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Bilbo's Use Of Symbolism In The Hobbit

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“Now for some music! [...] Bring out the instruments!” (26) said the enthusiastic, fun loving Thorin. In The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, there is a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins that goes on a quest with 13 dwarves and the leader is Thorin Oakenshield. They go on this quest to defeat the dragon, Smaug, so that then the dwarves will reclaim their home and the treasures that wait inside. Although, it does not turn out the way they expected. Tolkien uses a lot of symbolism in his writings by giving objects a much deeper meaning. Thorin’s death bed is a symbol for his past relationship with Bilbo which includes friendship, greed, and regret. Thorin and Bilbo’s friendship started on their wild journey to the Lonely Mountain. Even though Bilbo constantly wishes he was back in his hobbit hole, he still tries his hardest to save the dwarves when they are in trouble. Which created him and Thorin’s friendship. This shows the friendship between Thorin and Bilbo because even though Bilbo could have ran away and not help the dwarves, he still came through for them and helped them escape without telling the eleven king why they were in the woods in the first place. “Are you still in prison, or are you free. [...] help me get the others out while there …show more content…

“‘No!’ said Thorin. ‘There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom blended in measure.’” (273) In the end, even though Thorin did not show it until then, he really did respect Bilbo as much as he respects the dwarves. Before it was time for Thorin to move on from this world, him and Bilbo’s friendship was put back

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The dwarves discover something that they didn’t think would happen when they first started onto their adventure, they have relied on Bilbo more than once to get them out of a sticky situation. The dwarves, first heart broke when they hear that Gandalf was leaving them, didn’t think that Bilbo was a worthy burglar to bring onto the trip, believing that he had caused the trip to slow more than necessary. They then begin to realize and discover why Gandalf did leave them though, Gandalf knew that Bilbo would help the dwarves as the journey progressed and he gained more

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1012 Words | 5 Pages

“Somehow the killing of the giant spider, all along by himself in the dark without the help of the wizard or the dwarves…He felt a different person, and much fiercer and bolder.” (181). Bilbo transforms from a follower of the company to a leader when they are finally faced with Smaug. “ [Bilbo] would often borrow Thorin’s map and gaze at it, pondering over the runes and the message of the moon-letters Elrond had read.” (238) When Thorin first arrived at Bilbo’s hole, he was the one that was reading the map.

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1252 Words | 6 Pages

Tolkien uses Bilbo as a character who is not so easily corrupted by greed and is thus, able to carry the journey forward. Because of this virtue, Bilbo is able to see reason and make decisions that will benefit the greater good and stop useless violence. Even though this is not his home, Bilbo feels a sense of duty and risks his life to help the Dwarves. Unlike Odysseus, Bilbo is an unlikely hero who only sets out on the journey after being persuaded by Gandalf, a wizard. Bilbo relies mostly on his luck and on Gandalf to be saved.

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Where are you from, fairytale land? BILBO Look, if you don’t know where Thorin is, I need to go find him. KHAN I’ll made you a deal.

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181 Words | 1 Pages

In the beginning of the movie "THe Hobbit" Bilbo is a small peaceful hobbit who lives in the Shire. He loves to keep things in order, was never late, and disliked adventures or anything unexpected. As the movie progresses he starts to portray more courage, bravery, heroism and becomes more adventurous. When the dwarves offer Bilbo to join them on their quest, Bilbo faints upon hearing the news. He decides to join their quest anyways and finds that in the beginning its really uncomfortable and wishes that he was back in his cozy little home.

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489 Words | 2 Pages

Thorin comments that if more of the contentious warriors of the world lived the way hobbits do, it would be a happier world, and Bilbo’s return to Hobbiton seems an acknowledgment of the same idea. Heroism is important in a world beset with evil, but Tolkien suggests that if everyone lived the simple life of hobbits, evil would be obsolete. So, in a sense, Bilbo does belong in Hobbiton, even if he does not in the eyes of the hobbit community. 3 Is Thorin in any sense a heroic leader? Do his actions in the novel make him deserving of his death at the end?

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441 Words | 2 Pages

Tolkien uses symbolism to show that Bilbo feels like a different person by saying,” the spider lay dead beside him, and his sword blade was stained black… He felt like a different person, and much

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The next morning, Bard comes back with two people to convince Thorin to agree to a peace agreement. When Thorin refuses again, Bard reveals that he has the treasure that Thorin loves the most, the Arkenstone. Bilbo is turned upon by Thorin, as he tells him that he was the one to give Bard the stone. Yet, before he attacks Bilbo, one of the people who accompanied Bard reveals that he is no other than Gandalf himself! He commands Bilbo to speak, against Thorin’s wishes, and Bilbo tells him that he only took the stone as part of his contract as a burglar.

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Bilbo risks his own life to save the dwarves many times during the adventure, which in turn gains him the respect he deserves. This new respect that Bilbo has acquires gives him plenty of confidence in himself to get the job done, whatever it may be. This clearly shows that Bilbo's change from being ridiculed and doubted by the dwarves to being very highly respected is a dramatic one and deserves recognition. All Bilbo needed is a chance to prove the dwarves wrong, and that is what he gets when those same dwarves appear on his doorstep that sunny afternoon. Along with Bilbo Baggins becoming a braver and more respected hobbit, he also develops the most important change in the story; he changes from being incompetent to very resourceful.

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The character of Bilbo isn’t perfect, nor is he meant to be, he was created to be relatable to the reader, who can empathize with the character of Bilbo while watching him meet each challenge as they are thrown at him. “Bilbo accesses his inner warrior and proves himself brave, loyal, wise and ingenious. Which is perhaps the novel's deepest appeal, since all of us secretly hope we, too, could be heroes” (Donahue). At the beginning of the story Bilbo is no hero, nor does he want to be, but when needed he does what he must to help those he cares about.

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632 Words | 3 Pages

In fact, Gloin says, "As soon as I clapped my eyes on the little fellow bobbing and puffing on the mat, I had my doubts" (Tolkien 18). On the other hand, Bilbo didn't trust the dwarves, nor did he want to go on the quest. To illustrate, Bilbo says "As soon as I saw your funny faces on the door-step, I had my doubts" (Tolkien 19). Over time the dwarves and Bilbo start to trust and respect each other more. For example, in chapter nine the book says that Thorin "...began to have a very high

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1260 Words | 6 Pages

Nasty, disturbing, uncomfortable things” (4). This refusal is borne out of a life which, up to that point, has been of second breakfasts, smoke-rings, and morning letters. His dismissive tone, however belie his adventurous Took blood. Later, in an attempt to quell the dwarves’ suspicions and introduce a lighter mood, Gandalf’s tone shifts from oratorical to comical, even sympathetic as he reassures them that though Bilbo “gets funny queer fits, (but) he is one of the best-- as fierce as a dragon in a

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742 Words | 3 Pages

“Then Bilbo, not without a shudder, not without a glance of longing, handed the marvelous stone to Bard”. This shows immense inner strength, for him to give up something so powerful and

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465 Words | 2 Pages

He begins by falling into a fit when he feels he is being forced to join Gandalf and the dwarves, and later he must be carried by Dori when they are escaping the Goblins. In the face of difficulties, he is often afraid and constantly daydreams of bacon and eggs and wishes himself back home. Bilbo is also shows signs of being fastidious. He does not like the mess the dwarves create in his home and he thinks multiple times that places they stay are unorganized

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INTRODUCTION: Dilemma at Devil’s Den is a case of a student Susan, who works at campus snack bar “Devil’s Den” as a part time job. Devil’s Den is managed by an external company, College Food Service (CFS). Susan notices an issue that the employees of Devil’s Den were taking free food for themselves and their friends where policy was that employees could take free food while working.

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