 He is the son of Thráin II, grandson of Thrór, and becomes King of Durin's Folk during their exile from Erebor.Thorin's background is further elaborated in Appendix A of Tolkien's 1955 novel "The Return of the King", and in "Unfinished Tales".Commentators have noted that Thorin is Old Norse both in name and character, being surly, illiberal, independent, proud, aristocratic, and like all Dwarves greedy for gold.