The Hobbit’s Journey The Hobbit: it happens to occur as simply another story said in the same exact way as every other story. The Hero’s Journey. With it being used as the template of nearly every story, there come several similarities, and in the Hobbit, there is no difference. In it, there are three archetypes that are easily found: The Hero, the Herald, and the Threshold Guardian, each representing Bilbo, Gandalf, and the Misty Mountains. These three characters and settings within the story are explicitly identifiable as per their archetype, and fit well within their particular roles.
In the beginning of the story, the reader comes to pass the introduction of the hobbit named Bilbo Baggins. The reader follows Bilbo through his adventures …show more content…
On page 5, the reader is introduced to Gandalf, “...Gandalf came by. Gandalf! If you had heard only a quarter of what I have heard about him, and I have only heard very little of all there is to hear, you would be prepared for any sort of remarkable tale.” (Tolkien, 5). By looking at the parenthetical documentation, it is simple to see that Gandalf had appeared very early in the book, which is a characteristic of a Herald in the Hero’s Journey. Heralds often appear in the beginning of the story. Not only that, but on page 6, Gandalf states, “Very pretty!’ said Gandalf. ‘But I have no time to blow smoke-rings this morning. I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it is very difficult to find anyone.” (Tolkien, 6). Here, Gandalf is issuing a challenge to Bilbo, that he will have to go on the adventure, which Bilbo does not want. This is also showing the “Call to Adventure” from the template of a Hero’s Journey. Another characteristic of Gandalf being the Herald is on page 152, where Gandalf departs once again, “...Stick to the forest track, keep your spirits up, hope for the best, and with a tremendous slice of luck you may come out one day and see the Long Marshes lying below you, and beyond them, high in the East, the Lonely Mountain where dear old Smaug lives, though I hope he isn’t expecting you.” (Tolkien, 152). Gandalf is acting as the Herald of the story once again by issuing an upcoming challenge, the trek through Mirkwood. As a true Herald would, he leaves almost immediately after issuing the challenge, and through this evidence, Gandalf can be confirmed to be the
In the beginning of the story, the reader comes to pass the introduction of the hobbit named Bilbo Baggins. The reader follows Bilbo through his adventures …show more content…
On page 5, the reader is introduced to Gandalf, “...Gandalf came by. Gandalf! If you had heard only a quarter of what I have heard about him, and I have only heard very little of all there is to hear, you would be prepared for any sort of remarkable tale.” (Tolkien, 5). By looking at the parenthetical documentation, it is simple to see that Gandalf had appeared very early in the book, which is a characteristic of a Herald in the Hero’s Journey. Heralds often appear in the beginning of the story. Not only that, but on page 6, Gandalf states, “Very pretty!’ said Gandalf. ‘But I have no time to blow smoke-rings this morning. I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it is very difficult to find anyone.” (Tolkien, 6). Here, Gandalf is issuing a challenge to Bilbo, that he will have to go on the adventure, which Bilbo does not want. This is also showing the “Call to Adventure” from the template of a Hero’s Journey. Another characteristic of Gandalf being the Herald is on page 152, where Gandalf departs once again, “...Stick to the forest track, keep your spirits up, hope for the best, and with a tremendous slice of luck you may come out one day and see the Long Marshes lying below you, and beyond them, high in the East, the Lonely Mountain where dear old Smaug lives, though I hope he isn’t expecting you.” (Tolkien, 152). Gandalf is acting as the Herald of the story once again by issuing an upcoming challenge, the trek through Mirkwood. As a true Herald would, he leaves almost immediately after issuing the challenge, and through this evidence, Gandalf can be confirmed to be the