...The Godly Characteristics of Bilbo Bilbo has many Godly characteristics in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. He decides to help the dwarves by going on the journey, Bilbo risks his own life to help the dwarves many times, and he gives the Arkenstone to Bard to help his people. Bilbo shows that he is helpful, caring, and selfless on his journey with the dwarves. The first characteristic is that he decides to go on the journey to help the dwarves. Bilbo doesn’t like to go on adventures, because he likes to be comfortable in his little hobbit hole. Gandalf says, “There is a lot more in him than you guess, and a deal more than he has any idea of himself.” Bilbo is scared to go and he thinks he isn’t brave, but Gandalf knows that Bilbo is brave and he can be a hero. He starts to be a hero when he saves the dwarves for the first time. Bilbo has to risk his life to help the dwarves many times in this book. He cares enough to help them when they are imprisoned in the dungeon of the wood elves and when they are captured by the giant spiders. In the wood elves’ dungeon when Bilbo has freed all the dwarves he tells them, “You just follow me! We must all keep together and not risk getting separated. All of us must escape or none, and this is our last chance.” Bilbo could leave them in the dungeon for the rest of their lives, but he decides to stay and free them. Bilbo also shows that they were a team because he says,” All of us must escape or none.” Bilbo is not just brave and caring. He...
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...In J.R.R. Tolkien’s book, The Hobbit, the main character, Bilbo, makes a miraculous journey from hobbit to hero. A few instances that proves this are when Bilbo gives the Arkenstone to Bard and the Elvenking, when he defeats Gollum and takes his ring, and when he saves the dwarves from the Elvenking’s palace. First off, Bilbo gave the Arkenstone to Bard and the Elvenking to prevent war. Bilbo did this knowing that he would face Thorin’s wrath. When he did this, he knew that he was walking into enemy territory. He did what he thought was best, no matter the consequences. This helps Bilbo on his way to hero because he displays braveness and perseverance. Secondly, Bilbo defeated Gollum in a riddle battle, but Gollum planned to kill Bilbo....
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...Bilbo Baggins Character Analysis Rough Draft “Hobbits really are amazing creatures… You can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a month, and yet after a hundred years they can still surprise you at a pinch.” Bilbo is relatable to many people, even though he is a hobbit and not human. Bilbo found characteristics of himself that he did not know he had. Now he has more titles than just the hobbit under the Hill, he is an adventurer. Tolkien uses Bilbo as the central character to tell the audience that such a great event can change a person, but it is important for that person to keep their beliefs. Tolkien has created Bilbo as someone that can be related to. Tolkien clearly describes Bilbo’s Baggins-side, a well-respected hobbit family, and his Took-side, the out-there and adventurous family that “[wishes] to go and see the great mountains… and wear a sword instead of a walking stick.” It is easy to relate to someone like this by enjoying the comfort of everyday life, but also wishing something fun, exciting, and new would happen. This helps Tolkien introduce Bilbo as the protagonist and help the readers be more empathetic towards him. Because Bilbo’s Took-side led him go on this...
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... In The Hobbit, Bilbo, a hobbit from the Shire, is recruited as a burglar to go on an adventure to help reclaim the land of the dwarves. Bilbo and the thirteen dwarves encounter many different creatures along the way, some who want to help them and other who want to kill them. Through the journey Bilbo must grow into a true hero to save the dwarves and himself. Bilbo grew into a brave, selfless, and important member of the team who came to recognize good and evil. Bilbo through his many troubles during the adventure had to learn what it means to be a true hero. Bilbo was a coward in the beginning; he never wanted to leave his home. Whenever Bilbo was in the slightest danger, he turned into a coward complaining “Why did I ever leave my hobbit-hole” (p. 62, Tolkien). Bilbo...
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...The word personification means the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something non-living. Personification is one of the most common figures of speech that is used in The Hobbit. Tolkien uses personification a lot in his story. It impacts the story in an interesting way. J.R.R. Tolkien uses personification in his setting to bring his setting alive to show how each “place” can impact reader’s lives. Tolkien names his settings in a particular way. The names of the places are symbols of the characteristics of the characters. As a result of the journey to “The Lonely Mountain” Bilbo shapes into a hero and the company sees him as a hero. The Lonely Mountain is significant because it shows their journey. It also shows all...
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...The Hobbit is a novel by J.R.R. Tolkien illustrating the adventure of Bilbo Baggins on his quest to help his dwarf friends. Through the journey, Bilbo discovers the true potential of his loyalty, bravery, and cleverness. I believe The Hobbit should remain a classic in our modern world. This is due to its expression of life and morals, the work’s renowned recognition after over 75 years, its appeal to the over 100 million copies sold, and its connections to the modern literature that the work has influenced. I feel that the despite the change of time, The Hobbit has withstanded and exceeded expectations securing itself the right and justification to be a classic. The meaning of good over evil, and right over wrong, are concepts that author...
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...the Dwarves came to Bilbo’s house and asked him to join the journey to defeat Smaug and he accepts to go on the journey. I liked this moment mainly because Bilbo had shown lot of valiantry in this moment. Bilbo showed bravery because he did not want people to think of him as a scared person even though Hobbits are not supposed to live a treacherous and adventurous life but, Bilbo had known that he could be different. This can relate to my life when I had gone to an Adventure park. The Adventure park had many obstacles and zip lines. I was a little bit scared at first because the course seemed intimidating but I was brave and...
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...J.R.R. Tolkien. He can overcome adversity and aid his fellowship of 14 unlikely creatures in their attempt to regain their long-lost home. Gandalf is a venerable wizard and exemplifies a mythological hero throughout his entire written history. Gandalf always seems to be in the right place at the right time with a sort of grace about him, as if always waiting for the perfect moment. His knowledge of Middle Earth is inexplicable; he rarely misses a beat. Although he is not on a personal quest, he is quick to help those he sees fit. Several times over the fellowship found themselves in a sticky situation, and Gandalf appeared only just in time. Knowledge, a keen eye, the desire to do what is right, and also a grain of mystery are all characteristics residing in Gandalf the Grey. According to "Tolkien-Online" (2007), “Tolkien was likely heavily influenced by one of the tales found in the Elder Edda which tells of the Norse god Odin traveling the Earth in the guise of a bearded old man with a staff.” Gandalf the Grey shares several similarities with the “Father God” known as Odin. For instance, he is seen as the overseer of the group. He unintentionally becomes a father figure within the fellowship. He is constantly keeping them out of the trouble they so easily find themselves in on their adventure. Gandalf finds himself in...
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...mythical creatures such as dragons, Vampires and Ghost. In this paper I will explain how J.R.R Tolkien “The Hobbit” fits the genre of fantasy. This is important because every writer has there own writing style and there favorite genre. The novel “The Hobbit” by J.R.R Tolkien fits the characteristics of the fantasy genre because it has everything a fantasy book would have such as mythical creatures, wizards and an epic hero. J.R.R Tolkien was a scholar of English language and was a professor at oxford. He Specialized in Anglo Saxon and medieval literature. Tolkien being writing fantasy novels in 1976 and has said “No other Genre can put you in such a magical state expect fantasy”(A Short History of fantasy pg.123). J.R.R Tolkien has explained that his love for fantasy goes back to his childhood and when he would read books and forget about everything and everyone around him. J.R.R Tolkien has used every aspect of fantasy in his book “The Hobbit”. The majority of fantasy is based in a medieval-type setting, a unique fantasy world created by the author, but one that usually draws upon many common influences, Which makes “The Hobbit” the perfect example. The main character in the hobbit is named Bilbo Baggins and he lives a quiet, peaceful life he is a hobbit one of a race of small, plump people about half the size of human. One day he is asked to go...
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...create Smaug’s name. His perspective of the spell was a riddle to him and he wanted to find out how it gave protection against dragons. Tolkien discovered that, “The adjective smeogan (meaning penetrating) and its verb smeagan (to inquire into), along with the related smeagol (burrowing, worming into) and its word smugan (to creep through) were all derived from the reconstructed Prehistoric German verb smugan (to squeeze through a hole).” (Day 68). Since all those words mean penetrating, to inquire, and worming into all came from the word Smugan, Tolkien changed the verb into a version of its past tense. This word became Smaug. J.R.R. Tolkien used this in his story because this saved the dwarves, some people of Lake-town, and others.When Bilbo learns, “The secret of Smaug’s mortality: a bald patch in the diamond waistcoat covering the dragon’s belly.” (Day 72). As Bard shoots the arrow, word of Bilbo’s discovery reaches Bard and the arrow squeezed through the hole, creep through the sky, and penetrated and burrowed in Smaug’s chest, causing Smaug to die. Based of of many words and the phrase “wid smeogan wyrme,” Tolkien created the word Smaug to name the dragon he created in The...
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...Ivan Caicedo Professor field English College Now 21 May 2014 THE LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING Vocabulary 1. Unobtrusive - inconspicuous, unassertive, or reticent; not noticeable or conspicuous 2. Perilous - involving or full of grave risk or peril; hazardous; dangerous 3. Imbibed - to absorb liquid or moisture; to absorb or soak up, as water, light, or heat 4. Warren - a building or area containing many tenants in limited or crowded quarters 5. Commodity - an article of trade or commerce, especially a product as distinguished from a service; something of use, advantage, or value. 6. Pavilion - a light, usually open building used for shelter, concerts, exhibits 7. Scintillating - animated; vivacious; effervescent; witty; brilliantly clever 8. Phalanx - (in ancient Greece) a group of heavily armed infantry formed in ranks and files close and deep, with shields joined and long spears overlapping; a number of individuals, especially persons united for a common purpose. 9. Provender - dry food, as hay or oats, for livestock or other domestic animals; fodder; food 10. Waistcoat - a man's body garment, often quilted and embroidered and having sleeves, worn under the doublet in the 16th and 17th centuries. 11. Perfunctory - performed merely as a routine duty; hasty and superficial; lacking interest, care, or enthusiasm; indifferent or apathetic 12. Spasm - a sudden, abnormal, involuntary muscular contraction, consisting of a continued...
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...Journey Essay A journey is shown to change an individual and/or give a deeper understanding of their world, and can take the form of a physical, inner or imaginative journey. These journeys however can be a combination of two, inviting readers to explore deeper within the story. This is advocated with Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn and Peter Jackson’s Lord of the rings trilogy, to which characters not only undertake a physical journey but a undergo inner struggles and changes.The characters of Huckleberry Finn (Twain) and Frodo Baggins (Jackson) will be analysed before and after their journey to which the effects of journeys will be expressed to the audience. Mark Twain’s Huck Finn through his ignorance of ‘racism’ within his society provides a motive for Huck’s transformation in his journey. Huckleberry Finn written by Mark Twain gives way to the protagonist Huck who during the starting phase of the Picaresque novel is shown to have a limited view on the world through his lack of education and is oblivious to the unethical views of his society. Huck’s ignorance is symbolised with his comment on the Widow’s refusal of his smoking “That is just the way with some people. They get down on a thing when they don’t know nothing about it.” This quote used for a smaller issue can be seen to highlight the Huck’s own lack of knowledge regarding “racism”, to which the novel’s key theme is revealed to the audience. Parallel to Huck Finn, Lord of the Ring’s Frodo Baggins easygoing...
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...Robin Hobb’s Assassin’s Apprentice and The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien clearly conform to the conventions of the fantasy genre in a number of ways. The main elements of fantasy are discussed in relation to the two texts, with examples provided. This essay will discuss several of the core characteristics of fantasy literature, including the concepts of magic, otherworlds, good vs. evil, heroism, special character types and talking animals. These characteristics of literature are all identified in the two texts, Assassin’s Apprentice by Hobb and The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. Fantasy, as a genre of literature, is a story or series of stories, which exhibits certain definable elements that make the plot unreal and challenge the reader to suspend disbelief. There are many of these unreal elements, which feature in the fantasy genre. These unreal elements vary from mythical beasts roaming an imagined world to Earth-like natural settings in which animals take on human characteristics. There are also clearly recognizable conventions of fantasy, such as toys coming to life, miniature humans, magical powers, and time-warp stories. A fantasy novel would usually encompass more than one of these unreal elements. However, a fantasy story needs to possess only one of these unreal features in order to be classified as a part of the fantasy genre. Put simply, a fantasy story is one with at least one element that cannot be found in the human world. Magic is the most basic element of fantasy;...
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...Mythological and Modern-Day Heroes Paper Over the years, there have been many heroes embarking upon quests, overcoming odds that are extraordinary for the common person and triumphing over evil. Each hero has shared many of the same characteristics as other heroes before him/her. From literature there are the tales of Odysseus, Beowulf and Sherlock Holmes. From popular culture, the tales of Harry Potter and Hogwart’s Castle, Frodo and Bilbo Baggins from the shire and Korben Dallas and Leeloo from the movie “Fifth Element”. Starring Bruce Willis (Korben Dallas), Milla Jovovich (Leeloo) and Gary Oldman (Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg), the modern day hero complete with quest, lady fair and evil provides a pop culture version of the mythological hero and the mythological quest. Korben Dallas’ Hero’s Journey starts off as a regular joe taxi driver in the year 2263. Strong, compassionate, gruff, kind, skilled, intelligent and determined, Korben is the epitome of a hero. The strength of character, will and heart are characteristics shared by all heroes. The skills Korben possesses as well as the keen intellect, seen in his witty repartee, are true standards for a hero. His Achilles’ heel is the inability to express softer emotion. His one failing is not calling his mother. Korben Dallas exemplifies a mythological hero almost solely by his Heroic personality. Throughout the movie, the charisma and manly aura Dallas possesses in great quantities is exhibited by the hero with an...
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...Tolkien’s Christian Connections By Candace Browning I. Introduction II. Truth thru Myth III. Providence IV. Hope and Faith V. Pity and Mercy VI. Similarities to the Bible A. Various B. Creation and the Fall C. Christ D. The Virgin Mary VII. Conclusion I. Introduction For thousands of years, humanity has turned to the Bible to answer questions of how and why we are here. At the dawn of a new millenium, popular culture has shifted away from ancient stories like those in the Bible. Thankfully, more recent tales influenced by the Gospels have emerged to fulfill this craven desire. J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings is one such book. It offers a mythological explanation of the apparent chaos, pain, disappointment, horror and violence of the world in terms of the struggle between good and evil. Taking this into consideration, a closer look at the The Lord of the Rings reveals grim and glorious lessons that can be learned. The works of Tolkien have been almost universally embraced by literate Christians who have long recognized the richness and beauty of Tolkien’s Middle-earth as well as the profound influence of his Christian faith upon the shape of his imaginary world. On the other hand, it may be read and enjoyed without reference to any theology whatsoever. It succeeds mainly as an exciting tale, but a full appreciation of Tolkien’s accomplishment requires some sense of what lies behind the book. It...
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