Bilbo Archetypes

What connections could be made between The Hobbit and How to Read Literature like a Professor? Various archetypes discussed by Thomas C. Foster are portrayed in The Hobbit. Appling Thomas C. Foster’s rule of don’t read with your eyes, symbols and themes were found. A few stood out. Archetypes help with evaluating the story more clearly. The Hobbit is full of archetypes. On Bilbo’s journey he is changed along the way. An archetype that corresponds with his transformations is seasons. At the beginning of the adventure Bilbo was reluctant to express his Tookish side and often doubted himself, wishing he had never agreed to the adventure. They traveled in Autumn, and Autumn comes with decline and middle age and tiredness, but also harvest. Indicating that Bilbo’s old self is declining and is getting tired of fighting with his Tookish side. Next winter came, and it represents death. Bilbo’s old self is finally dead and his new personality has emerged. He kills spiders, saves the dwarves, and performs other heroic duties. There is also the physical …show more content…
Going out on a limb, Bilbo Baggins is a form of a Christ figure. Sure he didn’t die for everyone’s sins or rise in three days, but that doesn’t make him any less of a Christ figure. Christ gave up his powers and became one of the weak; Bilbo, being a hobbit, was already depicted as weak. Even though Bilbo came in possession of the ring, he didn’t use it as a source of power. He was merciful, another trait of Christ. The most important one of all is that Christ saved the world. Bilbo somewhat saved the world also. He spotted the dragon’s weak spot, which later resulted in Smaug’s death, with the help of a snooping bird. He also gave up his share of the treasure to initiate peace, and later on that united everyone together to fight against the wargs and the goblins. With the death of the dragon and the victory of the battle, the world was saved, with help from