The Importance of a Hero’s Skills in Their Journey
The strength of the traditional Greek hero Heracles is widely known and distinct from the skills (riddle-solving, planning, and stealth) of Bilbo Baggins, the protagonist from The Hobbit, who was both a non-traditional and traditional hero. However, these abilities, though they differ, were all significant in overcoming the perils and hurdles that the heroes encountered during their journey. The skills of all types of heroes (traditional, non traditional, or both) can be crucial for overcoming adversaries and obstacles in that hero’s journey.
An essential skill that Bilbo Baggins possessed was stealth: the ability to walk silently, as well as invisibility. Stealth was necessary for Bilbo’s journey, because he was recruited into the Company as a burglar, someone who had to move unseen and unheard. Bilbo’s ability to walk silently was a skill all hobbits possessed: “…at any rate hobbits can move quietly in the woods, absolutely quietly...” (Tolkien 41). This skill came in use when he was sent to spy on the trolls’ campfire (Tolkien 41-43). On the other hand, invisibility wasn’t a natural skill …show more content…
Even though traditional heroes and their skills, such as strength, are well known, the seemingly insignificant skills that other heroes possess can be crucial for that hero’s journey. An example is how having the skill for solving riddles ensured that Bilbo’s journey wouldn’t end at right at a critical point, when the door wouldn’t open. Additionally, Bilbo’s planning skills also prevented a war between the Lake-men and dwarves, which would only have resulted in bloodshed for wealth and gold. In short, the skills of Bilbo Baggins might not be as notable as the strength of the traditional hero Heracles, but they were still indispensable for the success of the hero’s
The strength of the traditional Greek hero Heracles is widely known and distinct from the skills (riddle-solving, planning, and stealth) of Bilbo Baggins, the protagonist from The Hobbit, who was both a non-traditional and traditional hero. However, these abilities, though they differ, were all significant in overcoming the perils and hurdles that the heroes encountered during their journey. The skills of all types of heroes (traditional, non traditional, or both) can be crucial for overcoming adversaries and obstacles in that hero’s journey.
An essential skill that Bilbo Baggins possessed was stealth: the ability to walk silently, as well as invisibility. Stealth was necessary for Bilbo’s journey, because he was recruited into the Company as a burglar, someone who had to move unseen and unheard. Bilbo’s ability to walk silently was a skill all hobbits possessed: “…at any rate hobbits can move quietly in the woods, absolutely quietly...” (Tolkien 41). This skill came in use when he was sent to spy on the trolls’ campfire (Tolkien 41-43). On the other hand, invisibility wasn’t a natural skill …show more content…
Even though traditional heroes and their skills, such as strength, are well known, the seemingly insignificant skills that other heroes possess can be crucial for that hero’s journey. An example is how having the skill for solving riddles ensured that Bilbo’s journey wouldn’t end at right at a critical point, when the door wouldn’t open. Additionally, Bilbo’s planning skills also prevented a war between the Lake-men and dwarves, which would only have resulted in bloodshed for wealth and gold. In short, the skills of Bilbo Baggins might not be as notable as the strength of the traditional hero Heracles, but they were still indispensable for the success of the hero’s