Bilbo Baggins: The Unforeseen Adventurer

Bilbo Baggins is introduced as just a normal hobbit smoking a pipe on his front porch, when suddenly an old man appears on his doorstep. Bilbo soon realized that he is the wizard Gandalf. (Tolkien 5-9)

Gandalf asks Bilbo to be part of an adventure. Bilbo says no, but he invites the wizard to come over for tea tomorrow. (Tolkien 7-9)

When Bilbo opens the door the next day, he finds not Gandalf, but a dwarf named Dwalin. (Tolkien 9)

Soon, other dwarves begin to arrive, and Bilbo becomes flustered. (Tolkien 9-13)

Eventually, Gandalf and Thorin Oakenshield, the most important dwarf, arrive. (Tolkien 13)

The dwarves eat, sing, dance, and then finally sit down to start discussing their plans. (Tolkien 13-19)

We soon figure out that Gandalf has appointed

Bilbo to be the “burglar” for the dwarves on their adventure. No one except for Gandalf thinks that the hobbit will be right for the job. (Tolkien 21-23)
Gandalf then presents an old map of a mountain and shows everyone the secret entrance. (Tolkien 23-24)
Bilbo wants to know what the expidition is about. Thorin explains that the mountain belonged to his ancestors and was full of gold and jewels. However, the dragon, Smaug, took over the mountain for it’s tresure and has been guarding it ever since. Thorin is seeking to claim what his family once possesed. (Tolkien 26-29)
After discussing their “dark business” with the company, the hobbit makes his guests comfortable for the night and falls asleep himself, still not sure if he wants to go with the dwarves on their quest.

(Tolkien 31)

Bilbo wakes up late the next morning, only to find that the dwarves have left without him. (Tolkien 32)

The hobbit is about to start breakfast when Gandalf enters and quickly gets him to the Green Dragon Inn, where the dwarves have been waiting for them. (Tolkien 33-35)

Bilbo, Gandalf, and the dwarves start their journey. Later on, the company finds that Gandalf has gone missing. (Tolkien 35-36)

As his first job as a “burglar” Bilbo tries to find fire and food on the rainy night and encounters three trolls around the fire that he had seen from a distance. (Tolkien 38-39)

Bilbo tries to get one of the trolls’ money purses, but the trolls notice and seize him. (Tolkien 40-41)

The trolls aren’t very bright, and they fight about how to cook Bilbo. (Tolkien 41-42)

The dwarves don’t hear from Bilbo, so they come closer to the fire to find out what happened. The trolls stop bickering and hide in the trees to capture the dwarves. (Tolkien

42-43)
Soon, all the dwarves are caught by the trolls. Bilbo hasn’t been caught because the trolls have forgotten all about him. (Tolkien 43-45)
As the trolls try to decide how to prepare the dwarves, a voice starts a quarrel, and the three trolls fight again. (Tolkien 45-47)
This fighting goes on for a while until the trolls realize that it is almost dawn. The sunlight turns the trolls to stone. (Tolkien 47)
Bilbo soon realizes that it was Gandalf who had saved the dwarves. (Tolkien 47)
After they are untied, the company finds weapons in the trolls’ cave. (Tolkien 48-49)

Gandalf leads everyone to the next safe stop, Rivendell, the city of the elves. (Tolkien 52-56)
They are invited by the elves to stay in Rivendell to rest. The company soon meets Elrond, the chief elf. (Tolkien 56-57)
Elrond can understand the ancient writing found on Thorin’s map and on the weapons that they took from the trolls and explains to the company what they mean.

(Tolkien 58)

After their short rest, everyone is ready to depart from Rivendell. (Tolkien 60)

On their way, Bilbo and company encounter an aggressive thunderstorm. Fili and Kili find shelter for everyone in a dry cave where they set up camp. (Tolkien 62-66)

Later on in the night, Bilbo discovers that their ponies were stolen by goblins from a wide crack at the back of the cave. He yells, to be heard only by Gandalf. Everyone except for the wizard is kidnapped by the goblins. (Tolkien 67)

Bilbo and the dwarves are taken in front of the Great Goblin. Thorin attempts to tell them about the storm, but the goblins recognize the sword that he carries. This sword, the Orcrist, is well-known to the goblins, for it has killed hundreds of them. (Tolkien 70-71)

The Great Goblin gets angry and tries to eat Thorin, when Gandalf comes to the rescue by putting out the torches that light the cavern. In the darkness he kills the Great Goblin and everyone makes their escape. (Tolkien 71-75)

With the goblins following close behind, Dori, who is carrying Bilbo on his back, is hit with a stone. Bilbo falls off and loses consciousness. (Tolkien

75)