Figurative Language In The Hobbit

“It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” - J.R.R Tolkien

Tolkien, a man who shaped so many lives, his story gave so many people meaning, passion and love. He alone created a world for us few who choose to escape to it. Tolkien's writing is as deep as the world he created, purely descriptive and imaginative creating a tale that will forever be remembered and loved by generations to come.

Imagery is the visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work (Imagery). In the Fellowship of the ring, Tolkien utilizes this more than any other literary device. On page 80 Tolkien described the elves for the

first time. “ They passed slowly slowly and the hobbits could see the starlight glimmering on their hair and in their eyes. “They bore no lights, yet as they walked a shimmer, like the light of the moon above the rim of the hills before it rises seemed to fall about their feet.”(Tolkien 80). This description gives the reader a chance to truly see what an elf of middle earth would look like. When Tolkien writes that they bore no light, he gives the reader the image of the elves having a sort of eternal aura about them, that their being give off its own shimmer of light. After the hobbits left the shire and made their way to Crickethollow, they made their way to Frodo’s new home. “ At last they came to a narrow gate in thick hedge. Nothing could be seen of the house in the dark: it stood back from the lane in the middle of a wide circle of lawn surrounded by a belt of low trees inside the outer hedge.” (Tolkien 100). The image that is created here is that it is night time in Crickethollow, and the house that Frodo has chosen is a lovely cottage like building with a lawn and trees. Though he does not stay here long, it is a good cover up for the true tale ahead. Tolkien did not limit his mass use of imagery to that of objects, he did however choose to use it on people and their existence. For example, in the chapter seven “ In the House of Tom Bombadil” A lady of great grace is introduced by the name of Goldberry.” Her long yellow hair rippled down her shoulders; her gown was green, green as young reeds, shot with silver like beads of dew; and her belt was of gold, shaped like a chain of flag lilies set with the pale blue eyes of forget-me-nots. About her feet in wide vessels of green and brown earthwear, white water-lilies were floating, so that she seemed to enthroned in the midst of a pool.” (Tolkien 123). Most authors of fantasy tales often do not give small characters such a glorious description, whereas Tolkien takes the time to fully describe Goldberry to the readers. This enhances the story by giving the readers a direct image of the character since she will only be in the tale for a short time, unlike the main protagonists whose true images won't be shown till far along in the series.
In many of Tolkien's writings, personification is utilized to bring objects that are not of human origin to life with human qualities.

“ A fox passing through the wood on business of his own stopped several minutes and sniffed. ‘Hobbits!’ he thought. ‘Well, what next? I have heard of strange doings in this land, but I have seldom heard of a hobbit sleeping out of doors under a tree, Three of them there's something mighty queer behind this.’ he was quite right, but he never found out any more about it.” Here the author gives an animal, more specifically a fox, the gift of language continuing with his fantasy theme. This line of dialogue is also used as indirect characterization, telling the readers that the hobbits are not ones to sleep outside and do such oddly mannered activities. It is not secret that Tolkien has a liking for bringing trees to life. On page 108 Merry said “ I thought all the trees were whispering to each other, passing news and plots along in an unintelligible language; and the branches swayed and groped without and wind. They do say the tree do actually move, and can surround strangers and hem them in.” (Tolkien

110)
Throughout the tale of the One Ring, the Fellowship runs into several different conflicts on their journey.

When Frodo’s journey is about to unfold, the ring that was given to Frodo by his uncle/cousin Bilbo turns out to be the One ring that holds the essence of the dark lord Sauron. Because of Gollum, the previous owner of the ring, Sauron becomes aware of the rings locations and sends out the Black Riders to collect his precious.are sent out to claim the ring (Tolkien). This conflict is foreshadowed on page 13 and 14 of the prologue. “ He returned to his home at Bag End on June the 22nd of the fifty-second year (S.R. 1342), and nothing very notable occurred in the Shire until Mr.Baggins began the preparations for the celebration of his hundred-and-eleventh birthday (S.R. 1401). At this point this history begins.” Tolkien is very subtle with most of his writing, besides imagery and personification, examples like foreshadowing and metaphors are very hard to pick up on. This event sets the story in motion, and gives the readers a glimpse of what challenges Frodo is to face in the future. Another very important conflict arises between Boromir, Captain of Gondor and Frodo Baggins. In chapter 10 of the second book when the Fellowship is at Amon Hen, Boromir follows Frodo into the woods,and insists that Frodo let him have the ring but Frodo says no. Boromir attacks Frodo for the ring due to the influence of the ring pulling him in, but Frodo slips on the ring becoming

invisible, assisting in Frodo’s escape. This shows the readers that men are susceptible to the rings power and influence, even when they are not the one wearing it. Because of Boromir’s betrayal in chapter 10 of book two, Frodo makes the final decision to leave the Fellowship, He believes that it is for the wellbeing of his friends and for the quest, due to the ring having such a hold on everyone around him. While sneaking away, Sam finds Frodo and insists on accompanying him on the rest of the journey. This is the falling action of “ The Fellowship of the Ring” though it is only the ending of ¼ of the book. The conclusion and resolution of the book comes with a splitting of the story. Frodo and Sam continue to struggle with the ring and the rough journey ahead of them. The remaining Fellowship go on to fight Sauron without the rings constant temptations. This is no true ending to the tale because this book is one of three with are truly in the end, one real book split into 3 parts. Each ending flows coherently with the beginning of the next.