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J.r.r. tolkien essays
Literary analysis of the hobbit
Essay on the hobbit
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The Hobbit was written in 1937 by the famous writer J.R.R. Tolkien. The Hobbit was followed by the trilogy of The Lord of the Rings written by the same author but written between 1937 and 1949. The setting of all the books mentioned above is based on the United Kingdom and in the book it is called The Shire. In 2012 Peter Jackson directed the film version of the first The Hobbit movie and two other parts followed respectively in 2013 and 2014.
The hero in this famous book is named Bilbo Baggins. No hobbits liked to go on adventures and explore new paths in their lives. One day a wizard named Gandalf approached the small hobbit and told him he needed someone to go on an adventure. Bilbo refused immediately and tried to get rid of the wizard as soon as possible as he felt uncomfortable with him around as he says in the book,
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Once they crossed the threshold on the way back, Bilbo found out his house was being auctioned off. Bilbo had changed throughout this adventure. He was able to master the new world as a burglar and defeat creatures in middle-earth by using strategies and plans made by himself. Bilbo is now free to live as no other creatures are going to look for him.
The hobbit is fairly similar to the archetype of the monomyth but of course has a few differences. The departure, initiation and return of the hero’s journey are the same but the book does not have a few sub-stages in each. For example, the book does not have any prophecy and there are no guardians that protect the threshold. Bilbo Baggins, does not encounter the goddess or the atonement figure. Another sub-stage missing is the refusal of the return, it kind of mentions the fact that he does not really want to leave but Bilbo does return to his home as it says on page 336:
“’I suppose I shall be going home soon?’…
…Actually it was some days before Bilbo really set out.” [Tolkien
In the beginning, Bilbo is very abject to go on this adventure. “Don’t be a fool, Bilbo Baggins!” He said to himself, “Thinking of dragons and all that outlandish nonsense...”
The dwarves were on a quest to find and reclaim their famous treasure from the great dragon Smaug. It would be a long and difficult journey, and they felt it would be made simpler with the help of a burglar. This was what Bilbo was for, even if he didn’t know it. Bilbo didn’t want to be on the adventure, let alone play a vital role in it. But by the time the story concluded, Bilbo had changed from a well-to-do homebody into a burglar.
Bilbo cleverly eluded Smaug’s temptation, spared the life of foul creature Gollum, and demonstrate courage more and more throughout his journey. These exquisite traits made Bilbo into the revered character that was loved and respected for generations of readers. Throughout the book, Bilbo’s character had changed. At first, he was the ordinary hobbit who described adventures as “Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things” (4) but by the end of his journeys stated to Thorin, “I am glad that I have shared in your perils” (290). Bilbo’s ability to fight evil, make new friends, and to look beyond his maps and books enable him to become a hero. As Gandalf once said at the very beginning, “There is a lot more in him than you guess, and a deal more than he has any idea of himself” (19). Gandalf was right. What appeared to be an uneasy hobbit who fainted at the thought of adventures, turned out to be a brave leader, a compassionate friend, and an inspiring
J.R.R Tolkien's action packed, fantasy driven, inspiring novel The Hobbit shows the message that everyone must know, that you should never give up even if all hope seems to be lost. It shows setting of evergreen forests with villages scattered along the paths of which they must take and mountains just on the horizon. The read must go along with bilbo baggins a hobbit that does not realize there is more to him than just being a baggins and that he will live up to his family's name. Even after gandalf tells him that he will embark on a great adventure he still doesn’t believe he is anymore than just bilbo. Therefor this story is inspiring and shows that with the setting, character, and theme combined make this story a great read.
Although Bilbo’s character has changed and become more Tookish in many ways, he remains “only quite a little fellow in a wide world after all” (Tolkien 363). 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.
The Hobbit: An unexpected journey does not entirely follow the twelve structures of hero’s journey. This movie only contains eight of the twelve leading to the ordeal. Leaving out the reward, road back, resurrection and return with the elixir for the other parts of the trilogy. However this does not mean it is a defective movie. Over all it is still a fantastic fantasy movie.
As any developing hero does, Bilbo contemplates accepting the Call to Adventure. At the time for the hero, “the problem he faces may seem to much to handle and the comfort of home far more attractive than the perilous road ahead” (Bronzite). Bilbo has adapted to a calm and quiet style of living, and has found content in living in his hobbit hole. He recognizes the possible dangers of the journey and would much rather stay in the comfort of his own home. Thorin explains vague details about the trip and mentions “perhaps all of us may never return” (Tolkien 17). Bilbo is deeply affected by the previous statement as he has never thought about going on an adventure and never returning to his home. Bilbo is awoken by the fact that there are perils in the world that could prevent him from returning home. He reacts by shrieking and falling flat on the floor (Tolkien 17). After hearing Thorin’s comment, he contemplates refusing to go on the journey. Eventually, Bilbo chooses to accept, although he is a bit wary. Continuing through the stages, Bilbo meets with his mentor. He and his mentor Gandalf have met previously, but on different terms. Now Bilbo is meeting Gandalf, the wizard, in comparison to Gandalf, the neighbor. The hero’s mentor is there to “provide the hero with something (physical or mental) which will help the hero move forward in his adventure”
During The Departure period in The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins lives a respected life with no adventures or anything unexpected like a hobbit should. Gandalf asks Bilbo to join the dwarves on their quest, “‘I am looking for someone to share in an adventure I am arranging’” (Tolkien 4). This serves as the call to adventure, the first part in the departure. The following part of the
All in all, Bilbo has changed a great deal in The Hobbit. He went from flat, static, main, and protagonist to round, dynamic, main, and protagonist. He changed all throughout the books, but the five biggest chapters were chapter two, five, eight, nine, and twelve. Bilbo once was a very peaceful Hobbit. Now he is a bold adventurous Hobbit who takes risks. Therefore, Bilbo Baggins is a changed Hobbit at the end of the story.
The first step of Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey” is the departure. Bilbo is first called to an adventure that sends him in a new direction. (Warren) Bilbo is sitting in his peaceful home, in the Shire, one day when Gandalf the Grey shows up with a pack of Dwarves to ask Bilbo to be the burglar on their mission to get their kingdom, Erebor, back from a dragon that resides there. Bilbo learns the history of these dwarves and how their kingdom was lost as the Dwarves eat his food and clutter up his home. Bilbo feels bad for the Dwarves, but he is scared to go on a quest from which he may not return therefore, Bilbo refuses th...
During the middle of Bilbo and his crew's adventure they run into big trouble with the giant spiders. While asleep in the dark of the forrest Bilbo and the dwarves are surprised to find themselves tied up by the spiders. Using his sword later named Sting, Bilbo cuts himself free. He leads the spiders away from the dwarves by throwing stones in the opposite direction, then he sets the dwarves free with help from the invisibility ring so the spiders could not see him. Bilbo throws himself in harm all to guarantee the dwarves their protection. Another time Bilbo offered up his safety in order to ensure the dwarves was when he rescued all of them from the wood elves. As Bilbo and the dwarves were on a mission to find food somewhere, they run into the wood-elves. Bilbo put his ring on so he was invisibly but all the dwarves were locked up in the Elvenking's castle. After several weeks of exploring the castle, Bilbo comes up with his plan of escape. Bilbo steals the keys from the guard while he was not paying attention, then manages to set all the dwarves free. They are now all floating downstream in empty wine barrels. If it was not for Bilbo's yield, they would still be prisoners in there. It was risky business and Bilbo could be caught and locked up as well, but he did it and his plan was completed with a favorable
Hobbits do not typically like to be adventurous, and Bilbo is no different. He likes being safe, warm, and supplied with handkerchiefs at all times.
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...
Bilbo doesn’t realize it at first, with the help of Gandalf he sees he has changed. He has become brave and fearless. He has also learned the value of friendship and kindness through his new friends and their journey together which has now forever
The Hobbit is a fantasy fiction book and the author is Tolkien. The main idea is how the hobbit, a small creature named Bilbo who is the main character, changes throughout the different adventures becoming an unlikely hero. In fact the hobbits themselves symbolize the modern middle class and therefore allow the reader to identify with the hobbits. The following paragraphs will describe the setting, the characterization, the theme and symbolism.