Being a hero is more than just the soldiers who put their lives before others to enable and sustain a way of life; being a hero is someone who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. In the adventure book ‘The Hobbit’, the character Bilbo Baggins demonstrates numerous heroic traits. At the beginning of this book, Bilbo Baggins was known as a very unadventurous hobbit, one who always stayed indoors smoking pipes, and snuggling in bed. After the mysterious visit of Gandalf, (a well-known wizard), Bilbo finds the courage to leave his house and go on a life-risking adventure with thirteen dwarfs to take back what they once called home.
Bilbo Baggins proves not only to the dwarfs, but also to the readers
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At this time, Thorin and the other dwarves gain more respect for the hobbit, who was once doubted and looked down upon. Bilbo’s intelligence and resourcefulness seems much more remarkable than Thorin’s integrity; since Thorin was considering on telling the elves about their journey. In this chapter, Bilbo has become responsible for the dwarves; as he uses his advantageous skills to steal food for them. The quote, “When he heard Bilbo’s voice through the keyhole, he could hardly believe his ears.” This indicated that Thorin was so relieved and reassured when Bilbo discovered him, because he knew he could rely on Bilbo to help him and the other dwarves escape. This chapter demonstrates how Bilbo, rather small; but he is a bright ray of hope for the dwarves when they are in …show more content…
In chapter 5, the hobbit stumbles upon Gollum, who is clearly a threat to Bilbo, but although he stays aware, he plays Gollum’s game in order for him to survive and escape. Gollum uses literally uses language to try and kill Bilbo, but Bilbo uses it to save his life in the game of riddles they play. However, Bilbo isn’t a master of language yet, who runs out of riddles to ask so instead asks a casual question “What have I got in my pockets?”. Gollum’s demand to know what is in Bilbo's pocket, and Bilbo’s refusal to reveal it is a example of perseverance although he’s life in at stake. When Bilbo wears the ring he inadvertently stole, he had the opportunity of killing Gollum, but refuses because he’s kind and sympathizes with the weak and pitiable. At times like this, it’s clear that Tolkien made Bilbo a moral character; and this morality and kindness is what establishes Bilbo as a hero in the
At the beginning of the adventure, Bilbo was a timid, little hobbit with no idea how to steal or survive outside of his little hobbit hole. When Thorin and the rest of the dwarves first meet Bilbo, they question
One of the main themes of the Hobbit is Bravery/ Heroism .The novel begins with Bilbo being content who lives in a hobbit hole. Gandalf invites Bilbo on an adventure and Bilbo reluctantly agrees when he wants to embrace his adventurous “Took” side of his ancestry. Bilbo shows great courage and heroism fighting evil and overcoming challenges. An example would be that “The dwarves looked at Bilbo with quite a new respect ,when he talked about dodging the guards and jumping over Gollum and squeezing through as if it was not difficult or very alarming”. (pg. 93). This quote tells of the dwarves response to Bilbo telling them how he escaped goblins and a horrid creature named Gollum. This instance is significant because it is the first major act
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.
Bilbo also changes the way he is in chapter nine, Barrels out of Bond. Bilbo and the dwarves have been captured once again, only this time by wood-elves. The dwarves dislike the elves and are sent to their king. The
Heroes are defined in many ways. For example, some people describe heroes as brave and help people, but a hero is actually someone that risks themselves to help someone else for a good cause. A hero is not someone that supports evil or the bad even if they risk themselves. A hero is someone that risks themselves or something very important to themselves to help another, for a good cause and without being asked. In The Hobbit, Gandalf is a hero because when the group is trapped with the wolves, the text says "He gathered the huge pine-cones from the branches of the tree. Then he set one alight with bright blue fire, and threw it whizzing down among the circle of the wolves." (P.103) Gandalf is a hero because in the quote he risks his safety to save his group from the wolves Gandalf risks his safety by
Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit living in the Shire having a peaceful quiet life in his hobbit hole. One day after living a life of leisure and pleasure he is awakened by a rude knock on his door. In a matter of a few hours he will meet the people that changed his life for good. The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien is a story about a hobbit and his adventure. His adventure starts with a knock on his door by his old Friend Gandalf. Gandalf then promptly asks Bilbo”I am looking for someone to share in an adventure”(tolkien). Bilbo then denies Gandalf and continuous with his usual day until that night. When Bilbo is about to eat his dinner he gets a knock. He opens it to find two dwarves Dwalin and Balin. Bilbo 's shocked but invites them in. Bilbo does this eval times until he 's left with thirteen dwarves Dwalin, Balin, Kili, Fili, Dori, Ori, Nori, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, and Thorin Oakenshield. They then invite him on a quest that would change his life. During his quest he faces many evils and overcomes them all to become a hero.
“I wish I could be a hero!” Many adults in today’s society hear small children wishing they could become heroes. Children wish to be more like heroes for the reason that heroes are the type of people who risk their lives to help others. Throughout history, children have had a positive connotation with the word “hero.” The heroes many small children talk about are the fictional ones who protect cities from villains: Superman, Batman, Spiderman, and others. However, these are not the only types of heroes in today’s world. Firefighters and policemen are also considered heroes because they save the lives of those in danger. Many adults consider their inspirations to be heroes, such as Mahatma Gandhi, Martin
As shown in the beginning of the book, Mr. Baggins acts like a thoroughly respectable hobbit, and he does his best to blend in with the rest of the hobbit population: “The Bagginses had lived in the neighbourhood of The Hill for time out of mind, and people considered them very respectable, not only because most of them were rich, but also because they never had adventures or did anything unexpected: you could tell what a Baggins would say on any question without the bother of asking him” (The Hobbit, pg. 4). Initially, Bilbo is a widely respected hobbit, and he never does anything unexpected or adventurous. However, he grows out of this rather limited mindset on the journey; by the end of it, he has proven himself as very strong and capable. After hearing a poem that Bilbo composes and recites on the spot about his journey, Gandalf himself confirms this. Specifically, the passage states, “Gandalf looked at him. ‘My dear Bilbo!’ he said. “Something is the matter with you! You are not the hobbit that you were” (The Hobbit, pg. 326). At the time that this quote is stated, Bilbo has proven himself as a fighter through the countless obstacles that he endures. He truely grows the most during the journey, from a soft, inexperienced
A hero possesses the mentality of a person of great courage and ability. Most associate heroes with extraordinary physical strength and special talents and abilities, such as Anglo-Saxon hero, Beowulf. The Hobbit, depicts a well known hobbit from The Shire, Bilbo Baggins. Located in Middle Earth, the Shire houses a population of hobbits. One might not associate a hobbit with the physical appearance of a hero because hobbits represent the antithesis of a hero’s
“Going on from there was the bravest thing he ever did. The tremendous things that happened afterward were as nothing compared to it. He fought the real battle in the tunnel alone, before he ever saw the vast danger that lay in wait” (132). In J.R.R.Tolkien’s The Hobbit, the reader is taken through a parable that follows Bilbo Baggins on the ‘Hero’s Journey.’ This fantasy classic begins with an ‘everyman’ hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, who takes on a perilous journey to reclaim the dwarves’ homeland, The Lonely Mountain. After being spurred into action by Gandalf, the herald and mentor figure, Bilbo finds himself going on a pernicious venture that contradicts his docile nature, pushing him to play the role of
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.
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
The first act of Bilbo’s heroism is when he makes his first attempt at burglary when he steals from the trolls. Even before Bilbo steals from the trolls he is told by the dwarfs “Now it’s the burglar’s turn.” (33 Tolkien) And by Thorin “You
This quote show what Thorin thinks of Bilbo and his role in the group. He is doubting his abilities and thinking he would only come in the way of their plan to steal the treasure from Smaug the dragon who is guarding it at misty mountains. Gandalf who lead them to Bilbos house and took his side which got the dwarves to agree on adding him to the group as the 14th member. This quote show that tomorrow they will be starting on their journey.
Fact 1: Bilbo Baggins went through several tasks that made his character grow. Through countless excursions into the wild it was obvious that Bilbo developed greatly into a wonderfully cheerful hero. After Bilbo beat Gollum in a game of riddles he became more confident in himself. Bilbo’s task was to solve a riddle that Gollum gave him. If he got the answer he lived. If he was wrong, Gollum would eat him. Bilbo was good at riddles and he defeated Gollum. Then Bilbo used his ring to escape. This event made him even more confident. Bilbo realized that he had accomplished a very tough task when he beat Gollum. This event also made Bilbo more skilled in being stealthy when he had his ring on.