It's probably good news...

... that I have just spent the last hour diving my way through the book looking for data about the master/servant relationship between Sam and Frodo. I.e., how articulated is it?

It's kind of fascinating, actually.

( here's the preliminary data )

The fascinating question that arises is, can we assume that Sam never calls Frodo "Master" before we see him do so in "The Taming of Smeagol", or is it possible that he does so earlier? Or does he just refer to Frodo as "my master" and that's why Gildor and Aragorn, and of all people Bilbo pick up on it?

It's probably good news...

... that I have just spent the last hour diving my way through the book looking for data about the master/servant relationship between Sam and Frodo. I.e., how articulated is it?

It's kind of fascinating, actually.

( here's the preliminary data )

The fascinating question that arises is, can we assume that Sam never calls Frodo "Master" before we see him do so in "The Taming of Smeagol", or is it possible that he does so earlier? Or does he just refer to Frodo as "my master" and that's why Gildor and Aragorn, and of all people Bilbo pick up on it?