Does time change the way you see things and can you see your views evolving? On September 19th 2017, a paper due on what it means to be a hero, defined by heroistics qualities from characters from the books Beowulf, the Knight’s Tale, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Bilbo, the protagonist of the Hobbit, has a handful of heroistic qualities to him, but do they compare to the qualities found back on Spether 19th? Today, Bilbo will be compared to the heroistic qualities originally found in Beowulf, Theseus, from the Knight's Tale, and Sir Gawain.
How does Beowulf's original qualities compared to Bilbo from the Hobbit? Beowulf’s qualities were limited to courage, strength, and confidence. At the beginning of the Hobbit, we see that Bilbo was not a very courageous hobbit. His courage slowly developed throughout the book, as he learned what he was capable of achieving. The strength he had was always inside him, but he wasn't sure how reach it. Going on the adventure gave Bilbo just what he needed to find how strong he actually was. In the end, the courage and strength Bilbo found gave him more confidence than he ever had.
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He was a wonderful leader, a calm, assertive man, and was filled with determination. Though Theseus appeared as a much stronger man than the hobbit was, their similarities are striking. Bilbo developed into a character like Theseus throughout the book. At the beginning of the Hobbit, Bilbo was the leader of the group and the one who everyone looked up to. He was a clam figure from the beginning, but lacked in assertiveness. You could always guarantee Bilbo to finish what he started, his determination shined throughout the entire novel. The adventure Bilbo was apart of, made him into a similar character that Theseus
Bilbo is a timid, comfortable, and compact in his secure little hole at Bag End. Gandalf persuaded him into going on a quest with Thorin’s dwarves. Bilbo became afraid that he fainted. As the novel progresses, Bilbo prevails in the face of danger and adversity, justifying Gandalf’s early claim that there is more to him than what he thought. Bilbo’s journey fits into the tradition of a hero’s quest, because he basically went somewhere in order to gain something.
By putting his life in danger Bilbo shows a true example of heroism. Though the dwarves were still skeptical of his abilities, they were starting to take into consideration of what Gandalf had said about this little hobbit. Continuing their adventure the group is attacked by goblins where they are eventually saved by Gandalf. Throughout the turmoil of the attacking goblins Bilbo gets lost in the caves and finds himself alone in the darkness. It is in this event when Bilbo finds Gollum’s ring. Gollum was a sickly looking creature that had been dwelling in the caves for many years. Bilbo used his wits to outsmart the creature by playing a riddle game with him and eventually made it to safety. Having Bilbo win the riddle game shows that his smart and witty mind aids him in becoming the hero. Bilbo wasn’t some tough strong stereotypical super hero, he used his smarts to outwit his foes and to triumph over evil. Though Bilbo at the time did not know the power of the ring that he had retrieved from Gollum’s lair (the power of invisibility), it was his heroic fate that he found it as it assist him in becoming the hero of the story. Fate has it that Bilbo will become a hero, but Bilbo also has the courage on top of his fate to get the dwarves out of life threatening situations.
Prior to the quest, Bilbo Baggins was a conservative, respectable and stubborn hobbit who lead a rich and comfortable life (Stephanie web). These characteristics, as well as safety and a dull existence, are typical of the Baggins
Bilbo forgot about the dangers, about his old home, about his rewards, he just wanted to help, and the fearless Bilbo was brought out of him. Courage is a hard thing for a person to acquire, but can be obtained by their achievements and failures.
These were all characteristics of the main character - Bilbo Baggins. The process of becoming a hero, which Bilbo goes through, begins with a simple knock on his door one morning. Soon Bilbo is recruited, unknowingly and unwillingly, as a burglar into Thorin’s expedition, by the mysterious wizard, Gandalf. Bilbo is soon called to adventure. This was probably the only opportunity a hobbit such as Bilbo would ever get to go on such an expedition, but Bilbo was very reluctant, at first. Bilbo was good hearted, sacrificing and loyal. He would have given up his life for the betterment of others and this is what made him a true hero. At first, he didn’t want any adventure, but then he saw Gandalf’s faith and belief in him, and he decided to go on the adventure. Bilbo, like a real hero, always made sure that he finished the work he set out to do. Without Bilbo, the dwarves would not be able to finish all the tasks that they wanted to finish. Bilbo was also the reason why the dwarves were still alive. Bilbo saved the dwarves from many different disasters. The disasters ranged from the spiders to Smaug. Through good or bad, Bilbo always showed all the characteristics of a real
Not only does the portrayal of Bilbo’s character and underlying courage convey his heroism, but so does his sense of ethics. This is what truly makes him a unique, caring hero. While a typical hero’s motive is wealth and fame, Bilbo gave up his share of the dwarves’ treasure to help avoid war between two nations that severely despise one another (the elf and dwarf kingdoms). The fact that he was willing to give up his wealth to avoid war and for the good of other people marks a significant aspect of his heroism and explains why he is “more worthy to wear the armor of elf-princes than many that have
In conclusion, we can now see that Bilbo is in fact a dynamic character. He gains many qualities he can use in the future, like courage, learning to use his wits, and letting out the adventurous side in him. He used to be almost paranoid, to himself, and strict. But now he has turned into something much bigger, an adventurer. So the adventure changed him for the better. This is how Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit we thought would never do anything
“There he lay, a vast red-golden dragon, fast asleep; a thrumming came from his jaws and nostrils,” Bilbo Baggins was a self-centered hobbit who only cared about his well being. Like every other hobbit, he had no time for adventures but when a peculiar fellow shows up to his house, all he got was an adventure filled with perils. The book, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien is about friendship, courage, and perseverance. The book begins in the home of Bilbo Baggins and ends in it too. Bilbo is just an ordinary hobbit but he soon changes as he gets whisked away on an adventure by a wizard named Gandalf.
The consequence of this is that Bilbo is scorched and almost slain by Smaug. The courage of Bilbo makes him the most brave figure in the team and lets him accomplish amazing feats such as the ones afore mentioned and more. In conclusion I would like to say that Bilbo’s courage is his most important mental attribute because without it Thorin & Co. would have clearly failed to complete their goal, or
Bilbo Baggins changes a lot in the novel The Hobbit. In the beginning he is a small peaceful Hobbit who lives in Hobbiton. He loves to keep things in order, and hates things that are disorganized. “Please be careful,” and “Please don’t trouble. I can manage” (Tolkein, 12). Then one day a wizard by the name of Gandalf comes and gives Bilbo the opportunity to go on an adventure. Bilbo turns his offer down, but the next day thirteen dwarves come to his house. They have meals together and they sleep at Bilbo’s house. Gandalf then convinces him to go on an adventure with them. Bilbo is many things, in the very begging he is flat, static, main, and he is the protagonist. By the end of the story he is round, dynamic, main, and he is still the
In the novel The Hobbit, there is a specific character who played a major role. Bilbo Baggins understands everything that is happening around him well beyond knowledge. Bilbo knows how to handle the multiple challenges that are put in his journey. He may not be the best hobbit, but he has the best understanding of of justice, his degree towards his choices, and the significance of his search. Bilbo Baggins is a Hobbit and he wrote the story for his younger generations to know about this journey.
Bilbo Baggins is one of the main characters of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Being a main character in a story, especially an adventure story, typically comes with some pretty hefty responsibilities. More often than not, the main character is also the hero. A hero is defined as “a person, typically a man, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities,” and these are not necessarily qualities readily attributed to Bilbo Baggins (oxforddictionaries.com). This essay will look at three ways in which Bilbo contrasts the traditional characteristics of a hero and what transformations he ends up making to fit the mold more closely. It will examine his lineage, his strength, and his attitude as well as the changes he makes throughout the story.
Although Bilbo had saved himself, he evolved further after rescuing the dwarves from hostile spiders. This is proven as stated in the text, “Somehow the killing of the giant spider, all alone by himself in the dark without the help of the wizard of dwarves or anyone, made a great difference to Mr. Baggins.” (Tolkien 181). On previous occasions, the dwarves, Gandalf, and the eagles had saved him from the goblins, wargs, and trolls. However, by defeating an enemy independently, Bilbo gained a great deal of confidence. In addition, the dwarves’ respect and trust for Bilbo increased despite their knowledge of the ring as mentioned, “They had changed their opinion of Mr. Baggins very much, and had begun to gain great respect for him.” (Tolkien 192). This led to Bilbo feeling “much fiercer and bolder in spite of an empty stomach.” (Tolkien 181). Furthermore, Bilbo heightens his heroic stature in naming his elvish dagger, proclaiming “I will give you a name, and I shall call you Sting.” (Tolkien 181). Although killing a single spider may seem ordinary for one of his comrades, it was significant for Bilbo and it increased his confidence immensely.
Bilbo uncovers things about himself that he didn't even know possibly existed within him. In the cliché theme of 'good versus evil', Bilbo, without question, automatically jumps to the 'good' side. In his character, there are no uncertain borders, as there are in the temperaments of the dwarves. From the beginning to the end he stays an honourable and honest hobbit,
In The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins takes a journey of mental toughness and perseverance as he and the dwarves adventure to the Lonely Mountain to recover their treasure from Smaug. Throughout Bilbo’s adventure, he was challenged not only physically, but mostly mentally. Bilbo may have been physically ready to take on the tasks ahead of him, but the thing that matter was the mental side of things. Could he push himself to the limits and persevere? Bilbo shows the reader an ordinary hobbit could be mentally tough and go several days without food and fight of the toughest of the tough creatures. At any point in this adventure Bilbo could have turned back and given up, but instead he geared up and persevered. For example, he did not have to go through