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Home Middelbare School EN Uittreksels Uittreksel J.R.R. Tolkien – The Hobbit

Uittreksel J.R.R. Tolkien – The Hobbit

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Extracts English Literature
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J.R.R. Tolkien – The Hobbit

George Allen & Unwin, London (1937)

Title:

The book describes the story of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit from Middle Earth.

Author:

J.R.R. Tolkien was born in 1892 in South Africa. He grew up in Birmingham and studied at Oxford. During the First World War Tolkien fought in the army. After the war he became a lecturer at Oxford and later a professor of English language and literature. The Hobbit and its sequel, The Lord of the Rings, are Tolkiens best known books. Tolkien died in 1973.

Other works by the author:

The Silmarillion

The literary period:

The first part of the Twentieth century.

The genre:

The Hobbit

Summary:

One April morning Bilbo Baggins is visited by an old man, Gandalf the wizard. Gandalf invites Bilbo to join thirteen dwarves on an adventurous journey. Bilbo is more frightened than excited and asks Gandalf to return the next day. The next day Gandalf enters Bilbo's home followed by the thirteen dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield. As Thorin talks about the coming adventure Bilbo realises he's already considered to be one of the company. In the end Bilbo decides to join them.

The dwarves want to regain control of The Mountain, their former dwelling place, taken over by Smaug the dragon. Smaug was primarily interested in the dwarves' rich treasures. The first problems they come across are three trolls. Bilbo is caught as he tries to steal the purse of the troll William and the dwarves soon follow. Gandalf eventually has to save them by making the trolls forget to go underground as the sun rises. The trolls turn to stone and the dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf spend the night in the trolls' cave.

After resting at the house of Elrond, the king of the elves, they continue their journey over the Misty Mountains. During a stormy night they find shelter in a cave. In the cave they are attacked and captured by goblins. Once again Gandalf saves the group. During the escape Bilbo finds a ring that can make him invisible. With the ring Bilbo finally manages to escape by trickery from Gollum, the previous "owner" of the ring.

Scared by Warg wolves the group has to hide in the trees. The Warg wolves are joined by the goblins in order to start a raid on some villages. The group is saved in the nick of time by the Lord of the Eagles, who is an enemy of the Wargs and the goblins. The next day Gandalf leaves the group, but before he leaves, he advises the group to find Beorn, an enemy of the dragon and the goblins. Beorn treats the group to a good meal and supplies them with food and ponies.

When the group finally reaches the dragon they find him asleep, amidst his treasures. Under the cover of the ring, Bilbo talks with Smaug the dragon, during which conversation Bilbo discovers his weak spot. When Smaug leaves for Lake-town, the dwarves follow Bilbo into the Dragon's Lair and take as much of the treasure as they can carry. Then they leave the mountain for Ravenhill, where they spend the night on a small plateau. Smaug is killed by the Bard of the city Lake-town, who hears of the Dragon's weak spot.

The death of Smaug and the theft of his treasures attracts many interested groups. Not only the Bard and his people and the dwarves, but also the Elves, the Wargs and the Goblins come to get their share. The war of the Five Armies is won by the elves, men and dwarves who joined forces and were supported by numerous squadrons of eagles. The three divide the treasure and Bilbo returns home. When he arrives home he's just in time to prevent his belongings from being sold off, as the hobbits thought he was dead. Everything returns to normal and the area of The Mountain becomes peaceful and prosperous.

Time:

The book is set in The Third Age of Middle Earth, a distant period in the past. The story is told chronologically, without any major flashbacks or flash-forwards.

Setting:

The Hobbits are dwarflike creatures who live in The Shire, a part of the Middle Earth, a completely fictitious world. Dwarves, elves, trolls, wargs and magicians join them as inhabitants of Middle Earth.

Characters and relationships:

Bilbo Baggins:

A hobbit in his middle years, married into the Took family. One day in April Bilbo is asked to join dwarves on an adventure. At first Bilbo doesn't want to join the dwarves, but he ends up on adventure with them. During the adventure he turns into a hero.

Thorin Oakenshield:

Thorin is the leader of the thirteen dwarves who join Bilbo in the adventure.

Gandalf:

Gandalf is a wizard. He convinces Bilbo to join the adventure and helps him and the dwarves during the adventure.

The dwarves:

The dwarves Thorin, Fili, Kili, Dwalin, Balin, Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur and Bombur join Bilbo in the adventures.

Enemies and friends:

In the adventure the group encounters a number of enemies and friends; amongst others: the trolls, the goblins, the elves, the Warg wolves and the eagles.

Credibility:

….

Theme:

The age-old battle between good and evil. The battle actually takes place at the end of the book. As with most fantasy stories, the good wins the battle in the end.

Motto:

None.

Linguistic usage:

The books uses some dialogue which is colloquial and makes use of slang. Apart from some strange words, the book is very easy to read.

Dedication:

None.

Perspective:

Part of the book is written in first person and part with an omniscient writer.

Construction:

There are 19 numbered chapters with titles and 10 illustrations.

Own opinion on the book:

Your opinion!

is a work of fantasy. There is a great deal of symbolism in this epic-like tale.
, Farmer Giles of Ham.

 

Victory is always possible for the person who refuses to stop fighting.

Overwinning is altijd mogelijk voor de persoon die weigert te stoppen met vechten.

Napoleon Hill