What is a hero? What must one do to qualify for the honor of having such a title? A man named Joseph Campbell wrote a book called The Hero with a Thousand Faces, with the idea that there is a road on which most heroes in most stories travel on their way to becoming a hero. This is called The Hero’s Journey. From leaving the comfort of The Shire to helping defeat a dragon and returning home with the treasure Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien is one of these heroes.
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
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He simply assumes it was a bad dream and is getting on with his morning as he would on other days, when Gandalf appears and shows him the note the dwarves had left for him on the mantle. This step in “The Hero’s Journey” is Meeting the Mentor. In the note he is told to meet the Dwarves later in the morning. However, because he woke up later and hadn’t seen the note he had very little time to get to the meeting place so he rushed from the house with none of his necessities. This is how Bilbo Baggins completed the heroic step of Crossing the …show more content…
Seizing the sword takes place when the battle is over, most of the goblins were defeated and the rest fled. All the other people who had been arguing over who should have the gold, fought together against the goblins, wolves, and bats. Thorin, who was severely injured, is dying. Bilbo says goodbye to Thorin and they part as friends. After the battle Bilbo takes home some of the promised treasure only two small chests that could fit on the back of his horse and gets to keep the ring as well as sting, an elvish dagger he finds in a cave early on in their journey. This is the
The next step is test, allies, and enemies, which means the hero would be tested and facing his enemies and test. In the novel Bilbo Baggins’s allies would be the thirteen dwarves and Gandalf, during this stage of the story Bilbo’s enemies would be the giant spider in the forest, and the dragon Smaug (143). Bilbo when facing his test and enemies he uses his ring to outsmart escape and save his allies and friends. Bilbo is changing his characteristics throughout the story, he now should be a lot braver and smarter, because in the beginning he was just a coward that did not want any changes in his life and not willing to commit to the adventure that he was invited compared to the beginning of the story, he now should be making the preparations needed to approach the inmost cave that leads to the journey's heart, or central ordeal. Which should be the time when Bilbo was talking to the dragon before the fight, and took the arkenstone from all the treasures and golds.
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.
Bilbo’s beliefs throughout his life before his great adventure were fairly narrow-minded. He believed that having an extravagant home with the approval of his neighbors was extremely important. Doing anything out of the ordinary was unexpected out of Mr. Bilbo Baggins as he was very predictable in all his actions. As mentioned in the book, you could tell what a Baggins would say even before he answered your question. I believe that Bilbo always had the same beliefs throughout the book, but that some came out clearer in different situations.
One day Richard was sauntering down the road when he got this call from this person that was threatening his family 's safety on to the peace of the community in which he lives. It could be as treacherous as a gunshot. It ultimately distrusts the comfort of Richard safety and presents a challenge that must be undertaken. Although Richard may be eager to accept the quest, Richard will have fears that need overcoming. Second thoughts or even deeper, personal doubts as to whether he 's up for the challenge or not.
Born into a respectable, unadventurous family, Bilbo Baggins was never exposed to adventure. He was taught that excitement and thrill were irreputable. He grew up believing predictability was superior to spontaneity. We know little about Bilbo’s father’s family, but with what we know about his mother, Belladonna Took’s Family, we can infer that this predictable lifestyle came from his father, Bungo’s, family. The Tooks were very adventurous and enjoyed a good thrill.
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.
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
Bilbo, however, possessed none of those qualities, he was in fact, a Hobbit. A Little Hobbit living in a comfortable hole, in The Shire. Hobbits never went on adventures, it was not done. However, this hobbit did, and all it took was a party and a bit of prompting from a wize wizard. He had begun his journey as a regular Hobbit,
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.
As he first starts in his simple life as an everyman and becomes the exact opposite of what he thought he could ever become. “Come along back to your nice cells, and I will lock you all in again, and you can sit comfortably”(179). This shows how Bilbo is very frustrated with the dwarves and have is annoyed that they aren't even appreciating him. Situational irony follows in The Hobbit as a recurrence. “To the end of his days Bilbo could never remember how he found himself outside, without a hat, a walking-stick, any money, or anything he usually took with him when he went out”(3O).
At first, Bilbo turns down the favor without a second thought. Eventually, he changes his mind and decides to part take in the risky adventure. He escapes death many times and has to overcome numerous obstacles. In the end, Bilbo Baggins is
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
He was aching in his bones for the homeward journey” (Tolkien 290). This truly represents a step in the Hero’s Journey because he is actually questioning his belonging now. The worries that Bilbo have about not fitting in vanish after he remembers what it is like to be
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.