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How does literature influence society
Relationship between literature and society
Relationship between literature and society
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Literature plays an important role in the shaping of society, reinforcing cultural norms and values. Because of this, the meaning of enduring tales such as The Hobbit can change with time, being molded in new ways to fit what society now accepts. In every society, the world over, there are those who see the world differently from those in the mainstream. Whether for better or for worse, the wiring of their brain is skewed and this gives them a different outlook, a new way or reading a text or viewing a film. The paper will explore the importance of the focus on adventure and self-discovery in The Hobbit for sufferers of mental illness and how modern society may have affected the understanding of this tale. The paper will begin with a look at the life of Tolkien. This will serve the purpose of providing some context for the novel. Looking into the life of Tolkien will also serve to give the reader some insight into the mind that gave birth to such a rich land and why the novel may have some importance for sufferers of mental illness. Next will likely be a short summation of the …show more content…
He is too small to be man or even dwarf. He is even smaller than that, even less important. Even the notion of having a familial trait in the blood that compels one to certain actions is familiar. It exists in today’s society and is seen every time someone tells a person that they walk or move just like their mother or father. But the setting of The Shire as an idyllic countryside is incredibly important as well. It welcomes the reader in. From the very beginning, the reader feels at peace with the surroundings and this sucks them into the world of Middle Earth. Now, they are in Bilbo’s shoes (even though he does not wear any). The reader is now established as a stranger in this land, much like the lands beyond The Shire are strange to
Essay Assignment 1 The movie, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, was a powerful period piece that will continue to stick out among adventure/war movies because of the well-crafted storyline and a strong theme of hope in the face of impossible odds. The sequel to the first movie in the trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring, the movie picks up following two young hobbits, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee, on a quest to destroy the Dark Lord Sauron's’ one true ring of power. When the first movie ends, “The Fellowship”, is broken because Gandalf the Grey is presumed dead and the group splinters. This movie furthers the quest of “Fellowship” to destroy the ring and each “splinter” has their own objective to help defeat Sauron.
Then one day a wizard by the name of Gandalf comes and gives Bilbo the opportunity to go on an adventure. Bilbo turns his offer down, but the next day thirteen dwarves come to his house. They have meals together and they sleep at Bilbo’s house. Gandalf then convinces him to go on an adventure with them. Bilbo is many things, in the beginning he is flat, static, main, and he is the protagonist.
Tolkien, J.R.R.. “Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics.” In TheBeowulf Poet, edited byDonald K. fry. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968.
Tolkien, J. R. R., and Douglas A. Anderson. The Lord of the Rings. Boston: Houghton Mifflin,
Rings' would be a nice idea for a report. It is interesting to see the
The Hobbit is the story of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who lives in Hobbiton. He enjoys a peaceful and pastoral life but his life is interrupted by a surprise visit by the wizard Gandalf. Before Bilbo is really able to improve upon the situation, Gandalf has invited himself to tea and when he arrives, he comes with a company of dwarves led by Thorin. They are embarking on a journey to recover lost treasure that is guarded by the dragon Smaug, at the Lonely Mountain. Gandalf has decided, much to Bilbo's chagrin, that the hobbit will make an excellent addition to the team and Bilbo is going to play the role of a burglar. As they start on their way, Bilbo has serious misgivings.
“Though he is technically an adult, Bilbo Baggins, the hero of The Hobbit, undergoes a growth to maturity” (Grace 1). The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien is chock full of literary elements that aid in both storytelling and maintaining the reader’s attention. The story pursues Bilbo and his Dwarven companions through an adventure of great treasure and great peril. The story also contains many literary elements that this essay will go through, including character, theme, motif, symbol, and conflict.
There is a hero in every story. In this one, it turns out to be a small little hobbit, who does not look like he could anything at first. Not even the dwarves who were with him thought he could be of any help to them. He proves them all wrong throughout the journey and gains all of the dwarves respect. In this story, this little hobbit shows his ability to be a hero through his Tookish side, his confidence he gains, and his perseverance to keep going.
In The Hobbit, by author J.R.R Tolkien, is a story of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who lives in Hobbiton. He enjoys a peaceful and pastoral life but his life is interrupted by a surprise visit by the wizard, Gandalf. They are embarking on a journey to recover lost treasure that is guarded by the dragon, Smaug, at the Lonely Mountain. On the journey, Bilbo and the dwarves meet all sorts of villains and obstacles. They meet many different kinds of creatures like trolls, hobbit like creatures, dragons, dwarves, elves, etc. and lastly but not least a Wizard named Gandalf, which is who this paper will focus on. This paper will cover what Gandalf is, his outstanding characteristics, powers and abilities, geomythology and how the hobbit, and my chosen character Gandalf, and how it may have been related to.
Bilbo cleverly eluded Smaug’s temptation, spared the life of foul creature Gollum, and demonstrate courage more and more throughout his journey. These exquisite traits made Bilbo into the revered character that was loved and respected for generations of readers. Throughout the book, Bilbo’s character had changed. At first, he was the ordinary hobbit who described adventures as “Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things” (4) but by the end of his journeys stated to Thorin, “I am glad that I have shared in your perils” (290). Bilbo’s ability to fight evil, make new friends, and to look beyond his maps and books enable him to become a hero. As Gandalf once said at the very beginning, “There is a lot more in him than you guess, and a deal more than he has any idea of himself” (19). Gandalf was right. What appeared to be an uneasy hobbit who fainted at the thought of adventures, turned out to be a brave leader, a compassionate friend, and an inspiring
Tolkien, J. R. R. The Hobbit, Or, There and Back Again. New York: Ballantine, 1982. Print
It is likely for one to assume that a classic piece of literature set in a fantasy oriented stage will have no merits to the youths of today. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, however, with its crafty of usage symbolism, displays its relevance to issues that often trouble teens. As the story progresses from a children’s tale to an epic, the main character Bilbo undergoes a series of development, his experiences often overlapping with ordinary people. Reading the Hobbit will provide teens with opportunities of exploring the importance of several common but serious topics. People may encounter many of the themes presented in the book elsewhere repeatedly, but it’s possible that they never appreciated the applications it might have on themselves. When teens read the Hobbit, they perceive it as a simple fiction of adventure. Under proper guiding, they will be able to recognize and utilize the lessons of the Hobbit, and improve their attitudes and ideas about life.
“Though he is technically an adult, Bilbo Baggins, the hero of The Hobbit, undergoes a growth to maturity” (Grace 1). The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien is chalk full of literary elements that aid in both storytelling and maintaining the reader’s attention. The story follows Bilbo and his dwarven companions though an adventure of great treasure and great peril. The story also contains many literary elements that this essay will go through, including character, theme, motif, symbol, and conflict.
Heroes are present in many of the films produced today and these heroes generally follow both Campbell’s “Hero’s journey” and “Heroic Archetypes”. Some of Campbell’s tenets for a hero are that he must be called to a quest, he will face trials and tribulations, face temptation, complete a task, and eventually return home. The hero must also fit an archetype and its quest, fear, dragon, task, and virtue. Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is in fact one of the aforementioned heroes. Bilbo Baggins has always wanted an adventure and one day he is called on a quest to win back the Dwarfish kingdom of Erebor from the dragon, Smaug. Bilbo had not realized at the time of his departure that he was a hero and at first he even refused to go on the quest. Bilbo fits many of the tenets of the departure, initiation, and return of Campbell’s “Hero’s Journey” along with one of his archetypes. Joseph Campbell defines a hero as “someone who has given his life to something bigger than himself” and this is what Bilbo Baggins has done by accepting his quest to aid the Dwarves on their journey to the Lonely Mountain.
Supernatural elements – religious figures and activities, ghosts, witches, and anthropomorphized animals among others – have been used throughout the history of literature from its origins in oral folktales to Shakespeare’s plays to Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series. Throughout the history of literature, supernatural elements have been useful in developing themes that reflect the nature of humanity. Supernatural elements are often used to outline and comment on conflict and power struggles: both within the plot of the work and within society at the time of the work’s publication. These otherworldly components are also commonly used to adapt, expand upon, and make a work of literature more applicable to its settings. Supernatural elements also play a r...