“The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien is one of the most complex, mystical and adventurous stories in literature. Tolkien intertwines setting, characters, and imagery to show that unexpected heroes can surprise us and be the most unlikely or simplest person. Other themes are home, friendship, and “don’t judge a book by it’s cover”-- or in other words, sometimes our first impression of someone may not be very true. This was the case with the dwarves and especially Thorin, when they judged the main character.
The setting of the novel is very vivid. The story takes place in Middle Earth which is an imaginary world rich with adventures between every tree. Even though Tolkien created it from his own imagination, it is a world that has an elaborate …show more content…
A friend wizard named Gandalf shows up unexpectedly and invites Bilbo “to share in an adventure” with the dwarves. Bilbo faints from terror when they tell him about the dangers of the dragon. When the dwarves are not sure about bringing him along, Gandalf tells them, “Let’s have no more argument. I have chosen Mr. Baggins and that ought to be enough for all of you. If I say he is a Burglar, a Burglar he is, or will be when the time comes. There is a lot more in him than you guess, and a deal more than he has any idea of himself. You may (possibly) all live to thank me yet (19). The dwarves (and Bilbo himself) don’t think he has any skills to offer them for this quest; however, Gandalf has lots of faith in Bilbo. He is a strong character that can see his potential. Thorin of Oakenshield is the leader of the dwarves and appears to be rough at times, but is loyal and trustworthy. He is cautious about the hobbit and thinks he should stay in his “Hobbit Hole” where he won’t be any trouble. He finds out later that he has totally misjudged him and Thorin's last words to Bilbo before he died were: “There is more in you of good than you know . . . [s]ome courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world” (290). He realizes that his greed for gold made him “look at Bilbo’s simple goodness with
The setting of the novel is very vivid. The story takes place in Middle Earth which is an imaginary world rich with adventures between every tree. Even though Tolkien created it from his own imagination, it is a world that has an elaborate …show more content…
A friend wizard named Gandalf shows up unexpectedly and invites Bilbo “to share in an adventure” with the dwarves. Bilbo faints from terror when they tell him about the dangers of the dragon. When the dwarves are not sure about bringing him along, Gandalf tells them, “Let’s have no more argument. I have chosen Mr. Baggins and that ought to be enough for all of you. If I say he is a Burglar, a Burglar he is, or will be when the time comes. There is a lot more in him than you guess, and a deal more than he has any idea of himself. You may (possibly) all live to thank me yet (19). The dwarves (and Bilbo himself) don’t think he has any skills to offer them for this quest; however, Gandalf has lots of faith in Bilbo. He is a strong character that can see his potential. Thorin of Oakenshield is the leader of the dwarves and appears to be rough at times, but is loyal and trustworthy. He is cautious about the hobbit and thinks he should stay in his “Hobbit Hole” where he won’t be any trouble. He finds out later that he has totally misjudged him and Thorin's last words to Bilbo before he died were: “There is more in you of good than you know . . . [s]ome courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world” (290). He realizes that his greed for gold made him “look at Bilbo’s simple goodness with