What does "rough handling by grief" mean in "The Fellowship of the Ring"? From the Prologue ("Concerning Hobbits") to _The Fellowship of the Ring_ (1954) by J. R. R. Tolkien: > Nonetheless, ease and peace had left this people still curiously tough. They were, **if it came to it** , difficult to daunt or to kill; and they were, perhaps, so unwearyingly fond of good things not least because they could, **when put to it** , do without them, and could survive **rough handling by grief** , foe, or weather in a way that astonished those who did not know them well and looked no further than their bellies and their well-fed faces. What do the three phrases in bold mean?

Every phrase highlighted is discussing their capacity to survive in situations of trouble.

* "If it came to it", where **it** is _a situation of trouble_.
* "when put to it", where **it** is overcoming _a situation of trouble_.
* "survive rough handling by grief, foe, or weather", where **rough handing** is _a situation of trouble_.



The text is explaining the counterintuitive capabilities of the characterised people. Because of their appearances people would, intuitively, consider hobbits to be incapable of surviving well.

* Grief is a situation where they are losing a loved one.
* Foe is an opposer that intends to harm them.
* Weather is an act of nature that delivers a problem.



Being rough handled by any of these situations means the hobbits are suffering.