The Hobbit Journey Analysis

In J.R.R. Tolkien 's novel, The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins goes through a classic representation of the Hero’s Journey. Throughout the story, Bilbo transitions from being a complacent, sheltered hobbit, to a more adventurous hobbit. The Hobbit has all three parts of the hero’s journey; The Departure, Initiation and The Return, all of which is interpreted throughout the quest.

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

After the dwarves have gone to sleep, Bilbo begins to have second thoughts about going on the adventure, “The Tookishness was wearing off, and he was not now quite sure that he was going on any journey in the morning” (Tolkien 27). Bilbo does not know if he wants to go on this adventure that Gandalf is planning, but changes his mind during the Acceptance of the Call. The next morning, Gandalf shows Bilbo the note under his clock, and Bilbo leaves to meet up with the dwarves to go on the adventure, “To the end of his days Bilbo could never remember how he found himself outside, without a hat, a walking-stick or any money” (Tolkien 30). This leads right to the third part of The Departure; Supernatural Aid. Gandalf the wizard, is Bilbo’s Supernatural Aid, he mentors and assists Bilbo and the dwarves on their quest. “They had not been riding very long, when up came Gandalf very splendid on a white horse. He had brought a lot of pocket-handkerchiefs, and Bilbo’s pipe tobacco” (Tolkien 31). While this does not indicate Gandalf’s supernatural abilities, it does; however, show that Gandalf will be there for, and assist the group in any way

The first phase of initiation is the Road of Trials, represented when Gandalf, Bilbo’s supernatural aid, saves Bilbo from a a danger, “Of course it was Gandalf… It burned with a rage that made it gleam if goblins were about; now it was bright as blue flame for delight in the killing of the great lord of the cave” (Tolkien 65). Bilbo realizes when the Goblin attack ends, that adventure can be difficult when Gandalf saves the group from the goblins. The next stage is the Meeting with the Goddess, since Bilbo never actually encounters a mythical goddess in The Hobbit, this ‘goddess’ is represented through the ring, “his hand met what felt like a tiny ring of cold metal lying on the floor of the tunnel. It was a turning point in his career, but he did not know it” (Tolkien 68). In the third phase of Initiation, Woman as Temptress, Someone or something tries to distract the hero from his goal; in The Hobbit, this temptress is represented by the ring; however, it does not affect Bilbo negatively. Bilbo uses the ring to get him and the dwarves out of sticky situations, “The ring felt cold as it slipped on to his groping finger… Gollum passed him by, taking no notice of him, cursing and whispering as he ran” (Tolkien 83). Bilbo uses the ring to get away from Gollum, unaware of its abilities. The fourth phase of Initiation, Atonement with the Father arises during the