“Far over the misty mountains cold To dungeons deep and caverns old We must away ere break of day To seek the pale enchanted gold. The dwarves of yore made mighty spells, While hammers fell like ringing bells In places deep, where dark things sleep, In hollow halls beneath the fells.” (Tolkien, 17).
In The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, the protagonist, Bilbo Baggins is sent on a journey across the land of Middle Earth with 13 dwarves by a wizard named Gandalf. The purpose of this journey is to reclaim the treasure that was taken from the dwarves by an evil dragon named Smaug. Smaug lives in the Lonely Mountain, which is far away from the Shire, where Bilbo lives. Over the course of their journey, Bilbo encounters many interesting characters
…show more content…
They are surrounded by a dark, thick, and terrifying forest. This represents another challenge in Bilbo’s journey. However, this one is bigger than the last. Here, he has to completely rely on his skills to survive Mirkwood. For example, Bilbo needed his keen eyesight to cross the river, or else they never would have been able to throw the rope. “Bilbo kneeling on the brink and peering forward cried: ‘There is a boat against the far bank! Now why couldn’t it have been this side!’
‘How far away do you think it is?’ asked Thorin, for by now they knew Bilbo had the sharpest eyes among them.” (Tolkien, 156) Again, he also discovers even more of his adventurous side. This is highlighted most when he defends himself and the dwarves from the giant spiders. Also, you can see his change when he is trapped in the Wood-Elf fort. Mirkwood marks the final challenge leading to Bilbo’s ultimate test. The Shire, the Misty Mountains, and Mirkwood make The Hobbit more than a typical adventure book because of their detail and contrasting tones. If The Hobbit didn’t have these settings, it could be bland and very formulaic. Setting is not what always immediately catches our eyes in a book, but it provides the backdrop that everything must be built