The Hobbit by JR Tolkien
Uploaded by collector on Jan 11, 2005
The Hobbit By: JR Tolkien
Bilbo Baggins is a peaceful and domestic hobbit. He enjoys living in his comfortable hole in The Hill. His life is wonderful by hobbits’ standards, which is to say, there is no excitement and there is a lot of food and drinks to consume each day. Bilbo is the only son of Belladonna Took. The Tooks were a wealthy family, but Bilbos’ mother had adventurous personalities in them. They were not as respectable as Bilbo’s fathers’ family, the Baggins. Bilbo does not enjoy adventures but would rather stay at home and drink ale all day.
Tolkien does not waste anytime introducing us to the world of Middle Earth. Hobbits are only a few of the countless types of creatures that are encountered by Bilbo, and there are definitely more that he has not seen. Gandalf, the wizard, is major character in The Hobbit as well as in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. On the adventure that Bilbo is about to embark one will not have the ordinary multiple servings of food a day that the hobbits regularly have. Bilbo’s discomfort and possible questioning of Gandalf can be foreshadowed by the reader at this stage.
Bilbo’s character is much more complex than others, as Bilbo is the main character of the novel. The most important part that the author would like the readers to notice here is the juxtaposition of the Baggins-like hobbit lifestyle respectability and the Tooks disregard for parties in favour of adventure. It is already known that Bilbo will end up more like his mother, Belladonna Took as he embarks on this journey. This story somewhat borrows the old theme of the treasure-map of the lost treasure. Maps and keys are guides and sources of direction. In the novel the discussion of maps and keys prove who has wisdom and who is just there for the demolition work. The novel shows different “heroes” whether they are self-made, born, or maybe both.
Not so long after beginning their journey Bilbo and the dwarves make their way into the secret valley of Rivendell. Their spirits immediately begin to rise, and Bilbo is able to fatten himself with food and drink until his heart is content. Although there is a history of unpleasantness between the dwarves and the elves, it is intentionally disregarded. Elrond, who is the king of Rivendell, is an old soul who has a...