“The Hobbit” was originally written in 1937 by the brilliant author J.R.R. Tolkien. He was an Englishmen, scholar, and most importantly a great father. He decided to write a book for his son because he loved to write, and his son loved hearing about adventure, and fantasy. His answer was “The Hobbit”, a charming book which had a little Hobbit named Bilbo for the main character. This novel took Tolkien a very long time to write, and finally paid off when he showed it to his family, and friends who enjoyed it so he decided to have it published.
Today The Hobbit is still read widespread around the world, and is becoming the new craze, along with The Lord of the Ring due to the production of the movie “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”.
“The Hobbit” is considered a literary classic due to many aspects of the novel, and due to the use of characterization, symbolism, and the chosen settings.
There are many characters in “The Hobbit” that are important to the storyline, but none as important as Bilbo Baggins, and Gandalf. Bilbo Baggins is a Hobbit from Hobbiton, a place where the “respectable” Hobbits live. They never go on any adventures, and are happy with eating six meals a day, and tending to their beautiful gardens.
One day Gandalf went to Bilbo’s house, and with the help of thirteen dwarves, persuaded him to accompany them on their journey to The Misty Mountains, home of Smaug the dragon. When Bilbo started off on the journey he was afraid, unsure of what would happen, felt insignificant, wanted to go home and be left alone, and was quite a pushover. “I wish I was home in my nice hole by the fire, with the kettle just beginning to sing!” (“The Hobbit” p. 31) Throughout the novel Bilbo’s character changes significantly. He seems to “grow up” emotionally, and physically.
The Essay on The Hobbit Bilbo Gandalf Ring
... is written from an outside view such as a narrator or third person. Usually from Bilbo's eyes as he is the main character. ... gained a ring that makes him invisible when he puts it on. Gollum was once a hobbit like creature, but when Bilbo meets ... Eagles, that army of good win. After recovering, Bilbo makes his way back home. As Bilbo says, 'So comes snow after fire, and ...
Tolkien used Bilbo as the main character because he related to the reader, his son. It makes sense that he would choose a small being that resembles a child to be the main character. The “growing up” of Bilbo relates to his son because he is going through the same thing. He is a child who is afraid, and unsure when something new, or strange happens, and when he reads the things that Bilbo had accomplished, even though he was small would make him feel good inside, like he could do the same thing. This child could reflect upon what happens to Bilbo, and what happens in his own life. “The invention of the beardless, three-to-four-foot-tall hobbit is especially so. In beardlessness, and size (roughly the height of the four-to-seven-year-old child), the hobbit evokes the most primitive type of identification on the part of children” (“The Greenhaven Press Literary Companion to British Authors. J.R.R Tolkien” Greenhaven Press Ó 2000, p.37)
Gandalf is another character that is a major asset to the novel. Gandalf is portrayed as being a wise, stern old man who continually helps Bilbo overcome his fears, and helps him when he is in need by caring for him, and talking kind words to him. In this sense Gandalf is a kind of parental figure for Bilbo, possibly a father. He is protective of Bilbo, yet allows him to try things for himself even though he is small is stature. He does not want anything bad to happen to Bilbo.
J.R.R. Tolkien is a father, and looked after his son very well. By creating Gandalf’s character like a father figure he tells his son, and all the other children who read his book that there is someone looking out for them, and that even though things may look bad, they are still loved.
There is also much symbolism in The Hobbit that can be perceived, and much that must be closely analyzed to understand. Smaug the dragon, one of the mightiest, and fearsome dragons known in Middle-Earth symbolizes supreme power, greed, and hatred, all the evil things that dwell in our world today. It is said that money is the major problem with our society, the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. Smaug is one of the main problems in Middle-Earth (setting of the novel); Smaug can very easily be called money, and greed in our society because of the way Tolkien created his character. He is greedy, overbearing, and believes whole-heartedly that he is indestructible, almost a god.
The Term Paper on Giant Spider Bilbo Dwarves Hobbit
Bilbo's Transformation In The Hobbit Essay, ResearchBilbo's Transformation In The Hobbit Bilbo's Transformation in the Novel The Hobbit Some people say that people never change, while others believe that if given the chance, they will. In this case, J. R. R. Tolkien gives the character Bilbo Baggins the chance to change dramatically in his book The Hobbit. Bilbo undergoes many significant changes ...
Hobbits are quite significant to the novel. They symbolize small children who are ignorant in the sense of danger, and always expect things to be good, happy, fruitful, and loving. In this novel Hobbits live in “Hobbit holes”, beautiful houses that are circularly shaped, and adorned with many special trinkets, chairs, and food pantries. “Hobbit holes” symbolize the womb in which we all came from. “…Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort” (“The Hobbit” p. 3) There is much resemblance between Hobbits, and children. “…emerge from their respective holes in the spring of the year; they return only after much growth and development have taken place.” (“The Greenhaven Press Literary Companion to British Authors. J.R.R Tolkien” Greenhaven Press Ó 2000, p.32) This is quite the same for a child. Children learn a lot of things, and ideas before they return to their proverbial “holes”. Hobbits live in peace, happiness, and out of the way of danger, just like we were in the womb. This “symbol” adds to the effect of Bilbo’s character, and the many hardships that he endured throughout the novel. It portrays Bilbo as a small/weak child, used to being pampered, taking on many challenges, and enemies much larger than himself, growing up and overcoming his fears. Bilbo always does what he feels is right, like when he was at the Misty Mountains, and gave the Arkenstone to the “enemy”. Quite like what happens in our lives.
Tolkien used great setting in this novel, which relate, and reflect on our own lives. Hobbiton (Bilbo’s hometown) easily relates to a child, and how they live. Hobbiton is a place where there is very little crime, and many Hobbits live happily, and peacefully who all take care of each other. As a parent you want to keep your child safe, and be kind to them. Hobbiton represents a child’s home, where everything is easygoing, and safe.
The Essay on “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien
In classical children’s novel, the main characters are usually unimposing individuals who are easily overlooked, but manage to have great and successful journeys. Such is the case in Bilbo Baggins from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Mr. Baggins is a simple hobbit that is swept away into a dangerous but exciting journey. In the trip, he becomes a heroic symbol of the common man or child ...
“The Hobbit” of course is an adventure book, and would not be called so if the setting did not change. There are many places in which Bilbo, and the company travel through; mountains, elvish forests, goblins lairs, and many beaten paths are just some of the many places they travel through. “Up the hill they went; but there was no proper path to be seen, such as might lead to a house or a farm; and do what they could they made a deal of rustling and crackling and creaking…” (“The Hobbit” p.33)
The changing seasons in the novel represent the growth/change of the characters, and are equated with development cycles. “Simple age-old seasonal associations are conventionally exploited: spring is the time of hopeful starting out; summer signals the ripening of adventure; autumn brings despair; winter is total war and death; spring is peace and joyful return.” (“The Greenhaven Press Literary Companion to British Authors. J.R.R Tolkien” Greenhaven Press Ó 2000, p.32) “In children’s literature, seasons are also specifically equated with development cycles: spring is associated closely with growth and exploration of the outside world, winter with a kind of hibernation or growth plateau.” (“The Greenhaven Press Literary Companion to British Authors. J.R.R Tolkien” Greenhaven Press Ó 2000, p.32)
The Final setting of the novel takes place inside the Misty Mountains, in a place known as “Smaug’s Lair”. This is a dark, and gloomy place where the dragon: Smaug lives. The whole cave was full of treasures that he plundered from unlucky people. Smaug’s Lair represents a time, or place where you have to confront your fears, do something that you never thought you were able to, and prove to yourself your true bravery. “Going on from there was the bravest thing he ever did. The tremendous things that happened afterwards 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” (“The Hobbit” p.225) Bilbo had to use all of his abilities that he acquired from the journey to keep himself, and the rest of the company alive.
This novel took the reader far from the chair he was reading in to a place where Dragons terrorize, and Hobbits are among the mysterious of all beings. “The Hobbit” has been around for many years, and is considered a literary classic due to the many literary devices that it encompasses. Tolkien not only created a novel that involved children, he created a state of being, morals and values, which were passed on to the reader. He created more than a simple “children’s novel” novel, but a complex world of beings that encounter many things that we do all throughout our lives. Many people enjoy reading Tolkien’s novels all around the world, and many people will continue to for many years to come.
The Essay on Dreams and Omens in The Hobbit and Julius Caesar
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien is an adventure story about Bilbo Baggins, who is a mythical creature called a hobbit. Bilbo goes on an adventure with thirteen dwarves and a wizard to capture a treasure from a dragon. Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare is a play about Julius Caesar, a real Roman Emperor who is assassinated by political enemies that he thinks are his friends. These stories are ...
