The Hobbit
or There and Back agin
Basic Imformations
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Publication: September 21, 1937
Publication: September 21, 1937
Plot
The Hobbit is about the Hobbit Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo doesn't like adventures, like every other Hobbit, but in this story he still goes on an adventure. He was hired as burglar by the wizard Gandalf to help the dwarves of Erebor to reclaim their homeland, the Lonely Mountain or Erebor, which was stolen by the dragon Smaug a long time ago. And so Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf and 13 dwarves started their journy to Erebor. The 13, dwarves are: Fili, Kili, Dwalin, Balin, Oin. Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Ori, Nori, Dori and their leader Thorin Oakenshield. The journey was dangerous, and the company had to face lots of dangers. They haven't traveled far, and almost got eaten by trolls, but Gandalf could save them at the last minute. Because they had a map they couldn't read which leads to a hidden door at the mountain, they looked for help at Rivendell where Lord Elrond could help them. They continued their way over the Misty Mountains, but as the dwarves and Bilbo found shelter in a cave in the mountains they got captured by Goblins. There was a lot of trouble, so the dwarves lost Bilbo. While the dwarves freed themselves and fought their way to the exit of Goblin town, Bilbo met Gollum and fount the One Ring. After Bilbo found the exit of the endless caves, he also met the dwarves again. But at the evening they got attacked by Goblins and Wargs. The situation was hopeless, but the great eagles of Middleearth came to help them. The company continued their way through Mirkwood where they almost got eaten by huge spiders, and captured by the Woodelves. They just could escape, because Bilbo got the plan that they could use the barrels that were sent down the river to Laketown to escape. With help of the people of Laketown, they finally made it to Erebor. The Climax is when Smaug wakes up, attackers Laketown, and eventually get defeated by Bard. After Smaug was killed it came to a battle between the dwarves (Thorins company and the dwarves of the Ironhills), the elves of Mirkwood, the people of Laketown on the one side against the Orcs and Wargs on the other side. This battle is known as The Battle of the Five armies. Although the dwarves elves and men won the battle there was a big loss on the side of the dwarves. Thorin has fallen, and also his nephews Fili and Kili who defended their uncle with their shield and body. The resolution of the story is, that Bilbo goes back home to the Shire, to realize that almost all of his property was sold, because home was presumed dead. But he gets all of it and lives happy in the Shire.
My favorite part
I just love the whole book so much, so it's hard to say which part of it is my favorite. I really like the part where the dwarves are in Mirkwood and have to cross a river. Because Fili has the best eyes he can see the boat on the other shore that Bilbo discovered. He could get it with a rope and a hook. I like this part because it's the biggest part of my favorite character in the book. I also like the part where the dwarves come out of the barrels, and Fili complained that his barrel smelled like apple, and that he had to smell apple while he was hungry, but couldn't eat anything, and that he couldn't eat an apple anymore because of that. I like this part because it's a bit funny and cute. And I love the beginning at the book because when I read it, I'm just happy.
Best Character
My favorite character in The Hobbit is Fili. Fili is a dwarf of the royal line of Durin, and heir to the throne of Erebor. He is the nephew of Thorin Oakenshield, and the older brother of Kili. I watched th Hobbit movies Fili became my favorite character, and as I read the book, I paid more attention to Fili scenes in the book. I even started to like Fili more, because of the scenes that aren't in the movies (like the apple-barrel scene). After Bilbo freed him after the dwarves were captured by spiders, he helps Bilbo to free the other dwarves. Although he was dizzy because of the spider poison. I like that, because he helps others, no matter if he feels bad himself. The quote "Fili and Kili had fallen defending him with shield and body"(The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, 265) shows that Fili is loyal to his family and so selfless, that he even dies for his family. I also like that Fili is a young dwarf and for him gold is not as important than for the others, and he is also not as greedy as some of the older dwarves. While the others were agree with Thorins opinion about that they won't give anything of the gold to the people of Laketown (they promised it to them) Fili and Kili weren't agree with Thorin. In the book of Tolkien "Unfinished tales" Tolkien writes that Fili makes fun of Bilbo's name. This shows that he is just young happy dwarf (he would be 19 in human years)
Theme
The biggest theme in The Hobbit is courage. Because Bilbo didn't want to go to the adventure at all, and he never thought that eh will fight against Spiders or even talk to a dragon. In The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Tolkien often writes about the courage of Hobbits. Another theme is that you find sides in you that you never expected, and that you change with the challenges you get. "Already he was a very different hobbit from the one that had run out without a pocket-handjerchief from Bag End long ago" (The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, 196) this quote shows that Bilbo changed during the adventure, and because of the challenges and dangers he had to face. "Bilbo was dreadfully frightened, but he had the sense to understand what had happened and to sneak behind big barrel which held drink for the Goblin-guards, and so get out of the way and avoid being bumped into, trampled to death, or caught by feel. 'I must get to the door, I must get to the door!' he kept on saying to himself, but it was a long time before he ventured to try." (The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, 83) this quote shows the courage of Bilbo as he had to escape the Goblins in Goblin town. Another theme is how gold (or money) corrupt us. We can see this when Thorin suffers from the Dragon sickness. He just cares about the gold and the Arkenstone (the most valuable gem in the mountain)
Beautiful and cool Quotes
- "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit" (The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, 3)
- "Far over the misty mountains cold" (The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, 14)
- "May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks" (The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien,106)
- "I hope I never smell the smell of apples again!' said Fili 'My tub was full of it, To smell apples everlastingly when you can scarcely move and are cold and sick with hunger is maddening. I could eat anything in the wide world now, for hours on end - but not an apple" (The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, 179
- "if more of us would value food and cheer and song above hoarded gpld, it would be a merrier world" (The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, 263