Symbolism Of The Dragon In The Hobbit

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The need to defeat a dragon is a common occurrence in fantasy fiction. The Hobbit is no different; the primary antagonist is Smaug, a red-golden dragon who loves gold and treasure. However, Smaug is not an ordinary dragon. Tolkien uses clever linguistic tricks to elevate Smaug above that of an average antagonist. Smaug's terrifying nature comes from the way he speaks and the carefully constructed wording of his phrases. Although Smaug is oft-spoken of and occupies the role of the main antagonist of the story, the dragon doesn't make an appearance until the end of the story. When Smaug is first seen by Bilbo, he is described as being huge and laying atop gold, gems, and jewels that he uses as a bed (233). Although a dragon might seem to not