Rhetorical Devices In The Hobbit

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In the excerpt from The Hobbit, a novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, he provides an array of rhetorical devices to allow the reader to further visualize the interaction between Bilbo and Smaug.
Bilbo, known as The Hobbit, is presented to be inside of Smaug’s tunnel, seeking revenge due to the number of deaths the dragon has caused. As he walked in, a metaphor is placed, to show how Bilbo thought Smaug was asleep because there was “scarcely a snore more than a whiff of unseen steam” coming from Smaug. As Smaug and Bilbo are first known to be around each other, the author makes it obvious that they aren’t able to physically see one another. Tolkien includes a metaphor in line 7 as Smaug says “I smell you and I feel your air. I hear your breath,” to show how Smaug knows that Bilbo is in his tunnel. The author uses various metaphors throughout the excerpt to show how Bilbo and Smaug communicate together in order to emphasize and compare the qualities brought on by both characters.
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He highlights the important aspects of himself, by including the number of deaths he’s caused and how superior he is as compared to others. Epizeuxis was provided for vehemence in line 32 as Smaug says “Now I am old and strong, strong, strong.” The author also includes a metaphor and simile in Line 33 when Smaug is saying “My armour is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords… and my breath death,” to follow up on how he views himself as having much power. He is known to have a reputation of having enemies because of the many lives he’s taken and the damage he’s caused to many people. Therefore, the simile “the light of his eyes lit the hall from floor to ceiling like scarlet lightning” in Line 27 implies just how appalled he was because Bilbo took the chance to go against him although he was known to have such a heavy

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