The Hobbit: Thematic Analysis

1279 Words3 Pages

The Hobbit The Hobbit, written by John R. R. Tolkien, is a fantasy novel published on September 21, 1937. It was written as a prelude to the famous series, The Lord of the Rings, written seventeen years later. The Hobbit introduces the reader to an incredibly immersive fantasy world, that enriches the reader into its epic storyline. The story takes place in a land called Middle-earth, a land filled with enchanting surprises and magical wonders. It was the perfect playground for Tolkien to develop his main character Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo Baggins was a small hobbit, who unaware in the beginning would become a large role in the plot. It is through this character that Tolkien implemented the theme of heroism into the story. Bilbo’s unexpected adventure with the dwarves and the wizard gave him the opportunity to develop into the ultimate hero of Tolkien’s tale. Bilbo’s epic journey to become the hero of the story begins when Gandalf, the wizard, tells Bilbo of an expedition that would soon change his life forever. Bilbo begins his long journey with the dwarves, who at the time were still skeptical of Bilbo’s abilities. The dwarves didn’t see why they needed such a small incompetent hobbit with them along their journey. Gandalf tells them to stop complaining and to trust that there is more to Bilbo than meets the eye (Tolkien 6). Bilbo soon shows his courage and heroism for the first time in the story when they run into their first obstacle, three large trolls huddled around a campfire. Bilbo, who was once a shy, non-adventurous type, begins to develop into a hero as he tries to steal one of the trolls’ money purses. This is a dramatic scene in the novel because it was Bilbo’s very first act outside his comfort zone. It was this... ... middle of paper ... ...y a little fellow, Gandalf hints that even he was impressed by the large role Bilbo played in their journey, adding irony to the theme of heroism. Bilbo was the perfect character for Tolkien to express the theme of heroism because he was just the average, everyday character with a kind heart. He wasn’t some wizard or renowned warrior, but a hobbit, a simple hobbit who didn’t ask for heroism. Bilbo would much rather stay in the quite of his own home, but fate would have him do much more, even though Bilbo wouldn’t say so himself, he was indeed…a hero. Works Cited Tolkien, J. R. R. The Hobbit, Or, There and Back Again. New York: Ballantine, 1982. Print Weber, Ann. "WHAT MAKES A HERO? Ordinary People Put Their Lives on the Line to Help Others." The Blade [Toledo] 19 Apr. 2009, City Final ed., Toledo Magazine sec. Academic Search Premier. Web. 29 Oct. 2010.

Show More
Related

  • The Hobbit by JRR Tolkein - Bilbo Baggins

    916 Words  | 2 Pages

    Bilbo Baggins lived a very simple life, a life he enjoyed very much, until the day when the wizard Gandalf arrived at his door one morning. Gandalf was searching for someone to share an adventure with, but Bilbo quickly declined, saying, “We don’t want any adventures here. You might try over The Hill or across The Water,” and with that the hobbit dismissed the wandering wizard, but not before he had given the wizard an invitation for tea the next day. This of coarse, was the polite thing to do. But Gandalf saw something more in Bilbo and would not be discouraged.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Bilbo In The Hobbit

    572 Words  | 2 Pages

    Within J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, Tolkien uses the character of Bilbo Baggins to reveal to the reader the constant struggle between heroic and anti-heroic qualities within Bilbo and ourselves.

    Read More

  • Bilbo Baggins The Hero's Journey Analysis

    1156 Words  | 3 Pages

    Bilbo is happy to visit the elves and have tea with Gandalf, but he is also just as happy to relax in his hobbit-hole and enjoy the comforts of home that he longed for so much on his journey. Bilbo Baggins undergoes a hero’s journey in The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien. He departs from his home, is initiated into a more mature mindset, undergoes a road of trials, goes through his innermost cave, and is returned home and reintegrated into society. Bilbo’s journey is also a quest for self identity, because he realizes his place as “quite a little fellow in a wide world” and learns to balance out his respectable Baggins heritage with his adventurous Took background (Tolkien 363).

    Read More

  • The Hobbit by JRR Tolkein

    871 Words  | 2 Pages

    “The Hobbit” was written by J. R. R. Tolkien and secured as a copyright in 1937. The story is about a short, peaceful creature named Bilbo Baggins who, like most hobbits, is about half as tall as a human, but not nearly as loud. Bilbo resides in his comfortable hole where he leads a very easy-going life. He does, however have a side to himself that wants to go out and explore the world and be adventurous. One day a wizard, named Gandalf, comes to Bilbo’s house and discovers that he could use an adventure to make a difference in his life. Bilbo declines Gandalf’s invitation, but gets dragged into an expedition when Gandalf hires Bilbo as a “Burglar” to join a group of dwarves. These dwarves, led by Thorin, are going to head to the Lonely Mountain to reclaim treasure stolen from their family by a fierce dragon, named Smaug. Throughout the quest, the party is faced with trouble from trolls, goblins, spiders, and many “evil” creatures. Bilbo is useful to the group because he can sneak around very quietly, and explore things without getting caught. This ability to sneak around is ever increased when he stumbles across a magic ring that makes him invisible. Using the ring, Bilbo comes across a way to kill the dragon and reclaim the treasure. He spreads word of Smaug’s weak spot and the dragon is killed, but not before an entire town is destroyed. When the treasure is reclaimed, there is much controversy over who gets to claim it. Thorin is, however, unwilling to share the treasure with anyone but the dwarves, and a war brews over it. The “good” creatures unite and defeat the “evil” creatures, but as a consequence Thorin is killed in battle. The treasure is then spread peacefully among the “good” creatures, including Bilbo, and he heads home. When he returns he finds that the other hobbits do no longer wish to interact with Bilbo because of his newfound adventurous ways. He doesn’t mind though, because he has gained many friends out of his expedition, who stop by frequently. The Hobbit is a great story for people who like to leave their present reality, and simply enter a world of fantasy.

    Read More

  • Bilbo Transformation In The Hobbit

    366 Words  | 1 Pages

    The novel of The Hobbit is the story of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who lives in the town of Hobbiton. He lives a subdued, quiet life in his sophisticated home. Until one day, a knock on his door from the wizard, Gandalf, changes everything. Gandalf invites himself to tea and arrives with 13 dwarves, led by their leader, Thorin. They plan a voyage to recover treasure stolen from the dwarves by, Smaug, the dragon who now protects the loot inside of the Lonely Mountain. Gandalf claims Bilbo should fill the role of their burglar, for he is small and intelligent.

    Read More

  • Bilbo Baggins, a True Hero

    1844 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...s. Bilbo is the one that gives the precious Arkenstone to Bard to help stop a war from starting. If it was not for Bilbo’s courage, Thorin would still be fighting for the Arkenstone and might have also been hurt. Bilbo also helps the dwarves by being a good leader and helping them find a way out of Smaug’s lair. Without Bilbo, the dwarves would not have the audacity to try finding a way out of Smaug’s cave. Bilbo, like a real hero, always makes sure that he finishes the task he sets out to do. Without Bilbo, the dwarves would not be able to finish all the tasks that they want to finish. Bilbo is also the reason why the dwarves are still alive. Bilbo saves the dwarves from many different disasters. The disasters range from the spiders to Smaug. Through good or bad, Bilbo has been able to show the characteristics that a real hero should be able to show.

    Read More

  • The Hobbit Analysis

    977 Words  | 2 Pages

    ... As the quest progresses, Bilbo discovers more and more about himself, as do the people around him. “The real life of men is of that mythical and heroic quality…And man as a whole, Man pitted against the universe, have we seen him at all till we see that he is like a hero in a fairy tale?” (C. S. Lewis). That it is important to find one’s self is an ongoing theme portrayed throughout the entirety of the novel, as proven. This theme is a clear example of an exigent as well as ageless message, contributing to the splendor of fantasy writing.

    Read More

  • Bilbo's Breakdown Of 'The Hobbit'

    1626 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Though he is technically an adult, Bilbo Baggins, the hero of The Hobbit, undergoes a growth to maturity” (Grace 1). The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien is chock full of literary elements that aid in both storytelling and maintaining the reader’s attention. The story pursues Bilbo and his Dwarven companions through an adventure of great treasure and great peril. The story also contains many literary elements that this essay will go through, including character, theme, motif, symbol, and conflict.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Beowulf And Bilbo

    693 Words  | 2 Pages

    Bilbo’s role in The Hobbit is to be our hero, but not in the traditional

    Read More

  • Examples Of Bilbo's Transformation In The Hobbit

    574 Words  | 2 Pages

    At the beginning of the novel, Mr. Baggins starts out at his comfy little hobbit home, but suddenly a grand, wise wizard shows up. Not long after, 12 dwarves began to appear, one by one at Bilbo’s door, and they have come to carry him off on a life-changing adventure, full of greed. That was the beginning of our hairy hobbit’s transformation from a shy, quiet hobbit, to a strong and bold life-saving hero, who enchants any who come in contact with him. For example of his strength and boldness, would be in chapter 5, when Bilbo rhymes riddles for an unknown creature, who calls itself Gollum. Bilbo would’ve been eaten if he were to have lost, but took his chances, and risked it anyway. After all, it did get him out of that goblin-infested cave.

    Read More

  • The Hobbit Theme Analysis

    609 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Hobbit, originally written in 1937 by the masterful author J.R.R. Tolkien, tells an eloquently crafted story about a hobbit, a wizard, and a group of thirteen dwarves. In The Hobbit, great accomplishments are difficult without the aid of others.

    Read More

  • Tolkien's 'The Hobbit': Lessons Against Materialism

    324 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the year 1937, John Ronald Reul Tolkien’s, The Hobbit was first published, now over 100 million copies have been published. In The Hobbit, a small creature from the fictional world of Middle Earth called a hobbit , named Bilbo Baggins embarks on a life changing quest in the company of twelve dwarves and one wizard. During his adventures Bilbo learns many important lessons, lessons that can still be applied to everyday life. Tolkien had strong negative views on materialism; these views influenced many of his writings. Tolkien’s, the Hobbit, illustrates the necessity of ridding oneself of greed and the joys of a life of poverty and virtues.

    Read More

  • The Hobbit Themes Essay

    990 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout The Hobbit by J.R.R tolkien, themes are portrayed and are necessary for the story line. The three main themes in the novel are the prevalence of greed, how Bilbo changes throughout the story and transforms into a hero and the conflict between good and evil. Greed can change anybody, no matter how heroic or brave they are. In the beginning bilbo is portrayed as quiet hobbit that likes to stay home but that all changes with a knock on the door.

    Read More

  • What Is The Difference Between The Hobbit Movie And The Movie

    1029 Words  | 3 Pages

    The novel “The Hobbit”, or “There and back Again”, written by J.R.R. Tolkien tells the tale of a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins. This story has been adapted into three films, as well, by the filmmaker and screenwriter Peter Jackson. Throughout Jackson’s “The Hobbit” trilogy, he encompassed little of the most important components of the Tolkien’s literary edition. There were many differences between the two adaptations of the story. For instance, Jackson gave major roles to a variety of characters in the movies that never showed up or were only briefly mentioned in the book, characterized Bilbo and the dwarves much differently than in the book, and told the story through the use of a framed narrative. Overall, between the literary edition and filmic

    Read More

  • The Hobbit Themes

    857 Words  | 2 Pages

    If you like a story with characters that are a lot like you in the normal world, believe it or not, this is a story for you. Even in a world full of magic, an enjoyable book has to have characters that a reader can relate to. With Bilbo as a protagonist, this is easy. When Gandalf first invites him to go on the dwarves’ quest, he doesn’t want to leave the comforts of his home. He recognizes Gandalf is a great wizard, but still doesn’t want to leave and tries to dismiss him, saying, ”We don't want any adventures here, thank you! You might try over The Hill or across The Water." He was trying to get out of going by suggesting Gandalf seek out someone else to go on this adventure. Even on the quest, Bilbo constantly wishes he had stayed home, in his chair, smoking his pipe and eating sweets. Anyone can relate to this. We’ve all been at school, work, or even a party, wishing we had stayed in and had a relaxed time to ourselves. Additionally, it’s an inspirational story. While lazy in the beginning, Bilbo slowly realizes there is more to him than what he first thought. As Gandalf said, “There is a lot more in him than you guess, and a deal more than he has any idea of himself.” Gandalf knew Bilbo would become something more from the beginning. He told the dwarves and Bilbo that they should expect great things from the hobbit, so they didn’t give up on him. Without a doubt, people will love this fantastical, yet relatable and inspirational, story about finding more in oneself than previously believed to have been

    Read More

More about The Hobbit: Thematic Analysis

Open Document