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How Does Hospitality Play In The Hobbit

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Hospitality played a key role in The Hobbit. Throughout the book, Bilbo encounters a number of inhospitable guests and hosts. These characters, who are often dangerous, cruel, or untrustworthy, add to the tension and conflict in the narrative, and they provide obstacles for Bilbo and the other characters to overcome. The inhospitable guests and hosts also contribute to the development of the plot and the characters, as they help to shape Bilbo's journey and his transformation from a timid hobbit into a brave adventurer. In addition to creating tension and conflict, the inhospitable guests and hosts also contribute to the development of the plot and the characters. By forcing the characters to confront danger and adversity, they help to shape …show more content…

The Elvenking is distrustful of outsiders, and he believes that the dwarves are a threat to his kingdom. This inhospitality creates tension and conflict in the narrative, as the dwarves must find a way to escape from the Elvenking's halls and continue their journey. One quote that illustrates the Elvenking's inhospitality is "But if you ask me, I'm afraid the lake has its own folk, and there's no good trusting them”. This quote shows that the Elvenking is suspicious of the dwarves, and he is unwilling to extend his hospitality to them. This creates a sense of danger and unease, as the dwarves are trapped in a hostile environment and must find a way to escape. Another quote in The Hobbit that highlights the Elvenking's inhospitability is when he says to Thorin and his companions, "You are in my kingdom. The forest is my kingdom. The halls of the Elvenking are my halls; and before the breaking of the world I was but an elf-child. But you know well enough now that the dwarves of the Iron Hills are coming here: indeed they are already at hand. I have no need of you to tell me what I came to find out. It is well known to me that they have purloined the only things they were sent to get, and have escaped as they came in." This quote shows that the Elvenking is not welcoming to Thorin and his companions, and that he sees them as intruders in his kingdom. He …show more content…

They do not offer them any food or shelter, and they do not show them any kindness or hospitality. Instead, they tie them up and argue among themselves about how to cook them. This creates a sense of danger and uncertainty for Bilbo and the dwarves, and it adds to the tension and conflict in the narrative. The trolls are also portrayed as being crude and violent, which contributes to their inhospitability. They speak in a rough and vulgar manner, and they are not interested in anything other than satisfying their hunger. This contrasts with the more refined and cultured characters in the story, such as the elves and the dwarves, who value hospitality and kindness. Overall, the trolls are an important example of inhospitable guests in The Hobbit, and they contribute to the richness and complexity of the story. "It was not the trolls he was afraid of now, but the goblins". This quote describes Bilbo's fear of the goblins in the Misty Mountains, who are inhospitable guests. Bilbo has already encountered the trolls, who were also inhospitable guests, but he is more afraid of the goblins because they are more numerous and more dangerous. This creates a sense of tension and danger, as Bilbo and the dwarves must navigate their way through the goblin tunnels and avoid

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