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How Does The Hobbit Present Gandalf As A Fatherly Figure

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Gandalf is a wizard who seeks out and acts like a fatherly figure to Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Bilbo is half Baggins and half Took, but his Baggins side does not like new things while his Took side is very adventurous. The relationship between Bilbo and Gandalf is unique because Gandalf can act as a fatherly figure when with Bilbo, support Bilbo’s growth while away from him, and believe in him. Gandalf shows what it is like to have someone care for you and wants you to never give up. Tolkien does an excellent job of showing this in many different scenarios throughout the novel. One of the ways that Gandalf shows his relationship with Bilbo is as a fatherly figure. For the duration of the novel Gandalf supports Bilbo against …show more content…

Bilbo wishes he could turn around, go back home, sleep in his bed, and eat his own food. The dwarves also feel as if the burglar is worthless at the beginning of the novel. Gandalf quickly shuts down all accusations and lets everyone know that Bilbo will be very helpful in this mission. In chapters four and five, the group of fifteen finds themselves in a mountain filled with goblins. On their way out a goblin finds them, so in shock, a dwarf drops Bilbo. Bilbo becomes unconscious and the dwarves and Gandalf leave the mountain. After a long, verbal battle, Bilbo finds his way out of the mountain and to his companions. He overhears the dwarves groaning and begging not to have to go back and find him. Gandalf says, “I brought him, and I don’t bring things that are of no use. Either you help me look for him, or I go and leave you here to get out of the mess as best you can yourselves. If we can only find him again, you will thank me before it is all over.”(86) This shows that Gandalf believes in Bilbo and knows he will be useful during this adventure. Gandalf is also looking out for Bilbo while the others could care less about

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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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787 Words | 4 Pages

Even though this part of the hero’s journey was portrayed pretty similarly, there is still a bit of a difference. They both used their instincts, but Bilbo was influenced a bit by the dwarves. His Took side had shown while the dwarves were contemplating whether he was fit for the adventure or not. This made him want to prove himself to them. Instincts aren’t normally the cause of the call to adventure, but for some reason, these two very different novels are similar this way.

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In the story “The Hobbit” Bilbo can be seen as the hero when he sacrifices his family’s name to be a part of the quest to get Thorin's gold back Bilbo's first approach is his attempt on stealing the trolls’ treasure. He later is met by the goblins, Gollum, elves, and spiders. Each fear he faces develops Bilbo as a hero, getting him ready for his greatest quest, stealing the treasure from Smaug.. Another example of Bilbo putting others before himself is the treasure he willing to give in order to bring peace to the men, elves, and dwarves. Last, but not least, Bilbo is willing to sacrifice his life for a cause bigger than himself.

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1005 Words | 5 Pages

Bilbo embodies this traditional feature of a hero risking his life multiple times to help his companions. Although faced with many challenges, he never gives up even in the face of great danger. Bilbo has reach the climax of his journey leading him to confront Smaug the dragon. Despite saving the dwarves multiple times, he still continues with his original assignment appointing “[himself to] go and have a peep at once and get it over” (Tolkien 96). Bilbo is chosen as the burglar and continues to fulfill his job.

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888 Words | 4 Pages

While Bilbo and the rest of his group were trying to find a way out of the forest of Mirkwood. All the dwarves were captured by the armed wood elves, and since Bilbo had the ring, he became invisible so he was not captured. Bilbo had followed all of the dwarves hidden from the elves and from the Elvenking who threw all of the dwarves into separate cells. Bilbo had shown dedication of bravery by hiding and staying with the dwarves for a week or two when others would have left. Having the bravery to try his best, by giving messages to his company while they were all locked up when he knew he was risking the fact of being caught and thrown into a prison cell.

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’”(49). The quote shows many things, including Gandalf's thinking to warn Frodo of the ring's negative qualities. This thinking is influenced by his loyalty to Bilbo. He has a strong bond of loyalty with Bilbo

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Bilbo feels perplexed, but treats them like guests anyway. When Bilbo could not take it anymore, and asked why they are here, Gandalf replied that they need a burglar to help the dwarves to reclaim their land. Bilbo disagreed at first,

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Once again it is obviously apparent Gandalf means a lot to Bilbo. Likewise, Bilbo also means a lot to Gandalf as seen after the battle of the five armies when Gandalf exclaimed “well I never! Alive

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As I aforementioned before Bilbo makes a colossal transformation. Bilbo and the narrator notices that he doesn’t mind what used to bother him he says “I am sorry to say he did not mind. He was quite content; and the sound of the kettle on his hearth was ever more musical than it had been even in the quiet days before the Unexpected Party”(Tolkien 302). Bilbo isn’t aggravated by any little thing anymore since he got out of his comfort zone he’s more relaxed. To continue on this point Gandalf also takes consideration that Bilbo has made a colossal transformation Gandalf says “My dear Bilbo!

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988 Words | 4 Pages

A quiet cozy house, a warm cup of tea, and a filled pipe. These are all the things that Bilbo Baggins wishes for in his life. Subconsciously, however, he decided that he wanted an adventure. Throughout the story, Bilbo undergoes a significant change in his character, and there is one person very important to this change. At first glance, you would assume that this person would be Gandalf.

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764 Words | 4 Pages

Gandalf calls Bilbo to adventure at the beginning of the story, and Bilbo is forced to realize that “adventures are not all pony-rides in May-sunshine” (Tolkien 33). Bilbo’s journey to a hero begins with gaining an understanding that he must expose himself to uncertainty in order to help his group. After Bilbo crosses the first threshold with help from Gandalf, he finds himself in the ‘belly of the whale’ with

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2273 Words | 10 Pages

At the beginning of the story, Bilbo seems very cowardly, but soon proves that he is indeed brave. Bilbo is very tied up in his very boring, monotonous life and he really does not want to go on the adventure that he is

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1277 Words | 6 Pages

Campbell, author of The Hero with a Thousand Faces, and Winkler believe after the hero’s departure, they are faced with a trial or many trails to overcome when they finally meet their biggest enemy, “The hero undergoes a series of trials often on a perilous journey.” (Campbell) Bilbo’s first trial is after Bilbo escapes from Gollum which he is reunited with the dwarves and are surrounded by Wargs but after it seems all hope is lost, eagles swoop down and save the adventures before it is too late. In Mirkwood, the dwarves and Bilbo are starving when they get captured by spiders, and Bilbo has to save them, “Bilbo saw that the moment had come when he must do something. ”(Tolkien 64) Bilbo escapes by himself and then finds the dwarves trapped and defenseless against a mob of spiders which Bilbo has to defeat by calling them names, and angering them until Bilbo has unraveled the dwarves.

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363 Words | 2 Pages

When bilbo came to his house and asked him for an adventure. He said he was weak and not adventurous and had no thought that he was adventurous. Gandalf was pushing him not physically pushing him but imothinaly. He was pushed so much he started to change bilbo emotionaly. He was weak and went from weak to a leader.

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914 Words | 4 Pages

In life, we can rely on God to lead and help us through life’s difficulties. Similarly, in The Hobbit, we see Gandalf guide Thorin and company through a perilous journey to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and it’s treasure. Furthermore, Gandalf is portrayed as an old, wandering wizard who helps people on quests or journeys. He is seen wearing a blue hat, grey cloak, black boots, and a silver scarf (Tolkein, 5).

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