What Is The Archetypal Hero In Bilbo

In J. R. R. Tolkien’s novel, The Hobbit, Bilbo develops not only the ability to be a hero, but also the mindframe to believe he can be a hero. In the beginning of the book, he starts out as a timid, scared hobbit. As he goes on more adventures, his self-confidence and heroism grows. He discovers how he can be a Baggins while also being a Took. Bilbo can also be compared and contrasted to another archetypal hero, Odysseus, from Homer’s The Odyssey. Bilbo does some very heroic things throughout the book, yet is still seen as weak and frail at times. When the time comes, he can do things like kill giant spiders, “The spider lay dead beside him” (Tolkien 141). Yet, just slightly before this, Thorin thought he was useless and told him “we should

At the beginning of story, he complains constantly and is extremely timid. An example of this is seen in the same quote that shows how he growed physically too, when he hid in a bush “not daring to move for fear” (Tolkien 38) when they are attacked by goblins. By the end of the story, he willingly checks on the dragon, even though he doesn’t think it is needed (Tolkien 199). This shows his braveness and that he will do whatever is needed for the dwarves. At the end of his adventure, Bilbo receives the best gift of all, a true knowledge of who he is (Matthews). He still complains and shies away from some situations, but that doesn’t change the fact that Bilbo returned as a changed hobbit. This is even said by Gandalf when he tells him that he is not the hobbit that he was (Tolkien

They both start out refusing to go, and give excuses so they won’t have to leave. Forced to go, they both end up becoming leaders and growing as characters. Odysseus becomes more kind, and this is shown when Homer states that he fought “to bring his shipmates home” (Homer 714). Their major wants are also the same, in a way, because they both want to get home. The difference between them is that, more specifically, they want to get home for different reasons. Odysseus’ goal is to get home to see his wife (Homer 717-718). Bilbo just wants to return alive and enjoy the comforts of his house again. Even at night, during the journey, “he dreamed of his house” (Tolkien