In 1949, Joseph Campbell discussed the hero’s journey, the foundation commonly used in stories throughout history. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, the hero’s journey narrative is used to tell the story of Bilbo Baggins’s adventure. The novel follows Bilbo Baggins and a company of dwarves as they seek to take back the dwarves’ fallen kingdom. As the story progresses, Bilbo’s character develops and the dwarves perception of him develops through the many trials before the death of Smaug the dragon and the final battle between a variety of mythical creatures. In The Hobbit, the dwarves originally doubt Bilbo’s abilities but as Bilbo encounters more obstacles and succeeds, the dwarves perception turns to one of respect and admiration.
At the beginning of the adventure, Bilbo was a timid, little hobbit with no idea how to steal or survive outside of his little hobbit hole. When Thorin and the rest of the dwarves first meet Bilbo, they question
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They held a great deal of admiration for their friend who proved his worthiness through his burglaring success. After the final battle, Bilbo talks to Thorin right before the he dies, “‘There is more in you than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in the measure’” (Tolkien 290). The dwarf king realized his original opinion of Bilbo was wrong. Thorin found that Bilbo was brave and honorable, not weak and incapable. The rest of the dwarves developed the same opinion as Thorin, “Then the dwarves bowed low before their Gate, but words stuck in their throats. ‘Good-bye and good luck, wherever you fare!’” (Tolkien 294). Originally, the dwarves were almost unwilling to take the little hobbit along on the journey, but by the end, they were struggling to say goodbye to their friend. Bilbo became more than just a burglar to the dwarves, he became a respected
World-known morals and values such as loyalty, determination and bravery are shown in most hero narratives. These morals are explored in depth, in J.R.R Tolkien's The Hobbit and reflected through its stereotype hero Bilbo Baggins. The Hobbit fits within Joseph Campbell’s theory of Monomyth as we see the hero of the story face multiple trials. Joseph Campbell's theory of the Monomyth, which was first introduced in 1949 in The Hero with A Thousand Faces, shows a pattern common to a hero narrative. The Hobbit deeply shows these stages, especially the road of trials. Determination as briefly stated in the Theory of Monomyth is shown in depth in The Hobbit narrative all over the trials Bilbo Baggins faces. Loyalty is easily displayed in the relationships
One of the main themes of the Hobbit is Bravery/ Heroism .The novel begins with Bilbo being content who lives in a hobbit hole. Gandalf invites Bilbo on an adventure and Bilbo reluctantly agrees when he wants to embrace his adventurous “Took” side of his ancestry. Bilbo shows great courage and heroism fighting evil and overcoming challenges. An example would be that “The dwarves looked at Bilbo with quite a new respect ,when he talked about dodging the guards and jumping over Gollum and squeezing through as if it was not difficult or very alarming”. (pg. 93). This quote tells of the dwarves response to Bilbo telling them how he escaped goblins and a horrid creature named Gollum. This instance is significant because it is the first major act
Bilbo lives a quiet and comfortable life in his hobbit hole in Bag end and he almost never leaves home. But the wizard knows that there is more to Bilbo that meets the eye and he has certain powers that can help the dwarves in their journey to
When you think of a hero, is the first character to pop in your head a little hobbit named Bilbo Baggins? In most cases, people think of Superman or Hercules, but in The Hobbit, an unexpected hero emerges and changes the name for all heroes to come. The Hobbit is a novel about Bilbo Baggins and his journey, with thirteen dwarves and a wizard, seeking the treasure stolen by the dragon, Smaug. While on this unexpected journey, Bilbo and his companions overcome many obstacles to eventually get to the treasure and retrieve it. Throughout the story, Bilbo develops into a courageous man, who indeed, is a hero. Richard Tyre wrote an article, “You Can’t Teach Tolkien,” and he explains his theory in which he connects multiple story’s plot with six elements. The Hobbit, is assuredly a prime example of Tyre’s theory because it follows all six steps throughout the story simultaneously. The six elements are; “(1) those who hunt for treasure, (2) must go alone, (3) at night, (4) and when they find it, (5) they must leave some of their blood behind, (6) and the treasure is never what they expected” (Tyre 19). These elements are steps in which a character must take to emerge into a hero in the end. Bilbo Baggins is the hero in The Hobbit, but he doesn’t start off as the hero. He has always had heroic traits but throughout the novel, he pursues those six steps and in the resolution, he is transformed into an actual hero.
Thorin and the other dwarves are tricksters. They disrupt Bilbo’s normal day, making him stressed as the author tells us “The poor little hobbit at down in the hall and put his head in his hands”, an action usually portrayed by anxious and stressed out people. This is definitely a disruption to Bilbo. Along the journey, Bilbo and the dwarves become more aquaintenced to each other, with the dwarves praising him like how Balin exclaimed, “Well, it is the first time that even a mouse has crept along carefully and quietly under my very nose and not been spotted.” Thorin and the dwarves eventually become great friends with Bilbo. As Thorin died, he spoke to Bilbo, mentioning “I wish to part in friendship from you,”. Even after the drama with the Arkenstone, he wishes to stay friends with Bilbo beyond the grave. Heros and trickers, we could probably stop there, but there’s one more important character we have not looked
Bilbo has changed into a different hobbit since he left for his adventure. Before he left, Bilbo wanted nothing more than to stay in the comforts of his hobbit-hole, but afterwards he was more willing to abandon comfort for more adventures. The hobbit was not at all willing for adventure in the beginning since Gandalf, a wizard, practically tricked him into going on the trip, but after getting the thrill of adventure, Bilbo was more open to venturing outside his hobbit-hole. On the journey, the company came across many creatures and with these encounters, Bilbo became more open to different creatures than only meeting visitors that came to his hobbit-hole. With these encounters, however, the hobbit obtained a sense of confidence when meeting adversity.
Thorin, who is one of the dwarves, gets interrogated by the elven king. He does not say anything and waits for his rescue. After a long wait, Bilbo locates and helps them escape their cells. Which resulted to Bilbo having to think of a plan to escape by himself.
The more he thinks about it, the more he realizes how the dwarves don’t have a home. They have many adventures before Bilbo realizes that the dwarves don’t have one. Bilbo doesn’t show how much he cares about them until after they are captured by the Goblins. He gets separated from the others. He meets Gollum and finds a ring that makes him invisible.
The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, is centered on Bilbo Baggins, the classical hero who starts out as an average hobbit in an immense world, goes on an adventure and begins find his special gifts that are unique to him, and returns to his old way of life having been changed forever. Bilbo Baggins is a very respectable hobbit living in the Shire. He is just a tiny speck in the vast expanse of Middle Earth and what lies beyond. By a rule, hobbits are to strive for respect from their fellow hobbits. Consequently, it is extremely rare and looked down upon for a hobbit such as Bilbo to venture out of his comfortable hobbit hole and embark on an "adventure". In Bilbo's own words, adventures are "nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner!" So like a classical hero, Bilbo starts out as an everyman denying any sort of adventures that come his way.
Have you ever noticed the continuous recurring theme in your favorite movies and books? That is called the Hero’s Journey. Bilbo Baggins, a supposedly unadventurous hobbit is requested to accompany a group of dwarves on a difficult journey by none other than Gandalf, the well-known wizard himself. Ishmael Beah, a young, happy boy goes out with his friends without saying goodbye, not knowing it may be his last time to see them. While with his friends, his town gets attacked by the rebels and his whole world turns upside down. Both authors portray the Hero’s Journey, but there multiple differences and a few similarities in their techniques.
When the book started Bilbo was unprepared to go on any kind of journey, in fact the presence of Gandalf there startled him in an obvious way. Back when the war first started it was such a sudden start and unexpected war that the young men were not prepared for it. The way that Gandalf came to Bilbo’s door and told him that he was going to help the dwarves in their fight was much like the way English officers would go door to door and recruit young men to go to war for their country. Both of these situations gave the men very little choice in what to do or when they were going to do it.
In many stories, there is a hero ‒ a character who rescues, saves, survives, and sacrifices in order to help the greater good. He usually is of mysterious origin and often starts off seeming ordinary and insignificant. However, as the hero eventually grows and develops, he follows the hero’s journey, or the general structure of a hero’s adventures. Such is the case in J.R.R. Tolkien’s renowned The Hobbit, a high fantasy novel detailing the adventures of Mr. Bilbo Baggins, a small furry creature known as a hobbit. Bilbo lives comfortably in his hobbit-hole until he is compelled to join a dangerous quest with Gandalf the wizard and thirteen dwarves. As Bilbo Baggins progresses along his hero’s journey, he transforms, develops, and changes into an extraordinary hero.
The dwarves ridicule the idea, but Bilbo, indignant, joins despite himself. Bilbo sets out on a perilous journey, encounters and overcomes many obstacles and returns victorious. The story represent a hero story there are tasks to be performed, risk to be taken, riddles to solve, and foes to be outwitted or outfought.
Bilbo and the dwarves react a little different from each other. The dwarves didn't like any of the elves so they really didn't like Rivendell and thy felt a little out of place because most of their life they didn't really settle down in one place they were around their friends and always going on adventures. But Bilbo had most of his life he was in his hobbit hole and always cozy and he only had himself. And when they meet the elrond bilbo liked him and most of the other elves but no the dwarves did not they would always make fun of each other , like the elves would make fun of their beers and how short they was, and the dwarves would pick out a lot of things that looked funny to them and that is how it was between the dwarves and the elves.
Gandalf’s promise had been proven true, and Bilbo had shown beyond doubt that he had something special about him. This event had transformed the innocent hobbit into a clever being and also had created trust for Bilbo among the company, since the dwarves could rely on the hobbit to save their lives due to his excellent burglary.