A large part of our modern day interpretation of what a hero is comes from medieval texts, legends, and epics. These tales more often than not star brave knights, volunteering for quests, leading armies, and killing dragons. Tolkiens view of heroism focuses less on strength and power and more on ethics and true human, or should I say Hobbit, development. In the beginning of the novel no one, not the dwarfs or even Bilbo himself can imagine himself being truly helpful to the cause. If it wasn’t for Gandalf’s insistence that he was “one of the best, one of the best – as fierce as a dragon in a pinch”(p.17) the dwarfs may not have agreed to let him on as their lucky number fourteen. However throughout their journey Bilbo undergoes a transformation,
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When the goblins first attack the party unexpectedly Bilbo is the first to yell for Gandalf and alert the others to danger. His quick thinking saves the group from their very possible demise. Soon after Bilbo is faced with a situation common in many medieval epics, a riddle off. Bilbo comes across the creature known as Gollum and they come to the understanding that if Bilbo can out smart him, Gollum will show him the way out. If not Gollum will eat him. High stakes to stay the least. However even under so much pressure Bilbo is able to solve all of Gollum’s riddles and is able to finally stump him, albeit his “riddle” being less of a riddle and more of a trick question. Part of being a hero in Tolkien’s world means that the right thing to do isn’t always the thing that you need to do to survive. Bilbo steals Gollum’s ring and cheats at the riddle game however ultimately ends up surviving, showing that his wit is what will keep him alive as opposed to abstaining his moral …show more content…
For a large part of the story up to this point, Thorin has been leading the pack and making important decisions. However after Bilbo saves them from the spiders and helps them escape from the dungeons of the woodland elves, they see that he has the makings of a true leader. The dwarfs begin to lean on Bilbo more and more and trust his as one of their own, as compared to someone they brought along for alittle extra help. Bilbo also recognizes his new authority and begins to stand up for him self wen the Dwarfs try to discredit him. “Very well come back to your nice cells, and I will lock you all in again, and you can sit there comfortably and think of a better plan- but I don’t suppose I shall ever get hold of the keys again, even if I feel inclined to
When the goblins first attack the party unexpectedly Bilbo is the first to yell for Gandalf and alert the others to danger. His quick thinking saves the group from their very possible demise. Soon after Bilbo is faced with a situation common in many medieval epics, a riddle off. Bilbo comes across the creature known as Gollum and they come to the understanding that if Bilbo can out smart him, Gollum will show him the way out. If not Gollum will eat him. High stakes to stay the least. However even under so much pressure Bilbo is able to solve all of Gollum’s riddles and is able to finally stump him, albeit his “riddle” being less of a riddle and more of a trick question. Part of being a hero in Tolkien’s world means that the right thing to do isn’t always the thing that you need to do to survive. Bilbo steals Gollum’s ring and cheats at the riddle game however ultimately ends up surviving, showing that his wit is what will keep him alive as opposed to abstaining his moral …show more content…
For a large part of the story up to this point, Thorin has been leading the pack and making important decisions. However after Bilbo saves them from the spiders and helps them escape from the dungeons of the woodland elves, they see that he has the makings of a true leader. The dwarfs begin to lean on Bilbo more and more and trust his as one of their own, as compared to someone they brought along for alittle extra help. Bilbo also recognizes his new authority and begins to stand up for him self wen the Dwarfs try to discredit him. “Very well come back to your nice cells, and I will lock you all in again, and you can sit there comfortably and think of a better plan- but I don’t suppose I shall ever get hold of the keys again, even if I feel inclined to