Pattern of Heroism Fantasy author J.R.R Tolkien once said, “All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost.” In one of Tolkien’s best- selling novels, The Hobbit, the main character Bilbo Baggins, who was a timid and quiet creature, sets off on an adventure after being dragged out of his hobbit hole by Gandalf and thirteen dwarves. With all starting out as a simple adventure, soon turned into a race against time. Between saving the dwarves and battling the powerful dragon Smaug, Bilbo could see he was slowly becoming a hero. Since The Hobbit was an adventure packed story, Tolkien modeled the qualities of a hero and the plot leading to …show more content…
Thomas Malory’s King Arthur and Betsy Hearne’s Sir Gawain and The Loathly Lady are examples of how heroism is a key event in most stories. In King Arthur and in The Hobbit, the main character starts out as not being trusted and being very quiet and non- adventurous but is soon transformed into an important and honourable figure. “Then stood the kingdom in great jeopardy a long while, for every lord strengthened himself, and many a one thought to be king rather than be ruled by a child that they had never known.”(Thomas Malory’s King Arthur) As a comparison to what happened in The Hobbit, “As soon as I clapped eyes on the little fellow bobbing and puffing on the mat, I had my doubts. He looks more like a grocer-than a burglar!”(The Hobbit) In The Hobbit, Bilbo is the character whom Dalin distrusts and thinks, “he looks more like a grocer than a burglar.” Yet later on, Bilbo ends up saving the dwarves and takes the Arkenstone and retrieves the treasure from Smaug. In King Arthur, the child Arthur was not trusted to rule the kingdom. Later, he proves himself worthy by drawing the Excalibur from the stone and becomes king. Another pattern in both stories is that the character receives something before becoming a hero. In The Hobbit, “Bilbo pinched himself and slapped himself; he gripped on his little sword; he even felt in his pocket with his other hand. There he found the ring he had picked up in the …show more content…
Before Bilbo and King Arthur become successful and almost everyone knows about them, they seem as though they are secondary or minor characters. When Bilbo first gets noticed by Gandalf, he becomes very apprehensive about the adventure, “I am looking for someone to share in an adventure that I am arranging, and it's very difficult to find anyone.” “I should think so - in these parts! We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty .disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner! I can’t think what anybody sees in them,” said our Mr. Baggins, and stuck one thumb behind his braces, and blew out another even bigger smokering. Then he took out his morning letters, and begin to read, pretending to take no more notice of the old man.”(The Hobbit) On the other hand in King Arthur, just flat- out nobody knows about Arthur, “Then stood the kingdom in great jeopardy a long while, for every lord strengthened himself, and many a one thought to be king rather than be ruled by a child that they had never known.” (King Arthur) Yet they seem very different, in both stories the character at first is unknown. In order to get noticed, In The Hobbit, Bilbo is asked by Gandalf to embark on a journey with Gandalf and the dwarves in order to retrieve back the treasure. In King Arthur, Arthur brings back the sword to Sir Ector and he tells the
In 1949, Joseph Campbell discussed the hero’s journey, the foundation commonly used in stories throughout history. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, the hero’s journey narrative is used to tell the story of Bilbo Baggins’s adventure. The novel follows Bilbo Baggins and a company of dwarves as they seek to take back the dwarves’ fallen kingdom. As the story progresses, Bilbo’s character develops and the dwarves perception of him develops through the many trials before the death of Smaug the dragon and the final battle between a variety of mythical creatures. In The Hobbit, the dwarves originally doubt Bilbo’s abilities but as Bilbo encounters more obstacles and succeeds, the dwarves perception turns to one of respect and admiration.
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
The Hobbit begins with the introduction of the hero of the story, Bilbo Baggins. He was called upon by Gandalf to accompany him on an adventure to the Lonely Mountain, initially declining the offer. However with much persuasion, Bilbo finally decides to join Gandalf and the dwarves. At the beginning he seemed to be a burden to the party
Hobbit Essay: Emerging Hero Is Bilbo Baggins, from The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien a lonely hobbit or is he the most heroic hero there is? Bilbo learns that he is capable of doing many things during his adventure, learning many things that were hidden away from his great ancestors on the Tookish side. Bilbo learns from Thorin and the other dwarves how to be courageous, heroic and intelligent, but above all else how to lead the expedition into the great unknown with a victory. His traits and will to learn stand out to the other dwarves who later begin to admire his greatness.
One little hobbit’s life shall change forever with adventure lurking by for tea. Bilbo displays three archetypes throughout his adventure. One of them is ‘the call to adventure’, where's ‘the Tookish side’ of him awakens, and Gandalf presents Bilbo with an adventure, though without giving him an alternative. A second one is ‘the magic item’, for instance the magic ring. And ultimately, the ‘supernatural aid’ , patently Gandalf for he is a wizard. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End, Under Hill has invariably led a quiet and ‘boring’ life. Well, at least he did until thirteen dwarves came rapping at his door.
Have you ever wanted to be a hero? Or wandered what it was like? There are a lot of different ideas that people have about being a hero. Some will say you’re a hero if you help somebody when you’re not thinking other yourself. Others might think of fighting big dragons and mythical monsters. Both are correct, but we’re going to look at the mythical version. Based on the hero characteristics Bilbo Baggins, in The Hobbit, is both like and dislike an archetypal hero. Bilbo is not much of a mighty warrior, he’s never had fight training of any sort, the only way he gets into a huge adventure is because of Gandalf, a famous wizard, Bilbo goes on a great journey with 13 dwarves and sometimes Gandalf, which creates him into a hero.
Bilbo’s story is a story of a hero’s journey. From his origins we do not see that Bilbo likes to go on adventures. However, his mother’s side of the family got the best of him and he does decide to go on the adventure. We will look at his call to adventure and why he decided to go on the trip. Next, we will look at Bilbo and the weapons and supernatural help he used. The final aspect we’ll look at is Bilbo’s trials and transformations and goals during Tolkien’s The Hobbit.
When you think of a hero, is the first character to pop in your head a little hobbit named Bilbo Baggins? In most cases, people think of Superman or Hercules, but in The Hobbit, an unexpected hero emerges and changes the name for all heroes to come. The Hobbit is a novel about Bilbo Baggins and his journey, with thirteen dwarves and a wizard, seeking the treasure stolen by the dragon, Smaug. While on this unexpected journey, Bilbo and his companions overcome many obstacles to eventually get to the treasure and retrieve it. Throughout the story, Bilbo develops into a courageous man, who indeed, is a hero. Richard Tyre wrote an article, “You Can’t Teach Tolkien,” and he explains his theory in which he connects multiple story’s plot with six elements. The Hobbit, is assuredly a prime example of Tyre’s theory because it follows all six steps throughout the story simultaneously. The six elements are; “(1) those who hunt for treasure, (2) must go alone, (3) at night, (4) and when they find it, (5) they must leave some of their blood behind, (6) and the treasure is never what they expected” (Tyre 19). These elements are steps in which a character must take to emerge into a hero in the end. Bilbo Baggins is the hero in The Hobbit, but he doesn’t start off as the hero. He has always had heroic traits but throughout the novel, he pursues those six steps and in the resolution, he is transformed into an actual hero.
The cliche of boring life to hero in stories shows in The Hobbit. In chapter 8, when Bilbo frees himself from a spiderweb. He starts feeling different about himself. Growing that heroic feeling within himself. After that he names his sword, and we all know that all heroes name their sword. He starts to show the heroism and courage.
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.
Though Bilbo is not the stereotypical hero, Tolkien prepares the readers for a heroic story of dragon slaying, plundering treasure, and fighting a war. Throughout Bilbo's journey, he is led to other paths that are less predictable, and the impression of Bilbo as a hero can seem less obvious, but his actions and choices are nevertheless magnificent. Clark states and claims that a traditional hero may slay a dragon as revenge for his ancestors to attain fame, honor, or and glory for his deeds, and may finally claim treasure for himself. Bilbo, however, selflessly gives up his share of the treasure and riches to those in need. Though at first glance it seems that wealth, fame, and fortune are the purpose behind this epic adventure, this is not what makes Bilbo the heroic character he becomes.
“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
What is a hero? Is it someone who possesses great strength and bravery, or is it someone who attains fame and wealth? In the world of Middle Earth that J.R.R Tolkien has created, Bilbo Baggins shows us that a hero can be quite the opposite. He is offered (and partially set up by Gandalf the wizard) to partake in an adventure as a burglar to help reclaim the bearded Dwarves’ homeland from the dragon Smaug. The little hobbit is frightened by the mere thought of danger, but the adventure in him ignites and causes him to agree. Through a series of events, Tolkien uses Bilbo’s characterization and ethics to portray the overall theme of heroism.
The hero’s journey begins with the hero being introduced in their ordinary world. This is where the reader learns about the hero’s background, flaws and strengths. This is so that the reader can establish a bond with the situation, which gives them experience of an adventure through the hero. In chapter 1 of The Hobbit, Tolkien introduces Bilbo Baggins as an ordinary hobbit who lives in an ordinary hobbit hole on the side of The Hill. In this chapter Tolkien hints towards Bilbo’s mother’s side, the Took-clan, who ‘something was not entirely hobbit like about them’ (Page 13).
Many science fiction fantasy novels have a hero or heroine. In J.R.R Tolkien’s novel the hobbit Bilbo Baggins is a hero, Even though he finds a ring of invisibility that allows him to preform surprising feats. Some of his acts of heroism are when Bilbo make his first attempt at burglary when he steals from the trolls, when he creates a plan to free his friends from the ElvenKing and follows it through and when he goes down to visit Smaug for the first time to fulfill a promise.