Why Tolkien A Hero?
Many people think of a hero as someone like the character Reeve played, but in reality not all heroes have superpowers. In J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings the books talk about a hero who is a
He risks his life on more than one occasion to save his friends and bring peace between the different races. Other heroes in the story include such men like Gandalf, Beorn, The Lord of the Eagles, Bard, and even Thorin in the
When asked to describe a hero, Mickey Mantle, famous baseball player for the New York Yankees, Said “Heroes are people who are all good with no bad in them” This quote shows that a hero is someone who always does the right thing and has good intentions. What a hero should look like now is someone who is loyal and brave. In Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, Odysseus proves that he is a hero when he went to save his men on “Circe’s Island.” and defeated the cyclops in “The Cave of the Cyclops.”
When people go places and step out of their comfort zones, sometimes they come back a different person. In The Hobbit, Bilbo is an ordinary hobbit, but after his adventure, it is apparent that Bilbo is now a hero. Three events that occur that show this transformation are when Bilbo jumps over Gollum, when Bilbo slays a spider, and when Bilbo travels to the Elvenking and Bard in order to make peace. The moment Bilbo leaps over Gollum demonstrates to the reader how Bilbo is beginning to go from hobbit to hero.
A Hero is a person who is admired or idealized for courage, or noble qualities; i,e Brave, Adventurous, and Honest. Bilbo’s journey closely resembles the Hero’s Journey because he shows the characteristics of an ordinary hero while still being extraordinary in the same process. As Bilbo follows the Hero’s Journey he has become extraordinary. Bilbo has become extraordinary during his refusal to call because he was going to prove that he could do it even if he wasn't adventurous in the beginning. After being proposed an adventure Bilbo replies with ”Sorry!
The Hobbit is a piece of prose written by J.R.R Tolkien. In the story the main character Bilbo Baggins fits the definition of a traditional hero. A traditional hero is someone with a physical strength, a forceful personality, and a craving for adventure or even conflict. Traditional heroes also often leave home, seek out honor and glory, and repeatedly prove themselves worthy. Bilbo proves that he is a hero throughout the story with his characteristics, choices, and behaviors.
The Heroism Within Middle-Earth The stereotypical hero is typically depicted with motivation, intelligence, and kindness which are evident throughout Bilbo Baggin’s adventures through Middle-Earth. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel The Hobbit, Tolkien reinforces the hero archetype. Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit, transforms into a courageous and resourceful hero, affirming that heroism encircles determination, wit, and selflessness. Bilbo Baggins demonstrates determination as he overcomes obstacles and exemplifies his bravery against evil to reach the Lonely Mountain for the dwarves.
“Don’t be afraid to change. You may lose something good but you may gain something better.” In the Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien presents an unlikely hero, a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins. Another important character in the novel is Gandalf, a wizard and an old family friend, forces Bilbo to come out of his comfort zone onto a journey to recover the dwarves name and gold from the evil dragon, Smaug. Bilbo fulfills the archetypal hero’s journey by starting of an in ordinary world ,facing Ordeal, Death, and Rebirth, and The Road Back while illustrating the theme of innovation.
Many stories have at least one hero from whom the reader can learn because of the morals that the hero embodies. Heroes have distinct traits that separate them from bystanders and villains who the reader also meets throughout the story. Despite differences amongst the plethora of stories from this genre, a common denominator exists within every character that an author portrays as a hero. J.R.R. Tolkien uses multiple characters that show similar unique traits through their actions in his novel The Return of the King to define what it means to be a hero. Tolkien portrays both Frodo and Sam as heroes because of their determination, sacrifice, and perseverance.
Joseph Campbell, a renowned mythologist and professor studied mythology and traditional stories. He defined a hero as “someone who has given his or her life for something bigger than oneself.” His creation of the Hero’s Journey structured the storyline for so many stories to come, including The Hobbit. J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel follows the adventure of Bilbo Baggins, an ordinary hobbit turned hero. Gandalf, a wizard forces Bilbo on an adventure to regain treasure with thirteen dwarves.
The poem “Beowulf” and “The Hobbit” by John Tolkien both talk about a hero in terms of his physical, emotional and public being that can be identified to be different. Although the idea of how they define a hero is similar, both writings have similarities of heroism, killing a dragon and creatures that are unordinary to the human eye. Heroism can be seen in “Beowulf” from the protagonist Beowulf, his bravery is shown by him killing nine sea monsters in the ocean by himself. Beowulf is brave and noble in his battles, fought without fear and struggle while clashing with monsters bigger than his size. He had pride that was unpredictable to the old and wise (Beowulf).
Michael Shermer, a science writer and historian of science said, “Humans are pattern-seeking story-telling animals, and we are quite adept at telling stories about patterns, whether they exist or not.” In J.R.R. Tolkien's novel The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, the main protagonist, joins a group of dwarves to recover their lost, forgotten gold from Smaug the dragon. Joseph Campbell’s A Hero with a Thousand Faces, he states that many legendary heros follow a pattern in their adventures. Matthew Winkler has his own ideas of the heroic quest pattern, stating the hero's follow a pattern of eleven stages. Both The Hobbit and the heroic journey have similar elements with departure, initiation and then return.
The definition of a true hero is very subjective as people have their own opinions on what makes someone a hero. Some people might consider someone who does the right thing a hero, for some it may be people who fight for their country. The characteristics of a hero might vary, but in the epic “Beowulf,” Beowulf is sought out to be the hero because of three main traits; his noble cause, code of honor, and his strength and courage. Each of these traits makes up the hero he is portrayed to be. One of the first qualities described in the epic is the act of a noble cause.
Beowulf: Epic Hero or Proud Fool? So what exactly is a hero? A hero to most is a person idealized for their courage and their outstanding achievements and qualities. Some may even consider Beowulf a hero due his never backing down and risking his own life for the safety of his people.
A hero does not fight for fame and glory but for the greater good. A hero is someone who goes through adversity to help others in desperate times. A hero fights evil, and defends people. Beowulf should be considered a hero because he is a strong, brave warrior who defended his people and slayed evil monsters. Beowulf proves himself to be a strong, brave warrior by killing Grendel the monster.
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