The Hobbit
Bilbo is a very dynamic character, rising to the action and growing more without the help of others. At the beginning of The Hobbit, Bilbo is accustomed to the Shire, weary of adventure and the unknown. The Riddle Battle is significant as Bilbo not only gets himself out of a dire situation, but Bilbo obtaining the One Ring proves that he is capable of being the burglar. At the end of the story, Bilbo becomes the adventure-loving hobbit that we see in The Lord of the Rings through others help and his own survival methods. Bilbo wins the riddle battle through wit, trickery, and intuition which causes him to grow out of his Shire mindset.
Bilbo’s use of wit in the riddle battle gives him an advantage to match and outmatch Gollum. Bilbo’s Shire Lifestyle helped prepare him for the riddle battle. Bilbo is a knowledgeable hobbit, learning on his own through reading and through stories passed down by the Shire folk. Gollum said, “What has roots as nobody sees,/ Is taller than trees,/ Up, up it goes,/ And yet never grows?” (Tolkien, 70). However, Bilbo replied, “Easy! Mountain, I suppose” (Tolkien, 70). Bilbo’s knowledge of riddles greatly helps him, as he has heard some and has the mental capability to figure the answer out. Thus, Bilbo’s knowledge, wit, and problem-solving ability gives Bilbo an advantage over Gollum. In addition, Trickery is perhaps what saves Bilbo the most. What Bilbo says and how he says it is important. Bilbo says something more to himself, seeing Gollum’s franticness Bilbo decides to use it to his advantage. The narrator says, “But at any rate Gollum did not once attack him. He could see the sword in Bilbo’s hand” (Tolkien, 75). Gollum lets his weakness show and Bilbo plays on that by asking a question that Gollum is unable to answer. Consequently, Bilbo’s ability to trick Gollum, playing on his weaknesses, and arming himself is how he remained alive. Instinctively, Bilbo using his intuition realizes that this may be his only chance of making it out alive. …show more content…
Bilbo uses a different method than usual, as his life depends upon it. The question Bilbo saying then later asking is, “What have I got in my pocket?” (Tolkien, 74). Gollum responds exclaiming “Not fair! Not fair! It isn’t fair, my precious, is it to ask us what it’s got in its nasty little pocketses?” (Tolkien, 74). Bilbo is able to create enough of a diversion to find the way out and escape. As I have shown, Bilbo uses his inner feelings and logic to make a break at the right time, securing his safety.
As a result of Bilbo using Gollum’s weakness, this is where everything starts to come together. Bilbo gives Gollum three guesses, all of which Gollum gets wrong. Bilbo tired of the riddle-battle is starting to realize that he’s running out of riddles. Unless Bilbo is unable to trick or outsmart Gollum, the riddle-battle will continue on. Bilbo realizing this decides to bend the rules and asks something that technically isn’t a fair riddle. To conclude, not only does Bilbo manipulate Gollum’s weaknesses, but he does it in such a way that it isn’t done unfairly. This shows how adaptable Bilbo is as he quickly realizes it won’t end fairly. Bilbo decides to use his advantages wisely. Not only does Bilbo have his wit and trickery, but Bilbo also has
Bilbo is a very dynamic character, rising to the action and growing more without the help of others. At the beginning of The Hobbit, Bilbo is accustomed to the Shire, weary of adventure and the unknown. The Riddle Battle is significant as Bilbo not only gets himself out of a dire situation, but Bilbo obtaining the One Ring proves that he is capable of being the burglar. At the end of the story, Bilbo becomes the adventure-loving hobbit that we see in The Lord of the Rings through others help and his own survival methods. Bilbo wins the riddle battle through wit, trickery, and intuition which causes him to grow out of his Shire mindset.
Bilbo’s use of wit in the riddle battle gives him an advantage to match and outmatch Gollum. Bilbo’s Shire Lifestyle helped prepare him for the riddle battle. Bilbo is a knowledgeable hobbit, learning on his own through reading and through stories passed down by the Shire folk. Gollum said, “What has roots as nobody sees,/ Is taller than trees,/ Up, up it goes,/ And yet never grows?” (Tolkien, 70). However, Bilbo replied, “Easy! Mountain, I suppose” (Tolkien, 70). Bilbo’s knowledge of riddles greatly helps him, as he has heard some and has the mental capability to figure the answer out. Thus, Bilbo’s knowledge, wit, and problem-solving ability gives Bilbo an advantage over Gollum. In addition, Trickery is perhaps what saves Bilbo the most. What Bilbo says and how he says it is important. Bilbo says something more to himself, seeing Gollum’s franticness Bilbo decides to use it to his advantage. The narrator says, “But at any rate Gollum did not once attack him. He could see the sword in Bilbo’s hand” (Tolkien, 75). Gollum lets his weakness show and Bilbo plays on that by asking a question that Gollum is unable to answer. Consequently, Bilbo’s ability to trick Gollum, playing on his weaknesses, and arming himself is how he remained alive. Instinctively, Bilbo using his intuition realizes that this may be his only chance of making it out alive. …show more content…
Bilbo uses a different method than usual, as his life depends upon it. The question Bilbo saying then later asking is, “What have I got in my pocket?” (Tolkien, 74). Gollum responds exclaiming “Not fair! Not fair! It isn’t fair, my precious, is it to ask us what it’s got in its nasty little pocketses?” (Tolkien, 74). Bilbo is able to create enough of a diversion to find the way out and escape. As I have shown, Bilbo uses his inner feelings and logic to make a break at the right time, securing his safety.
As a result of Bilbo using Gollum’s weakness, this is where everything starts to come together. Bilbo gives Gollum three guesses, all of which Gollum gets wrong. Bilbo tired of the riddle-battle is starting to realize that he’s running out of riddles. Unless Bilbo is unable to trick or outsmart Gollum, the riddle-battle will continue on. Bilbo realizing this decides to bend the rules and asks something that technically isn’t a fair riddle. To conclude, not only does Bilbo manipulate Gollum’s weaknesses, but he does it in such a way that it isn’t done unfairly. This shows how adaptable Bilbo is as he quickly realizes it won’t end fairly. Bilbo decides to use his advantages wisely. Not only does Bilbo have his wit and trickery, but Bilbo also has