(15.41-42). Yet a fourteenth share of all the silver and gold, wrought and unwrought, was given up to Bard; for Dain said: "We will honour the agreement of the dead, and he has now the Arkenstone in his keeping.". He had many hardships and adventures before he got back. "Well, er, I thought, don't you know," said Bilbo rather confused, "that, er, some little return should be made for your, er, hospitality. Its rather ironic that Bilbo is called a thief concerning the cup and very much isnt, while actually (probably) becoming a thief later on concerning the Arkenstone. said the king. He steals several other things along the way though. (17.39). good attitude. What does "the forest became dark" mean? He appraised himself as a hero who had not yet given up. The Hobbit is my favorite book. On we go! So up he got, and trotted along with his little sword held in front of him and one hand feeling the wall, and his heart all of a patter and a pitter., Curse the Baggins! Of course he didnt. "I will take your gift, O Bilbo the Magnificent," said the king gravely. By caves where never sun has shone, Even so, things did not work out smoothly. He had decided that he was not quite his sort, and wanted him to go away. He was invisible now. Stealing from a thief is still theft. Did I say that? Bilbo is mostly fondly irritated with the hobbits and their insular ways. Though you can be forgiven for thinking it is a Silmaril. Would love to hear what people think, anything about favorite passages or what parts resonate most deeply. Ill base my analysis on the modern English law on theft (Theft Act 1968), adverse possession etc, because even though The Hobbit is from before 1968 and the Limitation Act 1980, the old Larceny Act 1916 was even more of a mess than the current law (just have a look at the table of contents, or section 1, really) and still contained bits about whipping male offenders under 16 years of age (s. 2) (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1916/50/section/2/enacted), so I wont inflict that on anyone here. A sudden understanding, a pity mixed with horror, welled up in Bilbo's heart: a glimpse of endless unmarked days without light or hope of betterment, hard stone, cold fish, sneaking and whispering. All these thoughts passed in a flash of a second. Every book has its hero, mentor, and guardian, but not just every book has Bilbo Baggins as their hero or The Great Gandalf as its mentor. Yet I am glad that I have shared in your perils that has been more than any Baggins deserves. Good bye!, Bother burgling and everything to do with it! "A mercy it is," he said at last to himself, "that I woke up when I did. He goes from caring about nothing besides his cakes and tea, to opening up to a whole different world outside of the Shire. On their way home, Thranduil and Bilbo had a second illustrative exchange. I have been sent to look here for the last time. Songs have said that three parts of the goblin warriors of the North perished on that day, and the mountains had peace for many a year. Also I should like to know about risks, out-of-pocket expenses, time required and remuneration, and so forth by which he meant: What am I going to get out of it? Alive after all I am glad! Suddenly without a signal [the dwarves] sprang silently forward to attack. Smaug came into possession of Erebor through conquest, not theft. To illustrate, Bilbo says "As soon as I saw your funny faces on the door-step, I had my doubts" (Tolkien 19). We emphasise serious discussion here over jokey/meme-based posts. It is hinted in The Hobbit that the slow degradation of resources over the long years, combined with the spreading of Men's power and influence, and the fight for their survival against growing evil affected them deeply, and they became suspicious and hard. On the other hand, Bilbo didn't trust the dwarves, nor did he want to go on the quest. View bestsellers, featured, top rated, classics, hidden gems, and new releases. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. I may be a burglar or so they say: personally I never really felt like one but I am an honest one, I hope, more or less. Then, somewhere in the pitch-dark night, Bilbo strikes dead a most nefarious enemy. You could tell what a Baggins would say on any questions without the bother of asking him (2). In The Hobbit there are several descriptive passages for these horrors: giant talking spiders, who hung the mummified dwarves by their cobweb and with whom Bilbo had to use Sting to fight; orcs who later, near the end of the Ring War, set the woods on fire and invaded the woodland realm; and scary fauna such as the black squirrels, large bats, and black butterflies that Bilbo saw. "There let it lie till the Mountain falls!" "And I name you elf-friend and blessed. I wish I was at home in my nice hole by the fire, with the kettle just beginning to sing!, We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Going on an adventure can be really hard, but only Bilbo Baggins knows how hard it really can be. He was hired on specifically to be a thief. [Bard] asked at last with an effort. I mean even a burglar has his feelings. "I beg of you," said Bilbo stammering and standing on one foot, "to accept this gift!" He did not, of course, expect that any one would remember that it was he who discovered all by himself the dragon's weak spot; and that was just as well, for no one ever did. So, when Thorin Oakenshield and the Dwarves of his company were captured during one of the Elves' feasts, they were not welcomed. "Well, er, I thought, don't you know," said Bilbo rather confused, "that, er, some little return should be made for your, er, hospitality. The elf-host was on the march;. Smaug is red and gold, with fiery breath, sharp claws, and a hide as strong as a diamond. Therefore, it is best to leave the end obscure, and allow each reader to imagine his or her own image of happy ending. After a while as his head cleared a little, he thought he could see elves moving in the rocks below. Although that may raise a question as for the character's existence or his deeds, that is a subject for separate research, and has no direct bearing over this article. Get personalized recommendations. * (Weird formatting issue; the quote ends with "accordingly".). The place became a stronghold of the darkness known as Dol Guldur (Hill of Sorcery). I beg of you, said Bilbo stammering and standing on one foot, to accept this gift! and he brought out a necklace of silver and pearls that Dain had given him at their parting. Recognition is given at this time to Bilbo Baggins, their almighty and capable. I name you Elf-Friend and Blessed! I beg of you, said Bilbo stammering and standing on one foot, to accept this gift! and he brought out a necklace of silver and pearls that Dain had given him at their parting. His ominous description of Mirkwood Forest explains the hesitation in the company to pass onto the realm where The entrance to the path was like a sort of arch leading into a gloomy tunnel(153). It is obvious that he was worried about their purpose at being in his realm at such perilous times. Descriptions: The Hobbit : "Not at Home". This is all the more remarkable, since he was a hobbit. There, he sees the magnificent, terrible dragon asleep on piles of treasure. When Bilbo regains consciousness, he is alone. View bestsellers, featured, top rated, classics, hidden gems, and new releases. He was talking to himself, but Gollum thought it was a riddle, and he was frightfully upset., The Eagles! . But even with the Eagles they were still outnumbered. Get personalized recommendations. Thranduil was awed by the jewel, but he also worried about Bilbo's fate when Thorin discovered what Bilbo had done. ", Bilbo knelt on one knee filled with sorrow. "As soon as you like," said the wizard. Other heroes in the story include such men like Gandalf, Beorn, The Lord of the Eagles, Bard, and even Thorin in the, The heros Journey begins with a call to an ordinary individual to leave the ordinary world.This calls prompts the individual to leave the common life to venture into the realm of the unknown.The journey continues with the individual leaving the ordinary world to descend into the special world.The decent into the special world brings the individual through different adventures and experiences that reveal weakness and allow for strength and development to conquer those weaknesses.Bilbo baggins journey represents the heros Journeyas he leaves the ordinary world as an ordinary hobbit,enters the special world as a developing warrior,and returns as an unexpected hero.He revealed his hobbit character and thinking most visibly by fainting,for. On page 318, Bilbo has been cited listening, "I will take your gift O' Bilbo the Magnificent!" said the king gravely" (Tolkien, The Hobbit, 318). Tolkiens writings do not recount the fate of Thranduil. A thief but an honest thief, he remains. Are you much hurt? said the man striding forward. The oftener you appear in my halls the better shall I be pleased!". For this reason he took a large army and together with Malgalad9 of Lrien joined the Last Alliance with the Noldor, the survivors of Nmenor, and the Dwarves, in Mordor. His heart was beating and a more fevered shaking was in his legs than when he was going down, but still he clutched the cup, and his chief thought was: "I've done it! It was Gandalf and a dwarf; and the dwarf was actually Balin" (302). In what way have I earned such a gift, O hobbit? said the king. Thranduil, a Sindarin Elf, remembered this detail from the history of Doriath. Bilbos first triumph forces him to recognize the strength he commands. Id classify him as much as a spy as a thief. The Tookish part was getting very tired, and the Baggins was daily getting stronger. While an owner can steal their own property if a third party has any lesser proprietary right or a right to possession or control, if this is not the case, an owner cannot steal their own property (Simester and Sullivans, p. 501; see also p. 503). If Thorin plans to keep his treasure anyway, why does he make a show of listening to Bard at all? Near the end of what was believed to be failing negotiations, Bard tried to persuade Thranduil to attack before the I beg of you, said Bilbo stammering and standing on one foot, to accept this gift! and he brought out a necklace of silver and pearls that Dain had given him at their parting. "Where are the Eagles?" When reading such an emotionally moving book its difficult to not fall hard for the characters. He was in fact held by all the hobbits of the neighbourhood to be 'queer'" (301-2). he said; "and farewell, Dwalin; and farewell Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur! Nevertheless, throughout the Second Age, there was constant conection between the elves from Greenwood and Lrien. ", Then Bilbo turned away, and he went by himself, and sat alone wrapped in a blanket, and, whether you believe it or not, he wept until his eyes were red and his voice was hoarse. (The concept of adverse possession wouldnt work in a place without courts anyway: the concept of limitation periods only works if theres a court where you can file your lawsuit to have your property returned to you.). The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien, HarperCollins 2012 (softcover film tie-in edition) [cited as: The Hobbit]. Farewell!. Dragons may not have much real use for all their wealth, but they know it to an ounce as a rule, especially after long possession; and Smaug was no exception. In this book, Bilbo Baggins goes on a journey that would change his life forever. Bilbo's helplessness is demonstrated when the dwarves see the light in the distance where the trolls are and instead of Bilbo going back to tell the dwarves what he sees, he decides to try and pick-pocket the trolls. Upon one side were the Goblins and the Wild Wolves, and upon the other were Elves and Men and Dwarves. "You are called for;" and leading the hobbit he took him within the tent. Well, it seems a very gloomy business., Farewell, King under the Mountain! Tools to track, assess, and motivate classroom reading. A Little Hobbit living in a comfortable hole, in The Shire. Looking into the valley he could see no living goblins. Thranduil turned from his course, sending aid before him over the river. "It will not be long now," thought Bilbo, "before the goblins win the Gate, and we are all slaughtered or driven down and captured. "Now I wonder what has happened?" [Elrond] took [the map] and gazed long at it, and he shook his head; for if he did not altogether approve of dwarves and their love of gold, he hated dragons and their cruel wickedness, and he grieved to remember the ruin of the town of Dale and its merry bells, and the burned banks of the bright River Running.