“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.
Mr. Baggins follows the aspects of the hero’s quest by beginning in the ordinary world. For example, his life is described as “ The Baggins had lived in the neighborhood of the Hill for time out of mind, and people considered their respectable because they never had … any adventures…”(Tolkien 2). This shows how Mr.Baggins starts of in an ordinary world. Bilbo's life is simple and quiet. The quotation proves that he lives a life full of simplicity. Another example
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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! Something is the matter with you! You are not the hobbit that you were”(Tolkien 300). The quotation clearly proves that Bilbo has returned back home and now is a completely different person. He became more confident and accepting after the
Bilbo’s Heroic Journey Essay In all the stories, tales, and novels there is always a main character, most of the time the main character is a hero or hero-like. A lot of the time the author would use a formula called The Hero’s Journey or The Archetypal Journey, it is a way for writers and authors to keep track and follow step by step in order to successfully form a heroic character in a story. The Heroic Journey was written by Joseph Campbell, he was an American mythologist and writer. Some people do not believe Bilbo Baggins in the novel The Hobbit does not follow the heroic journey, but I think he follows the heroic journey step by step.
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.
Bilbo’s Transformation/Maturation Some people say that people never change, while others believe that if given the chance, they will. In this case, J.R.R. Tolkien gives the character Bilbo Baggins the chance to change dramatically in his book The Hobbit. Bilbo undergoes many significant changes in his personality as a result of engaging in Gandalf's journey with the dwarves. The most important transformations include Bilbo going from cowardly to brave, from being ridiculed to respected and from being helpless to resourceful.
With attention to this, the quote depicts the fact that although Bilbo lives his mundane life once again, he stills cares about and cherishes his past. Status Quo is an important factor in the
Change is something that is hard for most people to accomplish. Change can mean going out of your comfort zone to fulfill something that has the delusion of being absolutely mental. Bilbo goes through a dramatic change in The Hobbit from being the unadventurous, dull hobbit to being the unshrinking, adventurous hero. He does this when he finds the ring, when he frees the dwarves from the giant spider’s webs, and when he helps the dwarves escape from the Wood Elves.
The “hero’s Journey” begins with a call to an ordinary individual to leave the ordinary world. This calls prompts the individual to leave the common life to venture into the realm of the unknown. The journey continues with the individual leaving the ordinary world to descend into the special world. The decent into the special world brings the individual through different adventures and experiences that reveal weakness and allow for strength and development to conquer those weaknesses. Bilbo baggins journey represents the “hero’s Journey”as he leaves the ordinary world as an ordinary hobbit,enters the special world as a developing warrior,and returns as an unexpected hero.
When finishing the novel, one of the things I noticed was that, when Bilbo returns, he wants nothing more than to return to his old, quiet life. Although this is a life that, at the beginning of the novel, we, as readers, are almost guided to look down upon, when he returns, it is described with a comfortable, happy connotation. I feel as though Toelkin's making a comment about how, despite his new heroic achievements, he is still the same hobbit he was when he left. This almost makes Bilbo's actions more heroic, from my perspective, as the actions don't change him. He doesn't develop an ego or a need to prove himself, because he's completely content with the life he's living ("he remained very happy to the end of his days").
Along the way, they overcome many obstacles that threaten their lives and put their trust for one another to the test. Bilbo learns that there is more to him than he realizes and through hard work and dedication, he can accomplish almost anything. Overcoming these problems and learning more about himself helped Bilbo change from an ordinary, self-doubting hobbit into a clever, courage-filled, loyal hero. In the beginning, Bilbo has no desire to go on an adventure of any kind, but he quickly learns about the cleverness he obtains when he is forced to make quick decisions.
Bilbo Baggins is not exactly what one would consider an outgoing person. He enjoys quiet peaceful days. Adventure is an unnecessary disturbance as most hobbits believe, and therefore unthinkable. Bilbo’s mother was the daughter of a Took, a family frowned upon by
A significant event that has changed his life is when he is on one of the dwarfs back running away from the goblins and they trip on a rock and Bilbo falls into a cave hitting his head. While trying to figure his way out he discovers a circle like the product and subsequently finds out that it is a magic ring that can turn anyone invisible that uses it. Another key event that has changed Bilbo into the hobbit he is the one today is the courage he gained going up to that fire-breathing dragon face to face trying to steal the
The company faces many challenges while Gandalf aids them. Eventually, Bilbo becomes forced to take charge and lead the company to the mountain. The experiences Bilbo encounters throughout his journey define and shape him into the hero he becomes. The Hobbit follows the story of Bilbo by mirroring the heroic journey, showing Bilbo’s dramatic change from the Hobbit he once was.
In the book The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien there are various of important events, text structures, and author’s craft moves that show significance throughout the book. Throughout the next paragraphs, I will be explaining how all these components add up to show complex themes, and why they are important. An important event that shows significance, is when Gandalf asks Bilbo to go on an adventure with him and the dwarfs. Even though Bilbo turns down Gandalf’s offer, he eventually comes around and goes on this adventure anyways; this is the beginning to how Bilbo develops into a hero.
The story displayed that even the smallest person can make a difference in the world. Bilbo Baggins, a simple creature living a quiet and simple life, of all people is chosen to help the rightful king of Erebor to reclaim his home and slay a dragon, just the very thought is unlikely yet he helps them succeed and changes the entire northeast region. If he had not retrieved the Arkenstone and brought it to Thranduil and gave the men and elves leverage over Thorin who would have known what would happen. Bilbo's decision to spare Gollum changed the very world sixty years later just as Gandalf told Frodo in the Fellowship of the Ring, “My heart tells me that
Hobbits are known to be unassuming folk “who disappear quietly and quickly” (3). The story begins with a picture of the humdrum life of the hobbits peppered with descriptions of the mundane, from Bilbo’s house to his “enormous long wooden pipe that reached nearly down to his woolly toes (neatly brushed)” (3); Tolkien makes sure that the reader knows that Bilbo is of an unremarkable sort. Bilbo, a hobbit of Baggins and Took lineage, displays his Baggins’ side when he first hears of the wizard Gandalf’s seemingly nonchalant proposition. The Bagginses are known to be “very respectable … because they never had any adventures or did anything expected” (3). Anxious of whatsoever good a perilous undertaking would offer, and its sure likelihood of death, the gentlemanly Mr. Baggins flatly declines: “We are plain, quiet folk and have no use for adventures.
The Hobbit Literary Analysis Would you be able to step out of your comfort zone for the sake of adventure and a promise of treasure? This was the predicament Bilbo Baggins is unexpectedly presented with one sunny afternoon. Thirteen dwarves appear at his door and put forward their offer. Bilbo is a little apprehensive at first but soon comes to the realization that in his ordinary life of a Hobbit in the Shire he will never get another opportunity like this again. When reading The Hobbit, being able to step out of your comfort zone is a major key.