The Hobbit: or There and Back Again (The Lord of the Rings 0) by J. R. R. Tolkien

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Written for Tolkien's own children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when first published more than sixty years ago. Now recognized as a timeless classic with sales of more than 40 million copies worldwide, this introduction to Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the Wizard, and the spectacular... read more

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Summary edit see section history

Bilbo Baggins is just a simple hobbit with interests and needs until good old Gandalf comes around. His adventure begins when Gandalf tricks Bilbo into hosting a party for Thorin's band of dwarves, who sing of reclaiming the Lonely Mountain and its vast treasure from the dragon, and to the Arkenstone of Thrair. Gandalf unveils a map showing a secret door into the Mountain and proposes that the dumbfounded Bilbo serve as the expedition's "burglar." The dwarves ridicule the idea, but Bilbo, indignant, joins despite himself. The group travels into the wild, where Gandalf saves the company from trolls and leads them to Rivendell, where Elrond reveals more secrets from the map. Passing over the Misty Mountains, they are caught by goblins and driven deep underground. Although Gandalf rescues them, Bilbo gets separated from the others as they flee the goblins. Lost in the goblin tunnels, he stumbles across a mysterious ring and then encounters Gollum, who engages him in a game of riddles with deadly stakes. With the help of the ring, which confers invisibility, Bilbo escapes and rejoins the dwarves, raising his reputation with them. The goblins and Wargs give chase but the company are saved by eagles before resting in the house of Beorn. The company enter the black forest of Mirkwood without Gandalf. In Mirkwood, Bilbo first saves the dwarves from giant spiders with his Elven dagger, Sting, and then from the dungeons of the Wood-elves with his magic ring. Nearing the Lonely Mountain, the travellers are welcomed by the human inhabitants of Lake-town, who hope the dwarves will fulfill prophecies of Smaug's demise. The expedition travel to the Mountain and find the secret door; Bilbo scouts the dragon's lair, stealing a great cup and learning of a weakness in Smaug's armour. The enraged dragon, deducing that Lake-town has aided the intruder, sets out to destroy the town. A noble thrush who overheard Bilbo's report of Smaug's vulnerability reports it to Bard, who slays the Dragon. When the dwarves take possession of the mountain, Bilbo finds the Arkenstone, an heirloom of Thorin's dynasty, and steals it. The Wood-elves and Lake-men besiege the Mountain and request compensation for their aid, reparations for Lake-town's destruction, and settlement of old claims on the treasure. Thorin refuses and, having summoned his kin from the mountains of the North, reinforces his position. Bilbo tries to ransom the Arkenstone to head off a war, but Thorin is intransigent. He banishes Bilbo, and battle seems inevitable. Gandalf reappears to warn all of an approaching army of goblins and Wargs. The dwarves, men, and elves band together, but only with the timely arrival of the eagles and Beorn do they win the climactic Battle of Five Armies. Thorin, on his deathbed from wounds, reconciles with Bilbo. The treasure is divided, but, having little desire for it, Bilbo refuses most of his share. Nevertheless, he returns home wealthy.

Characters/People edit see section history

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Bilbo Baggins: Bilbo used to be a peaceful hobbit, until he was persuaded by Gandalf and the other dwarves to join them on their journey to take back their treasure from Smaug the dragon.
Gandalf: Gandalf is a wizard well known, but rarely seen, to the hobbits for his skills with fireworks. He starts to gather dwarves to go on a quest, and tricks Bilbo into throwing a party that leads the hobbit to go on the quest.
Thorin Oakenshield: Son of Thráin, son of Thrór, King Under the Mountain. Leader of the Dwarves.
Gollum: A terrible creature who lives in the Misty Mountains and always refers his ring as "my precious", is obsessed with his "birthday present", which is a ring, and loves riddles. Also was once a hobbit before he was corrupt by the ring.
Gwaihir: The lord of an ancient race of intelligent Eagles living in the Misty Mountains.
Smaug: A gold hoarding, cunning dragon. He took over the Lonely Mountain. Then he took over the treasure of Thorin's ancestors.
Bard: Man; Descendant of Girion, Lord of Dale.
Elrond: Called Elrond Halfelven; keeper of Rivendell.
Beorn: A Man living in a hall east of the Misty Mountains; a skin-changer with a deep enmity for Goblins and Wargs.
The Great Goblin: The Lord of the Goblins living in the Misty Mountains.
Roac: Son of Carc; A Raven.
Dain: Son of Nain; a Dwarf. (Not on the quest) Lord of he Iron Hills and the slayer of Azog.
Gerontius, the "Old Took": Bilbo Baggins' grandfather. Head of the Hobbits who lived across The Water. The Took clan was said to not be very Hobbit-like, because every once in a while they would go off and have adventures.
Dwalin: He is a Dwarf. He wears a green hood. Brother of Balin. Son of Fundin
Balin: A Dwarf. Wears a red hood. Brother of Dwalin.
Kili: Nephew of Thorin and younger brother of Fili. Wears a blue hood. He and his brother are the fastest and youngest of the dwarves. He is the youngest of all the Dwarves as his brother is older. He is 5 years younger than Fili. Son of Dis
Fili: Nephew of Thorin and older brother of Kili. Wears a blue hood. He and his brother are the strongest and fastest dwarves. Son of Dis.
Dori: A Dwarf. He wears a purple hood. Brother of Nori and Ori.
Nori: A Dwarf; he wears a purple hood. Brother of Ori and Dori.
Ori: A Dwarf. He wears a gray hood. Dori and Nori's brother.
Oin: A Dwarf who wears a brown hood. Brother of Gloin.
Gloin: A Dwarf who wears a white hood. Brother of Oin. Also, the father of Gimli, a member of the Fellowship of the Ring in the trilogy "The Lord of the Rings".
Bifur: A Dwarf. He wears a yellow hood. Cousin of Bofur and Bombur.
Bofur: A Dwarf. He also wears a yellow hood. He has a brother named Bombur and the cousin of Bifur.
Bombur: A Dwarf. He wears a pale green hood. He's the fattest dwarf in the group. Brother of Bofur and cousin of Bifur. He is also very lazy and loves to eat.
Thrór: Dwarf; Thráin II's father and Thorin's grandfather and the first King Under the Mountain. He discovered the Arkenstone. Created the map used by the Dwarves and Bilbo. Killed by Orcs when wandering into Moria many years later.
Thráin II: Dwarf; Thorin's father and Thrór's son who managed to escape from the desolation of Smaug. He later became a prisoner in the dungeons of the Necromancer.
Bolg: Son of Azog and the leader of the Orcs of Moria.
Azog: Goblin, father of Bolg; killed Thrór in the mines of Moria. Killed at the Battle of Azanulbizar, well before the events in "The Hobbit".
Bert: A Troll living in the Wilderland west of Rivendell.
Tom: A Troll living in the Wilderland west of Rivendell.
Bill Huggins: A Troll living in the Wilderland west of Rivendell. He is also referred to as William.
Durin: Patriarch of the Longbeards, the oldest family of the Dwarves.
Bungo Baggins: Father of Bilbo.
Belladonna Took: Mother of Bilbo.

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Quotes edit see section history

“"My armour is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws are spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!"”
Smaug to Bilbo
“Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?”
Gandalf
“"It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him."”
Narrator
“I am like a burglar that can't get away, but must go on miserably burgling the same house day after day.”
Bilbo Baggins
“You are a fine person, Mr. Baggins ... but you are only quite a little fellow in a wide world after all!”
Gandalf
“There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something....You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.”
“You don't really suppose, do you, that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck, just for your sole benefit?”
Gandalf speaking to Bilbo
“What shall we do, what shall we do! Escaping goblins to be caught by wolves!” he said, and it became a proverb, though we now say “out of the frying-pan into the fire” in the same sort of uncomfortable situations.”
Bilbo Baggins

Setting & Locations edit see section history

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Whole story takes place in Middle-Earth, a fictional world that J. R. R. Tolkien created.

The Lonely Mountain: Erebor; former home of the Kingdom under the Mountain, a delving-place of the Dwarves. Now inhabited by the dragon Smaug.
The Misty Mountains: The mountain range which splits western and eastern Middle-earth; inhabited by Goblins and Wargs (wolves).
Mirkwood Forest: A dark, gloomy forest where many evil things dwell. Also the home of the Wood Elves. Far to the south, Mirkwood also holds the stronghold of the Necromancer. Formerly known as the Greenwood (before the Necromancer came).
The Shire: The land of the Hobbits, in the Northwest of Middle-earth.
Rivendell: The hidden house of Elrond in a valley near the Misty Mountains. Also known as the Last (or First) Homely House.
Lake-town: The town of the Men living in the shadow of the Lonely Mountain. The River-town is also called Esgaroth.
Palace of the Elf King: The palace of the mighty Elf King. Located in Mirkwood. Where Bilbo helps the dwarves escape in wine barrels.
Trollshaws: A wild land west of Rivendell, inhabited by Trolls.
Bag End: The Hobbit hole of Mr. Bilbo Baggins, in Hobbiton, built by his father
Hobbiton: A Hobbit town in the Shire.
Forest River
Carrock: Sometimes called The Carrock; a high hill by the Great River, and a meeting place of Beorn the shape changer
The River Running: A river from the lonely mountain that goes to long lake.
Long Lake: Esgaroth, also known as Lake-town, is built on top of this lake.
Beorn's House: The home of Beorn
The enchanted river
The Wild: A border between civilization and the mostly wild strange creatures.
The Iron Hills: A place in which the dwarvs dwell North of the lonely mountian.
The Hill: The informal name for the place where hobbits dwell.

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First Sentence edit see section history

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.

Table of Contents edit see section history

Foreword

I. An Unexpected Party
II. Roast Mutton
III. A Short Rest
IV. Over Hill and Under Hill
V. Riddles in the Dark
VI. Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire
VII. Queer Lodgings
VIII. Flies and Spiders
IX. Barrels Out of Bond
X. A Warm Welcome
XI. On the Doorstep
XII. Inside Information
XIII. Not at Home
XIV, Fire and Water
XV. The Gathering of the Clouds
XVI. A Thief in the Night
XVII. The Clouds Burst
XVIII. The Return Journey
XIX. The Last Stage

Glossary edit see section history

Prosy: adj. pros·i·er, pros·i·est1. Matter-of-fact and dry; prosaic.2. Dull; commonplace.
Larder: Pantry; a place where food is stored.
Flummoxed: Confused.
Confusticate: Flabbergast; a word invented by Tolkien.
Crock: A stoneware pot.
Fells: Often used to describe a hilly or mountainous region.
Ere: A poetic word for "before."
Fender: An oblong or triangular shield of leather attached to the stirrup leather of a saddle to protect the rider's legs.
Bannock: A flat cake made of oatmeal, barley-meal, or the like, commonly cooked on a griddle.
Quaff: (verb) To drink copiously and heartily. Particularly in reference to intoxicating beverages.
Chestnut: An old, well-known riddle or saying.
Furrier: A fur dealer; one who makes, repairs, or cleans fur garments.
Tippet: A fur shoulder cape, often with hanging ends.
Mould: Loose earth, rich in organic matter and favorable to the growth of plants.
Hart: A male red deer, usually over five years old.
Painter: A rope, usually at the bow, for fastening a boat to a ship, stake, etc.
Hind: A female red deer.
Attercop: A spider.
Cob: Another word for spider.
Gloaming: Twilight. The time after sunset and before dark.
Mere: A lake or pool.
Kine: Cattle; domesticated bovine animals as a group, regardless of sex or age.
Draggled: (adj) Having been soiled by dragging over damp ground or in the mud. Or (verb) to make limp and soiled as with wet and dirt.
Lintel: A horizontal timber or stone above a door or other opening, to support the structure above.
Glede: A live or burning coal; a fire or flame, cinders or coke.
Hauberk: A piece of armor originally intended for the protection of the neck and shoulders, but early developed into a long coat of mail reaching below the knees.
Mattock: A kind of pick with an arm or blade like that of an adz, and commonly with another arm opposite either like a narrow ax-blade or terminating in a point.
Scimitar: A backsword or sabre with a curved blade.
Braces: Suspenders; straps hung over the shoulders to hold up pants.
Conies: Rabbits.
Eyrie: A bird's nest on a cliff or mountaintop.
Fortnight: A period of two weeks.
Gammer: An old woman
Larch: A deciduous tree of the pine family.
Muff: a warm tubular covering for the hands.
Necromancer: A magician, especially one who deals with the spirits of the dead.
Parley: An exercise in diplomacy; a talk with the goal of resolving conflict.
Porticullis: An iron grating hung over a gateway and lowered between grooves to prevent passage.
Porter: A person who carries burdens or baggage or guards a door.
Promontory: A high point of land or rock projecting into water or over lowland.
Quay: A dock or landing place on a waterway.
Quoits: A game in which a ring of iron or rope is thrown at an upright pin; similar to the game of pitching horseshoes.
Wargs: Evil wolves

Show all 43 glossary entries

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

Domesticity vs. the Wild: Describe this theme.
Gold Lust: An overwhelmingly strong desire or want for gold, money, wealth.
Vengeance: Punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense: retribution. Also can mean an action done with great force or to an extreme degree.
Self-discovery: Bilbo, the main character starts out as a very inept addition to the party. However, by the end of the the story, Bilbo has recognized his own strengths, and becomes a very important member of the party.
Value of having a "home.": The dwarfes didn't have a home so they didnt belong anywhere

Errata edit see section history

p. 47 – Also he would have liked to have a few private words with with these people that seemed to know his NAME and all about him, although he had never seen them before.

p. 53 – It was a hard path and a dangerous path, a crooked way and a lonely and a long WAY.

p. 101 – Loud CRIES TO the Lord of the Eagles, to whom Gandalf had now spoken.