Character List

Biblo Baggins:  The protagonist that happens to be a wealthy hobbit.  He develops into deeper character with a sense of new morals and adventure.  Even with Bilbo's moral code, he happens to be the burglar of the party and the most secretive character.


Gandalf the Grey:  The wise and the secretive character of the party.  He always seems to appear when the party is in dire need of him, otherwise he is elsewhere.  


Thorin Oakenshield: The leader of the dwarf party and the sole survivor of the Lonely Mountian-dwarf kings.  He is the sole inheritor to Smaug's collection.  His pride and greed will be his downfall.


The Other Twelve Dwarves:

• Dwalin
• Balin
• Kili
• Fili
• Dori
• Nori
• Ori
• Oin
• Gloin
• Bifur
• Bofur
• Bomber

Gollum:  A sneaky creature that lives under the Misty Mountains.  He attempts to kill Bilbo in a game of riddles.  He owned a magical ring that he lost, that he later accuses Biblo of stealing.


Smaug:  The last dragon of Middle-Earth.  He resides in the Lonely Mountain.  Even though he is the main villain in the novel, his sense of dark humor is entertaining.


Bard:  The Lake Town captain who kills Smaug.    


Beorn:  A man that can turn into a bear.  He saves the party from goblins.


Necromancer:  The Necromancer is only mentioned in The Hobbit as an evil force in Mirkwood.  It is later revealed in LOTR that he is Sauron.


Wargs:  Evil wolves that ally themselves with the goblins.


Trolls:  Dull-witted creatures that attempt to eat the party.  They argue so long on how to prepare Bilbo and the dwarves, that they forgot to hide in their cave when the sun came up. Thus turning them to stone. 

Synopsis, Conflict, and Setting

Synopsis:
            A hobbit named Bilbo Baggins goes on a spectacular journey away from the Shire in the company of the wizard Gandalf and a band of dwarves:  Thorin, Dwalin, Balin, Kili, Fili, Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur.  They toil through mountains, swamp, spiders, and trolls to re-inhabit the Lonely Mountain, guarded by the dragon Smaug.

Conflict: 

The story sets around the reclaiming of the Lonely Mountain and surviving the perilous journey to their desired destination.

Setting:

            The Hobbit takes place in the Third Age of Middle-Earth.  The party’s journey starts at the Shire, a pleasant and civilized homage, to the hopeless wild lands under the shadow of the Lonely Mountains.

Bilbo Baggins a hipster?

I think yes :)

Theme

Theme:

The fear of the unknown is to preserve our current self.  For once we leave our comfort bubble, we add something new to ourselves that cannot be taken back.

Biblo is a simple hobbit.  He is a respectable hobbit, one that does not go on silly adventures.  When this respectable hobbit who thinks adventures are "nasty disturbing uncomfortable things!" goes of past the Shire and into the wild with a party of dwarves (Tolkien 3). As Bilbo experiences trolls, the mines of goblins, being carried by an eagle, fighting spiders, out riddling Gollum, and outwitting a dragon, he himself grows beyond his years.  Coming back to the Shire, the "Presumed Dead" Bilbo  was "... and elf-friend, and the honour of dwarves, wizards, and all such folk that aver passed that way; but he was no longer quite respectable... [and] he was quite content" (Tolkien 302).    

Writing Style

Tolkien writes in a contemporary fashion of balancing dialogue and description.  He keeps a light, hopeful, and whistling tone throughout the book.  In contrast to The Lord of the Rings series, The Hobbit was written as a children's story.  Tolkien developed the story for his children, which explains the lack of complex danger to the characters.  The diction in the story is simple and easy to follow.  Most importantly, The Hobbit is written to be read out loud. This is evident through the integral placement of side notes that Tolkien uses to insert an interesting fact

  "Not that Belladonna Took ever had any adventures after she became Mrs. Bungo Baggins.  Bungo, that was Bilbo's father, built the most luxurious hobbit-hole for her (and partly with her money) that was found either under The Hill or over The Hill or across The Water..." (Tolkien 3).

Tolkien has created a story that when read talks to the listener and reader. His style is unique for a lengthy book, but common among quaint children's tales.  

Who should read the Hobbit?

The Hobbit is a book that can be read by all ages.  The adventure brings the reader into the story, but the real treasure is Bilbo's growth.  Biblo starts off as a simple Shire-folk whose truth is the Shire.  Through perils and glory with the dwarves, Bilbo expands his truth and becomes a more enlightened hobbit.  For a person of any age that is seeking their truth, they will find pleasure in reading about a hobbit's adventure to expand his knowledge. 

Why The Hobbit should be on contemporary reading lists

Sadly, none of Tolkien’s literature was on the “contemporary books to read” list even though his writing should be.  Tolkien is a modern-romantic writer and The Hobbit is a splendid read.  Woven within the exciting story is the apparent growth of Biblo Baggins.  The Hobbit is relevant read to the Truth Unit explored in first term.  The protagonist, Biblo, learns a new version of the truth to add to the “Shire truth.”  The Hobbit is a story of personal growth and is relevant for all ages.  Anyone who is growing mentally will take to this book to heart, for Biblo is lovable character that expands his personal truth of the world around him.  For that reason of universal relevance of the ever changing and maturing truth to all readers, and just being a lighthearted read, The Hobbit should be put on “contemporary books to read” list.