The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
"The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien is a fantasy novel that follows the unexpected adventure of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit content with his quiet life at Bag End. His routine is disrupted when the wizard Gandalf visits, accompanied by a group of thirteen dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield. They seek Bilbo’s assistance as a burglar to reclaim their ancestral home and treasure from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Throughout the journey, Bilbo encounters various challenges, including trolls, goblins, and giant spiders, while discovering his own courage and resourcefulness.
A pivotal moment occurs when Bilbo finds a mysterious ring that grants him invisibility, which aids in his survival and the group's escape from perilous situations. As the adventure unfolds, themes of friendship, bravery, and the consequences of greed are explored, particularly during the climactic Battle of the Five Armies. Ultimately, Bilbo returns to his home, transformed by his experiences but facing complications regarding his estate. The story is notable not only for its whimsical elements and rich world-building but also for its deeper reflections on heroism and personal growth.
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
First published: 1937
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Fantasy
Time of plot: Third Age, 2941–42
Locale: Middle-earth
Principal Characters
Bilbo Baggins , a hobbitGandalf , a wizardThorin Oakenshield , leader of the dwarvesDain , his cousinElrond , an elf lordGollum , a mysterious creatureLord of the Eagles ,Beorn , a skin-changerThe Elvenking ,Bard , bowman of Lake-townSmaug , a dragon
The Story
Comfortably settled in his family home, Bag End, the hobbit Bilbo Baggins loves eating good food, blowing smoke rings, and living a quiet, peaceful life. The last thing he expects is an adventure, but that is exactly what the wizard Gandalf has in store for him. Gandalf appears on Bilbo’s doorstep one day, and the flustered hobbit finds himself caught up in an increasingly alarming conversation in which the wizard begins to talk of sending Bilbo on an adventure. Thoroughly discomfited, the hobbit ends the conversation and scurries back into his hole but only after inadvertently inviting the wizard to tea the next day.
When Gandalf returns, with him come thirteen dwarves, including the mighty Thorin Oakenshield. The dwarves are starting a quest to recover their ancient stronghold far to the east, where Thorin’s grandfather was King under the Mountain. Great treasure awaits them—and Bilbo, too, whom they expect to hire, on Gandalf’s recommendation, as the group’s burglar. The dwarves need all the help they can get, because sitting on the gold that awaits them at the Lonely Mountain is the dreaded dragon Smaug, who drove their forefathers away years ago.
Bilbo reluctantly joins the group, and—after meeting the hobbit—they reluctantly accept him. As uncertain as he is about the whole adventure, the dwarves are equally dubious about the hobbit’s qualifications for the expedition. Bilbo’s first burglary attempt—picking a troll’s pocket—very nearly gets the whole band of them roasted for dinner, but they are saved by Gandalf, who keeps the three trolls arguing until they are turned to stone by the sunrise.
The group shelters briefly with Elrond the elf lord, who discovers hidden moon-letters on Thorin’s map that reveal the secret way into the Lonely Mountain. Elrond also identifies the elven swords that Thorin and Gandalf took from the trolls’ hoard. The swords glow whenever goblins are nearby. Bilbo later discovers that the elven knife he procured from the troll cave (which is large enough to be a short sword for the small hobbit) has the same power.
After leaving Elrond, the group begins the perilous crossing of the Misty Mountains. Having sought shelter in a cave, they are attacked by goblins. In the ensuing chaos, Bilbo gets separated from the dwarves and wanders lost through subterranean passages where he finds a small ring that he puts in his pocket. He encounters the strange creeping creature Gollum, and they agree to a game of riddles. If Bilbo wins, Gollum will show him the way out of the caves. If Gollum wins, he gets to eat Bilbo.
The game proceeds, each asking a riddle and the other answering, until Bilbo, unnerved by the menacing Gollum, cannot think of a riddle and instead asks the creature what he (Bilbo) has in his pocket. The answer is the ring, but Gollum guesses wrong, so Bilbo insists on being shown the way out. Gollum intends to kill the hobbit anyway, but Bilbo discovers that by putting the ring on, he becomes invisible. He tricks Gollum into leading him to the exit, where Gollum realizes too late that the hobbit has taken his ring and, unable to follow Bilbo into the outside world, curses him forever.
Bilbo finds the dwarves and Gandalf, who killed the Great Goblin and many others when he helped the group escape. They admire the hobbit’s daring getaway, although he does not yet tell them about the ring. The travelers have emerged on the other side of the Misty Mountains, but they still have a long journey ahead. Unfortunately, they soon become trapped by a host of evil wolves who have joined forces with the goblins to raid nearby villages. Though the dwarves, Gandalf, and Bilbo manage to climb to safety in trees, the goblins begin setting fire to the trees. Eagles arrive just in time to save the travelers, flying them to safety.
The party is next aided by Beorn, a shape-shifter who can take the form of a bear and who is a friend to all animals. He provides lodging and guidance for the next part of the journey, which will take the group into the mysterious forest of Mirkwood, where the Elvenking reigns. Gandalf leaves them to check on dark business far away, and the dwarves’ misfortunes escalate. They become lost in the forest and are captured by giantspiders. With the help of his magic ring, Bilbo rescues his friends, but soon afterward the dwarves are taken prisoner by the wood elves. The Elvenking demands to know the reason for the company’s passing through the forest. Anxious to protect his inheritance, Thorin refuses to talk. Bilbo again manages a rescue that involves packing the dwarves into barrels that are sent down the river by the unsuspecting elves.
The barrels are opened in Lake-town, where the dwarves are celebrated and given supplies. They reembark and at last reach the Lonely Mountain, where they find the secret door described on their map. As the company’s burglar, Bilbo makes a hazardous exploratory journey into the mountain, where he discovers the golden hoard presided over by the dragon Smaug. He steals a cup to prove his proficiency as a burglar and escapes, but the dragon soon awakes and notices the missing cup. Furious, Smaug flies out of the mountain and smashes the secret door, trapping the company inside. Bilbo finds the Arkenstone of Thrain, a marvelous jewel long coveted by Thorin, but Bilbo keeps it secret for the time being.
After a conversation with the invisible hobbit, Smaug decides the lake men must have aided the dwarves and flies off to destroy them. Bilbo, however, has managed to observe a weak spot in the dragon’s otherwise impenetrable armor during their interchange. As a result, a friendly thrush tells Bard the bowman where to aim his arrow, and the hero of Lake-town slays the dragon—but not before much of the town has been wrecked and many of its people killed or wounded. They vow to gain recompense for their losses from the dwarves and march toward the mountain. Thorin denies their claim and sends for his cousin Dain to come to his aid.
Hearing of the dragon’s destruction, the elves, too, are marching toward the mountain and decide to assist Bard and his people. Bilbo gives the Arkenstone to Bard, hoping he will be able to use it as a bargaining chip to avert armed conflict between the dwarves and the Lake men. Bard and the Elvenking present the Arkenstone—described as being worth “a river of gold” in itself—to negotiate for a share of the treasure. Upon learning that Bilbo gave away the jewel, an enraged Thorin drives the hobbit from the mountain.
Meanwhile, the goblins and wolves are also massing to avenge the death of the Great Goblin. Though the dwarves, including the newly arrived Dain and his army, are at odds with the men and elves, the three groups join forces against the goblins and wolves in the Battle of the Five Armies. Even combined, the forces of good are outnumbered, but, just when all seems lost, the eagles and Beorn appear. With their aid, the men, elves, and dwarves defeat the evil creatures.
Thorin has been mortally wounded in the battle. On his deathbed, he forgives Bilbo for taking the Arkenstone. Dain becomes King under the Mountain, and Bard rebuilds Dale, the home of his fathers that was abandoned when the dragon came. His adventure over, Bilbo returns to Bag End only to find that he has been declared dead as a result of his long absence. Indeed, his home and possessions are in the midst of being auctioned off when he returns. After his disappearance is cleared up and his possessions are restored, he becomes labeled as an eccentric, but he always retains the friendship of Gandalf, dwarves, and elves, and he tells no one of his magic ring.
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