*nods* Yes, I'm talking just the basics for most hobbits; reading, writing and simple ciphering. Probably not much beyond what we now would consider a third grade education. But it would enable them to read letters!
I think Shire-wide, 75% could be about right, but if you take into account that certain locations might have much lower rates of literacy than others. An isolated place like Needlehole might have only a few hobbits who were literate, compared to someplace like Tuckborough, Hobbiton or Michel Delving, where the rate might be much higher than average. And as we know, even in Hobbiton, there were the Gamgees and a few others whose families were illiterate, until Bilbo took a hand with Sam.
I always imagine that in the more isolated villages, the handful who could read and write might make a little pocket money doing that service for those who could not.
For farmers, reading and writing would have meant being able to keep track of their crops and their profits. For craftshobbits and artisans, it would also have made it easier to take care of commissions.
Servants would be able to follow written directions if the Master/Mistress could not give them in person. Cooks could read recipes, and so forth.
Some may have had the leisure to do a bit more reading on a cold winter evening if they happened to own a book--likely something practical like an almanac. But I am equally certain that most hobbits rarely bothered to use their literacy skills for anything that was not practical.
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I think Shire-wide, 75% could be about right, but if you take into account that certain locations might have much lower rates of literacy than others. An isolated place like Needlehole might have only a few hobbits who were literate, compared to someplace like Tuckborough, Hobbiton or Michel Delving, where the rate might be much higher than average. And as we know, even in Hobbiton, there were the Gamgees and a few others whose families were illiterate, until Bilbo took a hand with Sam.
I always imagine that in the more isolated villages, the handful who could read and write might make a little pocket money doing that service for those who could not.
For farmers, reading and writing would have meant being able to keep track of their crops and their profits. For craftshobbits and artisans, it would also have made it easier to take care of commissions.
Servants would be able to follow written directions if the Master/Mistress could not give them in person. Cooks could read recipes, and so forth.
Some may have had the leisure to do a bit more reading on a cold winter evening if they happened to own a book--likely something practical like an almanac. But I am equally certain that most hobbits rarely bothered to use their literacy skills for anything that was not practical.
The gentry, of course, were another matter.