Knowledge Builders

what chapter does smaug die in the hobbit

by Catherine Kub Jr. Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

The story flashes back to the point two days before, when Smaug smashed in the door of the Mountain in a range. The men of Lake-town saw the flashes produced by Smaug's destruction and at first thought it was the King under the Mountain and his gold.

Full Answer

What is chapter 15 of the hobbit about?

The thrush that had attracted Bilbo's attention outside the secret door to the Lonely Mountain is revealed to be Roäc son of Carc. He tells Bilbo and the dwarves that Smaug is dead and that they should not trust the Master of Lake-town, but Bard.

Does Smaug die in the Hobbit book?

Still enraged, Smaug flew south to Laketown and set about destroying it. The townsmen's arrows and spears proved useless against the dragon's armoured body. The thrush told Bard the Bowman of Smaug's one weak spot, a bare patch on the dragon's belly. With his last arrow, Bard killed Smaug by shooting into this place.

Who dies in chapter 18 of The Hobbit?

Thorin OakenshieldThorin Oakenshield is the leader of the dwarfs, and the descendant of the dwarf that was King Under the Mountain before Smaug took the treasure. The throne and treasure are Thorin's birthright. Thorin's death in Chapter 18 holds great significance in the book. It leads to Dain becoming the King Under the Mountain.

When did Smaug die?

T.A. 2941Page actionsSmaugHoardTreasure of Thrór, including the ArkenstoneAppearedPresumably born in the early Third AgeDeathT.A. 2941 Lake-townSlain byBard the Bowman12 more rows•Oct 14, 2022

How old is Smaug?

Smaug was at very least ~180 years old by the time he was slain.

Is Smaug the last dragon?

Smaug was the last named dragon of Middle-earth. He was slain by Bard, a descendant of Girion, Lord of Dale.

What happened in chapter 17 of the hobbit?

Bilbo is struck with a stone and passes out. In this chapter, the Battle of Five Armies occurs, and Bilbo reprises some of his former hobbit behavior when he is knocked unconscious by a stone, which puts an end to any further heroism on his part.

What happened in chapter 19 in the hobbit?

Summary: Chapter 19 The dead are buried, and Dain is crowned the new King under the Mountain. The dwarves are at peace with the lake men and the wood elves. Bard is the new Master of Lake Town, and from his share of the treasure, he gives Bilbo a handsome sum. Soon, it is time for the hobbit to return home.

What happens in chapter 20 of the hobbit?

This brief chapter brings the book to its close. After another stay in Rivendell, Bilbo and Gandalf return to the Shire. To Bilbo's surprise, his home and goods are being auctioned off-his neighbors have presumed him dead! And, in fact, the old Bilbo has "died," and a new one has taken his place.

Is Smaug a dragon or a wyvern?

Smaug is clearly described as being a “dragon,” but his on-screen self is depicted with wyvern-like characteristics. George R.R. Martin was certainly aware of the difference between the two when he conjured up Westeros' fauna.

Is Smaug in rings of power?

Although Smaug makes no appearance in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, he is indirectly mentioned by Gandalf during his conversation with Frodo near the beginning of the The Fellowship of the Ring.

Can Smaug see Bilbo?

Smaug did not know that Bilbo had the one ring. Unlike the Nazgul, Smaug couldn't detect the presence of the ruling ring. He had no way of knowing that Bilbo had it, was using it, or that it was the power of the ring that made it impossible for Smaug to find Bilbo. Smaug's fire could not destroy the one ring.

Does Smaug get covered in gold in the book?

In an attempt to defeat Smaug, the dwarves try to drown him in liquid gold. Yup, that's right. Apparently, there was a whole bunch of gold just waiting to be melted down and then poured into a GIANT cast of a dwarf statue.

Does Smaug talk in book?

While not the first treasure-obsessed dragon to terrorize villagers in the history of literature, Smaug is one of the most memorable and widely portrayed. This is possibly because he was one of the first and still one of the few who speaks.

How old was Thorin when Smaug attacks?

Thorin: Born 2746, making him about 24 when Smaug attacked, and 195 when the quest began. In the book he is the oldest of the dwarves in the company, but in the movie it seems that several dwarves are older than him. Balin: Born 2763, making him 7 years old when Smaug attacked, and 178 when the quest began.

How big is Smaug in the book?

His Actual Size In The Atlas of Middle-Earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad, Smaug is recorded as being about 20 meters, or 66 feet in length. In the film, his size in the original design is mentioned to be 130 meters in length, which is bigger than two jumbo jets.

What does Smaug hope for in the dragon?

Smaug hopes that the townspeople will flee in boats, since it will be easy for him to trap them on the water and starve them out. He wreaks havoc on the town.

What did Bard use to kill Smaug?

Bard then takes his black arrow, which had been passed down to him from his father, and uses it to shoot Smaug in the weak point on his breast and kill him. Smaug dies, having already destroyed much of the city of Esgaroth. Bard’s legitimacy as a warrior seems deeply rooted in his family—his ancestors were great lords.

What does Bard tell Esgaroth about Smaug?

In the middle of Smaug’s destruction, the same thrush that was listening to Bilbo when he told the dwarves about Smaug’s weak point, flies to Esgaroth and tells Bard how to kill the dragon.

What chapter does the narrator say Smaug flew away from the mountain?

The Hobbit: Chapter 14. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Hobbit, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. The dwarves are unaware, the narrator says, what happened to Smaug after he flew away from the mountain.

What happened to Smaug in Home and Birthright?

Home and Birthright. Summary. Analysis. The dwarves are unaware, the narrator says, what happened to Smaug after he flew away from the mountain. The men in Esgaroth (i.e. Lake-town) see a light in the distance, which they think might be the dwarves returning to forging gold. But soon, they realize that Smaug is rapidly approaching their town.

What does the Master say about Bard?

Bard appears suddenly, and the people chant that they want Bard for their king. The Master insists that Bard’s ancestors were kings in Dale, not Esgaroth; when this doesn’t work, he cleverly encourages the people to demand reparations from the dwarves for the damage Smaug has done to their home.

What is Bard's legitimacy?

Bard’s legitimacy as a warrior seems deeply rooted in his family—his ancestors were great lords. At the same time, his success in killing Smaug stems from the dwarves’ cooperation with the thrushes—without this alliance, Bard would never have known where to shoot. Even the greatest and most impressive heroes in The Hobbit depend on other people and animals, and feel a deep sense of loyalty to others. (Bard, for instance, is fiercely loyal to his people.) Villains, on the other hand, are often portrayed as being on their own; Smaug is the perfect example.

What chapter does Smaug go to Lake Town?

Summary: Chapter 13. Smaug guesses from Bilbo’s riddles that the company is somehow involved with the men of Lake Town, so he flies there to wreak vengeance. The hobbit and dwarves cower in the dark passage until they can bear it no longer. They slowly creep down toward Smaug’s chamber.

What color is Smaug?

Smaug is red and gold, with fiery breath, sharp claws, and a hide as strong as a diamond. Bilbo is horribly afraid, but he works up the nerve to take a single golden cup from one of the piles. He then rushes back up to the dwarves, who marvel over the cup.

What does Bilbo take from Thorin?

Bilbo takes only a few things. One of them is the Arkenstone, an incomparable gem that Thorin seeks but which the hobbit decides to keep for himself.

What does the hobbit tell the dwarves?

The hobbit tells the dwarves all that he has learned while a thrush sits nearby and seems to listen. They then hear the roar of the dragon once more and shut the door to the passage just before an avalanche comes down upon it. They are trapped inside the mountain.

Who is the official burglar in Thorin?

The dark passage into the mountain stands open before the company. Thorin nominates Bilbo , the official burglar, to go inside to snoop. Bilbo enters, slips on his ring to make himself invisible, and proceeds down the long, dark passage into Smaug’s lair.

Does Smaug see Bilbo?

Although he cannot see Bilbo because of the ring, Smaug smells Bilbo and greets him mockingly. Bilbo is smart, though, and answers Smaug only in riddles, which amuses the dragon enough to quell his anger for a while. Cleverly, the hobbit flatters Smaug into displaying his thick-skinned underbelly, revealing an open patch in Smaug’s scaly armor above his left breast.

What is Smaug's form in The Hobbit?

Many of Smaug's attributes and behaviour in The Hobbit derive directly from the unnamed "old night-ravager" in Beowulf: great age; winged, fiery, and reptilian form; a stolen barrow within which he lies on his hoard; disturbance by a theft; and violent revenge on the lands all about, flying and attacking at night.

What book is Smaug in?

Book (s) The Hobbit. The Return of the King. Unfinished Tales. Smaug ( / smaʊɡ /) is a dragon and the main antagonist in J. R. R. Tolkien 's 1937 novel The Hobbit, his treasure and the mountain he lives in being the goal of the quest.

What is the name of the sketch in The Hobbit?

Tolkien created numerous pencil sketches and two pieces of more detailed artwork portraying Smaug. The latter were a detailed ink and watercolour labelled Conversation with Smaug and a rough coloured pencil and ink sketch entitled Death of Smaug. While neither of these appeared in the original printing of The Hobbit due to cost constraints, both have been included in subsequent editions, particularly Conversation with Smaug. Death of Smaug was used for the cover of a UK paperback edition of The Hobbit.

What is the similarity between Smaug's death from Bard's last arrow and the death?

John Garth, writing in The Guardian, notes the similarity between Smaug's death from Bard's last arrow and the death of Megissogwon in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 's 1855 poem The Song of Hiawatha. Megissogwon was the spirit of wealth, protected by an armoured shirt of wampum beads. Hiawatha shoots in vain, until he has only three arrows left. Mama the woodpecker sings to Hiawatha where Megissogwon's only weak point is, the tuft of hair on his head, just as Tolkien's thrush tells Bard where to shoot at Smaug.

What is Smaug's weak spot?

Smaug's ability to speak, the use of riddles, the element of betrayal, his enemy's communication via birds, and his weak spot could all have been inspired by the talking dragon Fafnir of the Völsunga saga. Shippey identified several points of similarity between Smaug and Fafnir.

What is Smaug's mode of speech?

In Shippey's view, however, the most surprising aspect of Smaug's character is "his oddly circumlocutory mode of speech. He speaks in fact with the characteristic aggressive politeness of the British upper class, in which irritation and authority are in direct proportion to apparent deference or uncertainty.".

What did Bilbo notice about Smaug?

During his discourse with the dragon, Bilbo noticed a small bare patch on Smaug's jewel-encrusted underbelly, and narrowly escaped. A thrush overheard Bilbo's account of the meeting, and learnt of the bare patch on Smaug's underside. Still enraged, Smaug flew south to Laketown and set about destroying it.

What is the purpose of Chapter 17 of The Hobbit?

Summary: Chapter 17. In the morning, Bard returns with two messengers to entreat Thorin to accept a peaceable agreement. When the dwarf again refuses, Bard reveals the Arkenstone, the one part of the treasure that Thorin values above all the rest. Thorin is crushed, and he turns to Bilbo in rage when the hobbit reveals that he is ...

What chapter does Tolkien start developing the idea that the dwarves are in the wrong?

Analysis: Chapters 16–17. In this section, the idea Tolkien began developing in Chapter 15 —that the dwarves are in the wrong and that the truly heroic path is the one that ends in peace—comes to fruition with Bilbo’s moral choice to leave the dwarves. Bilbo’s motivations for defecting to the enemy camp are twofold.

Why does Bard ask Bilbo to stay in the camp?

They ask him to stay in the camp for his safety, but Bilbo decides to return to the mountain. On his way out of the camp, he runs into Gandalf, who pats him on the shoulder for his brave deeds.

What chapter does Bilbo go to the Arkenstone?

Summary: Chapter 16. As Thorin continues to search for the Arkenstone and as the rest of the dwarves worry about the armies camped on their doorstep, Bilbo decides that he must take matters into his own hands. With the help of the ring, he sneaks away from the mountain at night and into the camp of the lake men and the wood elves.

Why did Bilbo defect to the enemy camp?

Bilbo’s motivations for defecting to the enemy camp are twofold. First, he realizes that the best way out of the conflict is a peaceful one. Second, despite his friendship with the dwarves, Bilbo feels more of a natural camaraderie with elves (and , to a lesser extent, with men) than with dwarves.

What weapon does Bilbo reveal to the Elvenking?

They are suspicious of him, of course, but they relax when Bilbo reveals his secret weapon: the Arkenstone.

What does Thorin hope for before he makes the exchange?

Thorin, however, secretly hopes that before they make the exchange, his relatives, who are marching toward the battlefield with an army under the leadership of Dain, will be able to capture the stone by force.

What is the town that Smaug destroys?

In revenge for the theft of the Arkenstone, he destroys the town of Lake-town (Esgaroth). The complete destruction of the town and the displacement of men, women, and children is depicted as characteristic of Smaug's irrationality and evil.

What is Smaug's purpose?

He lives alone in the Lonely Mountain, his only purpose to guard the treasure he stole from the dwarves during the reign of Thorin's grandfather. Smaug rarely leaves his lair, and he sleeps on top of the accumulated ornaments, utensils, and weapons that constitute the treasure. He represents the wrongful impulse to hoard, to accumulate beyond what one can use and to refuse to share with others. In revenge for the theft of the Arkenstone, he destroys the town of Lake-town (Esgaroth). The complete destruction of the town and the displacement of men, women, and children is depicted as characteristic of Smaug's irrationality and evil. There is nothing sympathetic about Smaug, and Bard's slaying of him is a relief to all. The evil of his hoarding continues, however, when Goblins, elves, Wargs, men, and dwarves converge on the Lonely Mountain in a battle over possession of the treasure.

Is Smaug sympathetic to Bard?

There is nothing sympathetic about Smaug, and Bard's sla ying of him is a relief to all. The evil of his hoarding continues, however, when Goblins, elves, Wargs, men, and dwarves converge on the Lonely Mountain in a battle over possession of the treasure. Previous Thorin Oakenshield. Next Gollum. Book Summary.

Why did Thorin die in The Hobbit?

Thorin, the king of the dwarves, dies in The Hobbit as a result of his injuries in The Battle of Five Armies.

What is the main antagonist in The Hobbit?

The first is the main antagonist, the dragon Smaug. While Bilbo is attempting to secure treasure from Smaug, he spots a weak point in the dragon's armor ...

Why did Bilbo weep?

Bilbo “he wept until his eyes were red and his voice was hoarse” at the loss of Thorin. Although he did not want to go on the adventure in the first place, he had come to respect the dwarf king.

image

Overview

Adaptations

Smaug was voiced and interpreted with performance capture by Benedict Cumberbatch in Peter Jackson's three-part adaptation of The Hobbit. From the motion capture, Smaug's design was created with key frame animation. Weta Digital employed its proprietary "Tissue" software, which was honoured in 2013 with a "Scientific and Engineering Award" from the Academy of Motion Picture …

Story

Dragons lived in the Withered Heath beyond the Grey Mountains. Smaug was "the greatest of the dragons of his day", already centuries old at the time he was first recorded. He heard rumours of the great wealth of the Dwarf-kingdom of Erebor, which had a prosperous trade with the Northmen of Dale. Smaug "arose and without warning came against King Thrór and descended on the mountain in flames". After driving the Dwarves out of their stronghold, Smaug occupied the interi…

Analysis

Tolkien made Smaug "more villain than monster", writes the author and biographer Lynnette Porter; he is "devious and clever, vain and greedy, overly confident and proud." The fantasy author Sandra Unerman called Smaug "one of the most individual dragons in fiction". The Tolkien scholar Anne Petty said that "it was love at first sight", describing Smaug as "frightening, but surprisingly kn…

Illustrations

Tolkien created numerous pencil sketches and two pieces of more detailed artwork portraying Smaug. The latter were a detailed ink and watercolour labelled Conversation with Smaug and a rough coloured pencil and ink sketch entitled Death of Smaug. While neither of these appeared in the original printing of The Hobbit due to cost constraints, both have been included in subsequent editions, particularly Conversation with Smaug. Death of Smaug was used for the cover of a UK …

In culture

In 2012, Smaug's wealth was estimated at $61 billion, placing him in the Forbes Fictional 15.
In 2011, scientists named a genus of southern African girdled lizards, Smaug. The lizards were so named after the fictional dragon for being armoured, dwelling underground, and native to Tolkien's birthplace, Bloemfontein. In 2015…

See also

• List of dragons
• Glaurung

Sources

• Tolkien, J. R. R. (1937). Douglas A. Anderson (ed.). The Annotated Hobbit. Boston: Houghton Mifflin (published 2002). ISBN 978-0-618-13470-0.
• Tolkien, J. R. R. (1996), Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, ISBN 978-0-395-82760-4
• Tolkien, J. R. R. (1955), The Return of the King, The Lord of the Rings, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, OCLC 519647821

1.Smaug Character Analysis in The Hobbit | LitCharts

Url:https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-hobbit/characters/smaug

12 hours ago  · Study now. Best Answer. Copy. Smaug is slain in Chapter 14, Fire and Water. Wiki User. ∙ 2011-08-09 03:07:21. This answer is:

2.Videos of What Chapter Does Smaug Die In The Hobbit

Url:/videos/search?q=what+chapter+does+smaug+die+in+the+hobbit&qpvt=what+chapter+does+smaug+die+in+the+hobbit&FORM=VDRE

19 hours ago Chapter 14: Fire and Water. The dwarves are unaware, the narrator says, what happened to Smaug after he flew away from the mountain. The men in Esgaroth (i.e. Lake-town) see a... (full …

3.The Hobbit Chapter 14: Fire and Water Summary

Url:https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-hobbit/chapter-14-fire-and-water

35 hours ago In the town lives a man named Bard.He is a descendant of Girion, who long ago was the Lord of Dale, before Smaug destroyed it. Bard commands a group of archers to shoot at Smaug.In the …

4.The Hobbit Chapters 12–13 Summary & Analysis

Url:https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/hobbit/section7/

20 hours ago Summary: Chapter 13. Smaug guesses from Bilbo’s riddles that the company is somehow involved with the men of Lake Town, so he flies there to wreak vengeance. The hobbit and …

5.Smaug - Wikipedia

Url:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smaug

7 hours ago Summary: Chapter 17. In the morning, Bard returns with two messengers to entreat Thorin to accept a peaceable agreement. When the dwarf again refuses, Bard reveals the Arkenstone, …

6.The Hobbit Chapters 16–17 Summary & Analysis

Url:https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/hobbit/section9/

36 hours ago Smaug is a dragon whose evil, like Gollum's, is indicated by his isolation. He lives alone in the Lonely Mountain, his only purpose to guard the treasure he stole from the dwarves during the …

7.Smaug - CliffsNotes

Url:https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/h/the-hobbit/character-analysis/smaug

30 hours ago Share Cite. Thorin, the king of the dwarves, dies in The Hobbit as a result of his injuries in The Battle of Five Armies. Thorin was the king of the dwarves, and the leader of the company that ...

8.Who dies in The Hobbit? - eNotes.com

Url:https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/does-anyone-die-hobbit-427176

23 hours ago Balin, "who was rather fond of the hobbit". Describe Smaug's physical appearance. He is "a vast red-golden dragon, fast asleep; a thrumming came from his jaws and nostrils, and wisps of …

9.The Hobbit, Chapter 12, Study Guide question Responses

Url:https://quizlet.com/464333552/the-hobbit-chapter-12-study-guide-question-responses-flash-cards/

10 hours ago What happens in Chapter 14 of The Hobbit? Summary: Chapter 14 The narrator suspends telling the story of Bilbo and the dwarves at the mountain and focuses on Smaug as the dragon flies …

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9