The events associated with J.R.R Tolkien’s book The Hobbit resembles a hero’s quest journey, step by step until the final stage. Bilbo Baggins is the main character in this book and his life sonorously fits into in a typical hero quest journey. The three primary components of Bilbo’s quest are, the call to adventure, tests, allies and enemies, and the reward. In the book The Hobbit, Bilbo’s life is very plain and simple until he embarks on a marvelous journey with thirteen dwarfs and the wizard Gandalf, together they go on an obstacle filled journey to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the dragon. Throughout the story Bilbo and the Dwarfs are tested several times unit the get to the last stage. Therefore the Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien is one of the classic hero quest stories because of the many affairs that resemble the hero quest cycle.
All hero quest stories begin in the ordinary world. Bilbo Baggins is a very calm and simple little Hobbit with an ordinary life and not many complications. He is really fond of having guests over and smoking pipes. He lives in his Hobbit Hole enjoying a simple life. The story starts off with the call to adventure “which is something shakes up the situation, either from external pressures or from something rising up from deep within, so the hero must face the beginnings of change”. In chapter 1, “An Unexpected party”, Bilbo is called to the adventure. At this point the hero, Bilbo Baggins is still at his Hobbit-hole, and has not yet begun the
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.
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.
Bilbo is a timid, comfortable, and compact in his secure little hole at Bag End. Gandalf persuaded him into going on a quest with Thorin’s dwarves. Bilbo became afraid that he fainted. As the novel progresses, Bilbo prevails in the face of danger and adversity, justifying Gandalf’s early claim that there is more to him than what he thought. Bilbo’s journey fits into the tradition of a hero’s quest, because he basically went somewhere in order to gain something.
Many science fiction fantasy novels have a hero or heroine. In J.R.R Tolkien’s novel the hobbit Bilbo Baggins is a hero, Even though he finds a ring of invisibility that allows him to preform surprising feats. Some of his acts of heroism are when Bilbo make his first attempt at burglary when he steals from the trolls, when he creates a plan to free his friends from the ElvenKing and follows it through and when he goes down to visit Smaug for the first time to fulfill a promise.
The Hobbit by J.R.R.Tolkien is a fantasy and quest novel. As The Pen and The Pad states all quest novels consist of five parts. “The call”, this is the beginning when gandalf arrives and tries to convince bilbo to go on the grand adventure, this continues with the arrival of the dwarfs and their magical stories . Then comes the refusal, when bilbo decides he will remain home, as he is happy as he is now, and wishes not to jeopardize his life for some foolish quest, this stage is through the whole of the first chapter then comes the “Threshold and Decent” when the main character gets something that convinces them to go, you could argue that this is one of a few options, when gandalf boots him from his house and gets him his things, this lifts his spirits and he is finally on the adventure, however he is still hesitant, this is where the second one comes into picture, I would argue that the true point he joins the quest is at the discovery of the ring, as this is his turning point. He gets an object that aids in his journey and he gains confidence, the true beginning of the adventure. Then “The Trial” when he comes face to face with Smaug, in a true trial of his power. Upon Smaug’s defeat, he gains much riches. Now “The Return” Bilbo arrives at his home at Bag End and has gained a love of adventure, storytelling, and a lot of confidence. Now we have established it is a quest novel, but it’s more,
The Hobbit, written by John R. R. Tolkien, is a fantasy novel published on September 21, 1937. It was written as a prelude to the famous series, The Lord of the Rings, written seventeen years later. The Hobbit introduces the reader to an incredibly immersive fantasy world, that enriches the reader into its epic storyline. The story takes place in a land called Middle-earth, a land filled with enchanting surprises and magical wonders. It was the perfect playground for Tolkien to develop his main character Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo Baggins was a small hobbit, who unaware in the beginning would become a large role in the plot. It is through this character that Tolkien implemented the theme of heroism into the story. Bilbo’s
“Going on from there was the bravest thing he ever did. The tremendous things that happened afterward were as nothing compared to it. He fought the real battle in the tunnel alone, before he ever saw the vast danger that lay in wait” (132). In J.R.R.Tolkien’s The Hobbit, the reader is taken through a parable that follows Bilbo Baggins on the ‘Hero’s Journey.’ This fantasy classic begins with an ‘everyman’ hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, who takes on a perilous journey to reclaim the dwarves’ homeland, The Lonely Mountain. After being spurred into action by Gandalf, the herald and mentor figure, Bilbo finds himself going on a pernicious venture that contradicts his docile nature, pushing him to play the role of
As children develop into adults, certain events and time periods stand out as the reason for important changes in their character. J.R.R. Tolkien portrayed the main character of The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, as a child on his trip into adulthood. Throughout The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, the protagonist, changes from a childlike hobbit to a fully matured hero. J.R.R. Tolkien divides the change in Bilbo's character into the three major part of the book, prior to the quest, during the quest, and after the quest.
What is a hero? Is it someone who possesses great strength and bravery, or is it someone who attains fame and wealth? In the world of Middle Earth that J.R.R Tolkien has created, Bilbo Baggins shows us that a hero can be quite the opposite. He is offered (and partially set up by Gandalf the wizard) to partake in an adventure as a burglar to help reclaim the bearded Dwarves’ homeland from the dragon Smaug. The little hobbit is frightened by the mere thought of danger, but the adventure in him ignites and causes him to agree. Through a series of events, Tolkien uses Bilbo’s characterization and ethics to portray the overall theme of heroism.
Almost every hero adventurous novel seems to follow the same structure, known as the Hero Archetyapal journey; stages a hero must follow in order to obtain the reward he/she is seeking. The Hobbit, a novel by J.R.R. Tolkien resembles similarly (keep one like resembles)to the Hero Archetypal Journey. Bilbo, a secure and innocent hobbit joins the quest with a group of dwarves and a wizard, Gandalf, to retrieve Thorin’s kingdom hoard, stolen by a wicked dragon, Smaug. The most important stage in The Hobbit is stage 7, tests, allies and enemies, because “they made Bilbo stronger, braver and clever.” (Cite from the level 4 exemplar) We see this occur when the company is captured by the wood elves, when they are helped by the elves of Rivendell
The Hobbit is about is about Bilbo Baggins going on an adventure and becoming the hero that he needed to be I will be discussing Bilbo Baggins and how he develops and changes throughout the story. I
Bilbo Baggins is one of the main characters of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Being a main character in a story, especially an adventure story, typically comes with some pretty hefty responsibilities. More often than not, the main character is also the hero. A hero is defined as “a person, typically a man, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities,” and these are not necessarily qualities readily attributed to Bilbo Baggins (oxforddictionaries.com). This essay will look at three ways in which Bilbo contrasts the traditional characteristics of a hero and what transformations he ends up making to fit the mold more closely. It will examine his lineage, his strength, and his attitude as well as the changes he makes throughout the story.
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien is a story of adventure and danger, and it is a prime example of a romantic plot and fantasy genre. What makes this story such a great example of a romantic plot? One, the unlikely hero, Mr. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit that is dragged on an adventure he doesn’t wish to take. Second, there is a great quest with a reward at its end. Third the great teacher figure, Gandalf is a wizard that helps Bilbo to become the great hero he is destined to be. And lastly the dragon figure, in this story the dragon figure, happened to be a dragon but there are also many miniature dragon figures through out the tale.
Generally, The Hobbit takes place in many different places as listed and described below but the time period is considered to be set in the years of 2941 and 2942 of the Third Age (before the Lord of the Rings)
The Hobbit: an Unexpected Journey is one of the highest grossing films of all time, telling the story of The Hobbit, crafted by J.R.R. Tolkien three-quarters of a century earlier. What makes this story so popular, even today? There are certain aspects of literature that outline a novel as fantasy and The Hobbit is an exemplary case. The most attractive elements of The Hobbit are its moral universe and how it pertains to the ordinary hero within Bilbo Baggins. The moral universe is what defines the “good” and “bad” characters within the novel and what inspires Bilbo to go on his journey in the first place. Defined within these terms, Bilbo does not go from the ordinary to the extraordinary character as most fantasy heroes do, but rather from being already extraordinary to ordinary.