other's lives. Without Bilbo, Frodo would probably not have as much of a desire for adventure. After all, hearing his older relative's tales could only increase his desire to see the world and experience it fully. Without Frodo, Bilbo would not have someone to keep him company in his older years, to tell all these tales to. So both men are necessary to each other. The Lord of the Rings books and movies focus a lot on the bonds of friendship, and how important they are. With Bilbo and Frodo, whether they're viewed as cousins or uncle and nephew, Lord of the Rings also emphasizes the importance of familial bonds. This is a crucial part of the story, and only makes it more compelling. Watching Bilbo and Frodo care for each other only inspires fans to care for their family members, especially those who reciprocate the caring, all the more.
The inspirational nature of the Lord of the Rings story is important to its continued success. And Bilbo and Frodo are definitely part of that. While knowing how the two Hobbits are related in the end is interesting, it's not all that matters. What truly matters is how they exemplify what family relationships should be like. And hopefully fans can take their example and apply it to their real life familial bonds. Bilbo shows fans how to care for their younger relatives, while Frodo shows fans how to care for their older relatives. Both are equally important. And it's definitely a mutually beneficial relationship, in Bilbo and Frodo's case. They also show how important it is for familial relationships to have a strong foundation in mutual love and respect. With that, any family bond is unshakable.
Of course, not every Lord of the Rings fan will be interested in this information about Bilbo and Frodo. Some might not see the interest, and how it matters to the story. Some fans might not see how inspirational Bilbo and Frodo can be either. That's fine; everyone's different. Yet it is interesting to know how the two Hobbits are actually related. It doesn't affect their bond at all, but rather adds to it. And Bilbo and Frodo are definitely a good relationship to model one's familial ties on. As both men care deeply for the other and are always doing what they can to help each other.