What is The Hobbit?

Analysis

Summary

We begin where we end with the hobbit hole belonging to Bilbo Baggins who lives in the Shire. Nothing unexpected ever happens, unless you have Tookish blood running through your veins. The Tooks are the only hobbits to go on adventures because there is a part of them, no matter how small, that isn't entirely hobbit like. But this isn't about a Took, no not at all, but of Bilbo Baggins, a half-Took.

On an ordinary day, Mr. Baggins meets Gandalf, a relatively infamous wizard, who not-so-politely asks him to go on an adventure. Bilbo, says no, and continues on his way, but again; he's half-Took. Gandalf comes again, bringing twelve dwarves along with him. The Tookish side wins, and he joins these dwarves on their adventure. The company, led by Thorin Oakenshield, has but one goal: to take back Erebor, the kingdom under the mountain. Time and time again, these dwarves are waylaid; each time it starts to look brighter, something else happens.

When the dwarves, Bilbo, and Gandalf stop to take shelter from the pouring rain, they are outfitted with the swords they discovered on the front porch of the goblin nation which proceeds to chase the company who drops poor Bilbo, knocking him out. He wakes up not knowing where he is or which way his companions went. In trying to find the company, he stumbles across a magic ring, and a creature named Gollum, a strange being that talks to itself. Bilbo outwits the creature and runs into the company as they run away from the Goblins. They are chased up trees and nearly killed, only saved by the Lord of the Eagles and his birds.

Later, Gandalf leads them to the house of Beorn. Beorn is an interesting fellow who is a bear-shifter, who intrigued by their tale, allows them provisions and a few days rest before sending them off into the forest of Mirkwood. At this point, Gandalf has left the group several times by now, and does so again at the edge of Mirkwood where he warns them yet again not to stray from the path set before them. Of course, the company strays from the path when they are caught by the enormous spiders that live in the forest. Bilbo, whom by now has become quite adept at using his magic ring, manages to free all the dwarves, minus Thorin.

Thorin has been captured and interrogated by the Elvenking of Mirkwood, and after refusing to speak about their journey, is thrown into prison along with the rest of the dwarves. Bilbo, having gained a lot of respect from his friends, manages to free them by relying on his ring and ingenuity. Pushing them into empty barrels, he rolls them into the river which takes them to Laketown, a city upon the water not that far from Erebor. Climbing out of the barrels the company of Bilbo and the dwarves heads into Laketown, where Thorin declares himself King Under the Mountain. The people gladly give them help and supplies, sending them on their way to Erebor. They reach the mountain and the ruins of the city of Dale, and are discouraged at not finding a door. Bilbo, finds a way inside and steals a cup proving his worth to the dwarves.

After Smaug's discovery of Bilbo's theft, the young hobbit engaged in a battle of wits and riddles with the dragon, enabling him to to make a narrow escape. In his rage Smaug destroyed Laketown at a great cost to the himself, and now lays dead from an arrow to the chest. The Elvenking heard of Erebor's freedom and sent an army to secure the gold.

When Thorin was asked for peace, his lust for gold had him shouting a no in fruitless anger, denying the elves' request. Thorin's greed, especially his lust for the Arkenstone made up Bilbo's mind and he gave away the stone, which led to him being strangled by Thorin. Dain and his people arrive, along with the Goblins, Bolg, bats, and wargs, which began the Battle of Five Armies. Thorin returns to his senses and helps in the battle, while Bilbo is knocked out.

Bilbo awoke alone and is taken to see a dying Thorin. Wishing to die as friends, Thorin asks for Bilbo's forgiveness. Bilbo, being the modest and humble hobbit he is, declares that simply sharing in Thorin's perils was more than he himself as a Baggins deserved. Thorin's parting words were of the virtues of this brave little hobbit. And as Bilbo left Thorin to die, he wept without restraint, calling it a mercy that he was able to speak with Thorin one last time. The battle was won by Beorn and the Eagles, Thorin buried, and Dain crowned King, who gave a fourteenth of the gold to Laketown. And as Bilbo, the blessed elf-friend, went home, all he would take was a chest of gold and a chest of silver.