Frodo's Seed of Courage

By putting his life in danger Bilbo shows a true example of heroism. Though the dwarves were still skeptical of his abilities, they were starting to take into consideration of what Gandalf had said about this little hobbit. Continuing their adventure the group is attacked by goblins where they are eventually saved by Gandalf. Throughout the turmoil of the attacking goblins Bilbo gets lost in the caves and finds himself alone in the darkness. It is in this event when Bilbo finds Gollum’s ring. Gollum was a sickly looking creature that had been dwelling in the caves for many years. Bilbo used his wits to outsmart the creature by playing a riddle game with him and eventually made it to safety. Having Bilbo win the riddle game shows that his smart and witty mind aids him in becoming the hero. Bilbo wasn’t some tough strong stereotypical super hero, he used his smarts to outwit his foes and to triumph over evil. Though Bilbo at the time did not know the power of the ring that he had retrieved from Gollum’s lair (the power of invisibility), it was his heroic fate that he found it as it assist him in becoming the hero of the story. Fate has it that Bilbo will become a hero, but Bilbo also has the courage on top of his fate to get the dwarves out of life threatening situations.

Bilbo forgot about the dangers, about his old home, about his rewards, he just wanted to help, and the fearless Bilbo was brought out of him. Courage is a hard thing for a person to acquire, but can be obtained by their achievements and failures.

Beowulf first displays his courage during his fight with the evil monster Grendel. In the poem, Beowulf challenges the beast to duel and says that he will fight him with no weapons and armor to show his courage. “No weapons, therefore,/ for either this night: unarmed he shall face me if face me he dares” (Heaney 683-685). This shows how much courage Beowulf has because he is fighting a descendent from Cain and is taking him on without any weapons and armor. Secondly, Beowulf does not hesitate for one second and takes on the beast without any help, this shows how courages the hero is.

A courageous action most often is associated with reaching a goal or task of importance, despite the dangers even risks associated with it (“Courage”). For any specific act to be considered truly courageous it must be reasonably thought about and determined that the goal is well worth the risk or danger (“Courage”). Courage so often can be put with words such as heroic, and bravery although with courage there can be a fine line between courageous acts and plain foolishness. All this can make people believe that courage only applies to physical actions. There are two kinds of courage moral and physical in many cases they are both displayed in a single courageous act; however, bravery must come before all else, because they are associated with reaching a task of importance regardless of risk.

Beowulf has confidence when he battles. Beowulf announces that he will fight Grendel, the evil that has been lurking them for a long time. However; Beowulf says he will fight with his bare hands instead of using weapons (Lines 400-490). This shows how he is brave enough to challenge Grendel with a single combat with only hands and in the end, he wins. Another example is when Beowulf boasts, Unferth interrupts him and insults him. Then Beowulf replies, “The fact is, Unferth, if you were truly as keen and courageous as you claim to be Grendel would never have got away with such unchecked atrocity, attacks on your king, havoc in Heorot and horrors everywhere” (590-595). This is an example of where he shows courage because he corrects Unferth and makes him look as a fool for not stating the truth of what actually happened. Also, this explains while they were swimming he was fighting off sea creatures along their swim, which is why he lost. According to Heaney, Beowulf shows courage when he believes he can defeat the dragon. During when Beowulf fights the dragon, it states, “Yet the prince of the rings was too proud to line up with a large army against the sky-plague. He had scant regard for the dragon as a threat, no dread at all its courage and strength, for he had kept going often in the past, through perils and ordeals of every

He offers him guidance and advice on many occasions. Gandalf helps to protect Frodo from outside forces and inside temptations. When Gandalf is around, Frodo feels stronger. He learns how to control the power of the ring with Gandalf’s help. Frodo faces many tests and trials along the way to Mount Doom. He is kidnapped, attacked, and imprisoned along the way. He narrowly survives many situations that would break lesser hobbits. In addition to the outward trials, he also faces the constant temptation to use the ring to gain power for himself and for others. He finds support in the travel companions that join him along the way to help him in his quest to destroy the ring. These warriors become his allies. He also meets enemies along the way. He encounters characters that want to use the ring for their own gain. His greatest enemy is Sauron, the Dark Lord who wants to get the ring so he can rule all of Middle

Hobbit Essay: Emerging Hero Is Bilbo Baggins, from The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien a lonely hobbit or is he the most heroic hero there is? Bilbo learns that he is capable of doing many things during his adventure, learning many things that were hidden away from his great ancestors on the Tookish side. Bilbo learns from Thorin and the other dwarves how to be courageous, heroic and intelligent, but above all else how to lead the expedition into the great unknown with a victory. His traits and will to learn stand out to the other dwarves who later begin to admire his greatness.

His bravery grows over the course of the book, but even in the beginning his courage is evident. He had just been told he is going on a freighting adventure, “a journey from which some of [them], or perhaps all of [them]...may never return” (17) and yet he still is able to say “[t]ell me what you want done, and I will try it, if I have to walk from here to the East of East and fight the wild Were-worms in the Last Desert” (19). Here is a creature who has “never had any adventures or done anything unexpected” (3), and still agrees to go on a mysterious adventure, to assist people he met only a few hours prior. This either shows immense bravery, or stupidity, and from a “very well-to-do hobbit” (3) such as Bilbo, bravery is the only clear option. Additionally, after embarking on his journey, he faces many challenges that show the courage of a more traditional hero. As they travel through Mirkwood (a fearsome and dark forest), the company finds themselves hostages of spiders that intend to kill Bilbo and his friends. After killing a spider without any help from his friends, he undergoes an emotional change. Through his brave actions, he goes from the hobbit “who never had any adventures or did anything unexpected” (3) to “a different person, and much fiercer and bolder” (144) His bravery ends up changing himself more than any other, and for the better. He grows to have faith in himself, and he might

Beowulf and Frodo are much alike in that they both possess a tremendous amount of strength. Both characters strength deals with overcoming great odds whether it be fighting of a magical monster, or resisting the great power of a ring. Although they both possess a remarkable amount of strength, their strength comes in different forms. First, Beowulf is a strong noble king who has a reputation for being able to fight off monsters. Beowulf’s strength can be measured as superhuman. “Greater/ And stronger than anyone anywhere in this world” (Beowulf 110-111). This quote explains how Beowulf is the strongest person in the world. The great king fights with brute force and relies on fate to bring him to victory. Unlike Beowulf, Frodo does not have much physical strength. Frodo therefore fights with strength from within. An example of Frodo’s astonishing interior strength is that he is the only being that can resist the evil power of the ring. The ring changes everyone that encounters it. However Frodo carries the ring around his neck until the end of the journey.

Courage or the act of being courageous is something that can depict if a person is being weak. This act ties into the classic tale when identifying the strength it took Sundiata to walk. Sundiata was at an age where other young boys were gathering objects for their mothers and he simply could not, due to the fact that he was unable to walk. However, “In a great effort he straightened up and was on his feet at one go, but the great bar of iron was twisted and had taken the form of a bow.” (Page 21) A boy who once couldn't walk was now walking. He who once had to depend on his mother can now be the one his mother depends on. Thus, “ When Sogolon saw her son standing she stood dumb for a moment, then suddenly she sang these words of thanks to god who had given her son the use of his legs”. (Page 21) Sogolon was so discouraged to the point where the sight of her son’s slow development became an embarrassment. She soon became joyful of the courage

191). During this event Frodo is being attacked by enemies. At the same time the power of the ring is tempting. He gives in because he is already corrupt with the power of the ring. This shows that when he has the power he abuses it and becomes corrupt.

As the story began, we learnt that the Hobbits never leave their town, and in fact, barely leave their town. All of them live together as a family, with love and fondness; they celebrate and share their happiness with one another. Frodo Baggins, a hobbit who cares for everybody in the Shire and is ready to do anything to save them from the difficulties they can and may face. Gandalf, a wizard persuades Frodo to save the Shire from destruction and without hesitation and much thinking about his own life, Frodo leaves the town immediately on a quest to save his people. This is where a hero is really proved to be an hero because one needs courage, persuasion and preparation to go on a dangerous journey, knowing that he needs to face numerous, unpredictable people and situations. Additionally, Gandalf tells Frodo the story (Sauron the Great, the Dark lord.left his hold in Mirkwood.. fastness in the Dark Tower of Mordor. Page 67) of how the

Being known as a hero is a hard thing to comprehend. Whether you are risking your life to save the world, or you are a high school kid trying to deal with the pressure of being a star athlete, you are always under pressure. Throughout the end of the novel The Two Towers Frodo and Sam are led by Gollum to the gates of Mordor. Along the way Sam and Frodo meet Faramir, a man of Gondor, who gives them a place to rest. After their time with Faramir Gollum leads Sam and Frodo to the stairs of Cirith Ungol, a secret passageway into Mordor. Once up the stairs, a spider-like creature named Shelob attacks Sam and Frodo. Sam escapes, but watches as Frodo is captured by Orcs and taken to a cell. True Legend starts off with a boy named Drew Robinson, who

Aragorn displays extreme devotion and commitment. He does not loose faith that he can assist Frodo. He spares no effort in trying to assist Frodo in reaching Rivendell, and he helps Frodo meet the Elf Glorfindel. He tries his best to fulfill his duty and responsibility. His passion is extremely deep rooted and this is proven when Aragorn meets Frodo for the first time and says “I am Aragorn son of Arathorn and if by life or death I can save you I will” (Tolkien 241). He is tremendously dedicated, and forgets about his own life, safety and wellbeing. He will die for the loyalty he possesses for Frodo. This unshakable passion is tested when the Orcs viciously attack the fellowship. This is noted when “Aragon Slew many (creatures)…the Orcs (were) diving under Aragorn’s Blow with the speed of a startling snake...Aragon picked up Frodo where he lay by the wall and made for the stair” (Tolkien 404). Aragorn passes the test and displays strength and zeal when helping Frodo and fighting the Orcs. He also shows immense passion through his awareness and caution as “he was gazing intently at the sky…and the flock of birds at great speed” (Tolkien 354). It is this caution that allows him to warn the fellowship of the Crebain. He demands that the fire “be put out and not lit again” (Tolkien 354). His diligence and awareness saved the fellowship from the Evil Birds. His extreme caution, vigilance and passion prove to be extremely helpful in annihilating dangers that appeared

plays a vital role in the plot. In this essay, I will be analysing the