What is the main theme of The Hobbit?
T he main themes in The Hobbit are the meaning of heroism, the consequences of greed, and the longing for home. The meaning of heroism: The novel suggests that heroism is defined not by fearlessness but by persevering despite one's fears.
What motivates Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit?
Bilbo Baggins is the protagonist of The Hobbit, meaning that he’s the default hero. In the early chapters of the book, Bilbo is cowardly… The desire and love for a home motivates most of the main characters in The Hobbit. Sometimes, the characters’ desires for home contradict each other.
What can we learn from the story of The Hobbit?
Ultimately, The Hobbit shows that bravery, sacrifice, joy, and friendship are only possible when greed is put aside. When one no longer defines oneself through one’s possessions, when one is willing to let go of what one has gained, does one gain the true prize: a good and noble life, lived in simple dignity with friends.
What is the setting of The Hobbit?
The story of "The Hobbit" begins in the Shire, land of the hobbits. The Shire is similar to a pastoral English countryside, and the hobbits are represented as quiet, agricultural people who shun adventure and travel. Bilbo Baggins, the protagonist of the story, is surprised to find himself hosting a group of dwarves and the great wizard, Gandalf.
What are the two main themes of The Hobbit?
Home and Birthright The desire and love for a home motivates most of the main characters in The Hobbit.
What was Tolkien's purpose in writing The Hobbit?
Tolkien wrote The Hobbit in an effort to integrate two literary interests, a mythology of England and stories for his children. His academic expertise in ancient literatures and languages familiarized him thoroughly with the old northern myths and epics, including Beowulf and Icelandic sagas.
What is the moral lesson of The Lord of the Rings?
One of the most obvious lessons from LOTR is that true friends stick to each other through thick and thin, and they always have each other's back. Be it Merry and Pippin or Legolas and Gimli-- they always supported and helped each other.
What is Tolkien's philosophy?
If it is well known that Tolkien is essentially a philologist, in fact, it is also true that inside his works, both literary and philological, there are plenty of truly authentic philosophical themes to be found, such as Power, Evil, Death and Deathlessness, Paganism, Christianity, and the relationship of the latter to ...
What is the theme of the Hobbit?
Home is one of the most important themes in all of J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels. For the main character of The Hobbit, home is even more crucial. At the start of the novel, Bilbo has no desire to leave his home and travel into danger’s path. He’s content where he is. On the other side of the equation are the dwarves who are embarking on this quest in order to take back their home. It’s their courage that finally convinces Bilbo that he supports their quest and is willing to help them.
What is the foreshadowing in the first chapter of The Hobbit?
There is a great example of foreshadowing in the first chapter as well. Gandalf, when speaking about Bilbo, says: he is a Burglar, then a Burglar he is, or will be when the time comes. There is a lot more in him than you guess, a deal more than he has any idea of himself.
How do the dwarves and Bilbo escape the goblins?
The dwarves and Bilbo escape the goblins with the help of the eagles. They meet Beorn, travel through Lake-town, and Bilbo enters the Lonely Mountain. He encounters Smaug, steals the Arkenstone, and Smaug destroys Lake-town. Bard kills Smaug.
Why does Tolkien use words like "I am afraid"?
He uses words like “I am afraid” in this passage to make the revelation that “the dwarves might be eaten by trolls” easier to digest. Throughout The Hobbit, Tolkien uses examples of figurative languages, such as metaphors and similes, in order to depict various scenes.
What does Thorin's final act symbolize?
He’s eventually buried with it after he dies. This final act symbolizes Thorin’s peaceful return to a time before greed and death were so much a part of their lives. Cite This Page. Home » J.R.R. Tolkien » The Hobbit » Themes and Analysis.
What are the two swords in The Hobbit?
The two swords the dwarves and Bilbo find in the trolls’ hoard, Orcrist and Glamdring, are symbols of the past and heroism . The swords embody the histories they were a part of and inspire those who wield them. It should also be noted that swords are an important part of many examples of heroic literature. With his sword, Bilbo starts to turn into the courageous hobbit he is at the end of The Hobbit .
What does Tolkien define home?
By the time readers get to the end of the novel, Tolkien has defined home as a place one has to love, but not so much they never want to leave it.
Where does the Hobbit start?
The story of "The Hobbit" begins in the Shire, land of the hobbits. The Shire is similar to a pastoral English countryside, and the hobbits are represented as quiet, agricultural people who shun adventure and travel. Bilbo Baggins, the protagonist of the story, is surprised to find himself hosting a group of dwarves and the great wizard, Gandalf. The group has decided that now is the right time to journey to the Lonely Mountain, where they will retake the dwarves' treasure from the dragon, Smaug. They have nominated Bilbo to join the expedition as their "burglar."
What are the Hobbit characters?
The characters in "The Hobbit" include a wide range of fantasy creatures, most drawn from classical fairy tales and mythology. The hobbits themselves, however, are Tolkien's own creation. Small, home-loving people, hobbits are also called "halflings." They are very similar to small human beings except for their very large feet. Some of the main characters in the book include: 1 Bilbo Baggins, a quiet, unassuming Hobbit and the protagonist of the story. 2 Gandalf, a wizard who initiates Bilbo’s journey with the dwarves. Gandalf causes Bilbo to set aside his reputation for cautious respectability and go on an adventure that will change the hobbit forever. 3 Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of a group of 13 dwarves who wish to recover a treasure horde stolen by a dragon. 4 Elrond, a wise leader of the elves. 5 Gollum, a once-human creature who found and is governed by a great ring of power. 6 Smaug, the dragon and antagonist of the story.
What does Bilbo find in the Arkenstone?
A thrush has overheard Bilbo's report of Smaug's vulnerability and reports it to Lake-town defender Bard. His arrow finds the chink and slays the dragon. When the dwarves take possession of the mountain, Bilbo finds the Arkenstone, an heirloom of Thorin's dynasty, and hides it away.
What are the Hobbits called?
Small, home-loving people, hobbits are also called "halflings.". They are very similar to small human beings except for their very large feet. Some of the main characters in the book include: Bilbo Baggins, a quiet, unassuming Hobbit and the protagonist of the story. Gandalf, a wizard who initiates Bilbo’s journey with the dwarves.
What happens when Bilbo fails in the Goblin Tunnels?
As a reward for solving all riddles Gollum will show him the path out of the tunnels, but if Bilbo fails, his life will be forfeit.
Where does Bilbo save the dwarves?
In Mirkwood, Bilbo first saves the dwarves from giant spiders and then from the dungeons of the Wood-elves. Nearing the Lonely Mountain, the travelers are welcomed by the human inhabitants of Lake-town, who hope the dwarves will fulfill prophecies of Smaug's demise.
Where does the book Middle Earth take place?
The book contains carefully drawn maps showing various parts of Middle Earth including the peaceful and fertile Shire, the Mines of Moria, the Lonely Mountain, and Mirkwood Forest. Each area of Middle Earth has its own history, characters, qualities, and significance.
What are the main themes of The Hobbit?
The Hobbit Themes. T he main themes in The Hobbit are the meaning of heroism, the consequences of greed, and the longing for home. The meaning of heroism: The novel suggests that heroism is defined not by fearlessness but by persevering despite one's fears. The consequences of greed: Many of the figures and creatures in ...
What does greed do in The Hobbit?
Greed makes the possessor believe he is in control of what he possesses, but in reality he is controlled—or possessed—by his possessions. Greed drags the possessor down a road of destruction and havoc. Ultimately, The Hobbit shows that bravery, sacrifice, joy, and friendship are only possible when greed is put aside.
What is the longing for home in Bilbo?
The longing for home: Bilbo and the company are dwarves are motivated by a desire for home, whether by returning to one's origins or by recovering a lost ancestral homeland.
What does Bilbo see in the dragon's hoard?
Even Bilbo at one point is possessed by a greedy desire: though he is not as bewitched by the dragon’s hoard as the dwarves are, when he sees the hoard, “his heart was filled and pierced with enchantment and with the desire of the dwarves.”. Other races, however, display an even greater propensity for greed.
What are the consequences of greed in The Hobbit?
The Consequences of Greed. Many characters in The Hobbit are driven by greed. The dwarves, most especially Thorin Oakenshield, are driven by their desire to reclaim their long-lost treasure. This leads to many foolhardy actions.
What do the dwarves want?
Though it is possible to see their strongest desire as greed for gold, they also desire to return to a place that is rightfully theirs and restore it to its former glory. For them, homecoming means a rebirth and a restoration of their shared past. The dwarves express this desire from the beginning, notably in the song they sing at Bilbo’s house, “Over the Misty Mountains,” in which they speak of reclaiming their long-forgotten gold. For the dwarves, as for Bilbo, their journey is ultimately about finding home.
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What is the main trope of The Hobbit?
The Hobbit is a fantasy novel, and it contains many of the genre’s traditional tropes: a quest, treasure, a dark forest, and even a dragon. With this in mind, it’s worth asking who the hero—arguably the most important fantasy trope — of The Hobbit is, and how Tolkien defines heroism. Bilbo Baggins is the protagonist of The Hobbit, meaning that he’s the default hero. In the early chapters of the book, Bilbo is cowardly…
What is Bilbo's most important skill?
Yet one of the most important weapons that they use—and one of the most important skills Bilbo develops on his travels—is language. In the early chapters of the book, Bilbo exhibits almost no sophisticated command of language…. read analysis of The Power of Language.
Why is Smaug greedy?
Smaug, the primary antagonist of the novel, is so greedy that he notices when Bilbo steals a single cup from his vast collection of treasure.
What weapons did Bilbo use in The Hobbit?
To defend themselves, they use an equally vast number of weapons: knives, daggers, spells, fire, rocks, sticks. Yet one of the most important weapons that they use—and one of the most important skills Bilbo develops on his travels—is language. In the early chapters of the book, Bilbo exhibits almost no sophisticated command of language…
Where does Bilbo Baggins leave his home?
For instance, Bilbo Baggins says at many points throughout his journey that he regrets ever leaving his home in hobbit-town, while the dwarves with whom he’s embarking on his adventure seek to return to (and reclaim from Smaug) their home under the Lonely Mountain. In many cases, having home…. Arn, Jackson.
Is Bilbo Baggins fully grown?
Coming of Age. Although Bilbo Baggins is “fully grown” at the beginning of The Hobbit, his adventures teach him to be brave, to take responsibility for himself and for others, and to develop skills he didn’t know he had: in effect, to grow up.
