Hobbit Composition
[At the beginning of the year you considered the definition of a hero. Use the Hobbit to discuss whether or not Bilbo meets your original definition of a hero as defined by Beowulf, The Knight’s tale, and Sir Gawain.] The original definition of a hero as defined by Beowulf, The Knight’s Tale from Canterbury Tales, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was “a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities.” This definition was acquired by looking at the characteristics that make up each of the heroes from the previously listed stories; and by looking at what they had in common, or what tied the different heroes together. The characteristics that collectively made up these people included fearlessness, integrity, and dutifulness. Bilbo Baggins is the hero of The Hobbit, but it has not yet been decided if he meets the original definition of a hero. To determine if Bilbo is a hero, his characteristics will be compared to the qualities that make up a hero. His traits will not be compared to the specific examples that went into the definition, but to the general attributes that inclusively make up heroes. Then it will be discussed whether or not he qualifies as an example of the definition.
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He is friendly and generous when the dwarves invade his home. Bilbo’s decision to give the Elvenking a necklace in thanks for the food that he stole while hiding in the castle shows that he is serious about honor and honesty. As many of the other people in his quest became corrupted by greed, he maintains his eagerness to please, common sense, and courage. At the beginning of the novel Bilbo is mainly complacent, cautious, and respectable, but towards the end he is primarily brave, adventurous, and cunning. Perhaps just as important is that he did not become arrogant or relinquish his
For example, Bilbo fits the role of the hero, because he sacrificed and helped all the characters along the journey. Stated in the amazing book, The Hobbit, the author wrote, “It was at this point that Bilbo stopped. Going on from there was the bravest thing he ever did. The tremendous thing that happened afterwards were are nothing compared to it. He fought the real battle in the tunnel alone, before he ever saw the vast danger that lay in wait” (Tolkien, J.R.R., The Hobbit, page #233). Bilbo had basically sacrificed himself, so all of the other characters and himself could get through the journey safely. Their hero, Bilbo became braver each and every day while he tried to help and support them. Written in the fantastic book, The Hobbit, the author has written, “‘I have no idea at the moment-if you mean about removing the treasure. That obviously depends entirely on Smaug. Getting rid of dragons is not all in my line, but I will do my best to think about it. Personally I have no hopes at all, and wish I was safe back at home’” (Tolkien, J.R.R., The Hobbit, page
A hero is a person who is praised or admired for their phenomenal work done in a certain situation. Bilbo Baggins is considered to be a hero in the book The Hobbit, written by J. R. R. Tolkien. Although Bilbo is considered a hero in this book, he does everything unwillingly. In the movie, however, Bilbo is seen as an epic hero because of the way certain things are portrayed differing from the book. For example, the arrival of the dwarves at Bilbo’s home is different in the book than it is in the movie. Even though this scene does not have a major change involved with it, it loses a connection with the arrival at Beorn’s later on in the movie. Changes in the movie that affected the type of hero Biblo Baggins include the beginning of the journey,
The clear definition of a hero is often open to interpretation and has never been clearly defined. In the translation of the epic poem Beowulf by Seamus Heaney, it is often debated whether the main character Beowulf is actually a hero or not. Beowulf displays hero-like characteristics through his bravery, loyalty, brute strength, confidence and protective nature. He is a crystal clear example of an Anglo-Saxon hero in his time period. In the present day he should be considered a hero as well. He displays heroism through his fights with Grendel, Grendel’s mother and the dragon while managing to protect his people and eventually sacrifice himself.
The perfect image of a true hero is Beowulf. His courage and confidence seems to come naturally. He is the ideal man; he puts others before himself and has amazing physical and mental strength. He is so revered that he can boast about his achievements without seeming vain. “I had greater strength on the sea, more ordeals on the waves as any other man.” (Luizza 69)
A hero is someone who is admired for their courage and bravery, as well as their noble accomplishments. They are respected by almost everyone, due to their kindness and charitable mindset, that drives them to fight for the good of others. Beowulf is the perfect representation of a hero, based on multiple characteristics that he displays throughout the novel. Along with his characteristics, Beowulf also takes on many “hero like” challenges and tasks. In the novel, Beowulf is praised and admired throughout the kingdom for his bravery, humility, and selflessness.
Bilbo Baggins, the protagonist from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, is a clear example of an unconventional hero that has nevertheless been accepted as a hero in society. The Hobbit is a story set in the fictional land of Middle Earth, where there are not only human beings, but also mythical creatures such as dwarves, elves, wizards, and dragons. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit, who by instinct, is a creature where comfort and safety are the number one priority, but also has a curious and adventurous side. This side is brought out when the wizard Ganda...
A hero in mythology and legend is a man often of divine ancestry, who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for bold exploits, and favored by the gods. Beowulf, the strongest man alive and the greatest Anglo-Saxon warrior, distinguishes himself as this kind of hero. When Herot is in danger of being destroyed by the ferocious beast Grendal, Beowulf raises hell to the menacing beast. Through his brave actions and deeds, Beowulf demonstrates heroic qualities and that is revered by Anglo-Saxon and those which are also universally respected.
A hero is someone who is idealized for his courage and noble qualities. Beowulf and Sir Gawain can certainly be called heroes. They both have many qualities that are expected of heroic knights and warriors. They are both brave, gallant, and skilled men, but are they the perfect heroes their people believe them to be? While they are portrayed as perfect heroes and they possess many heroic qualities, Beowulf and Sir Gawain are far from perfect.
What does it mean to be a hero? Like anything else in this world, the definition of the word hero can be argued. Some may say that a hero can be passive, that is if he or she refrains from doing a certain action it makes them heroic. Others would argue that to be truly heroic the character must never turn tail and always face the obstacle head on even though he or she may die in the process. So is Beowulf a hero? Yes, Beowulf is a great epic hero, but his greatness comes only from his sword and not from his mind.
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
...y a little fellow, Gandalf hints that even he was impressed by the large role Bilbo played in their journey, adding irony to the theme of heroism. Bilbo was the perfect character for Tolkien to express the theme of heroism because he was just the average, everyday character with a kind heart. He wasn’t some wizard or renowned warrior, but a hobbit, a simple hobbit who didn’t ask for heroism. Bilbo would much rather stay in the quite of his own home, but fate would have him do much more, even though Bilbo wouldn’t say so himself, he was indeed…a hero.
The three heroes discussed here, Beowulf, Sir Gawain and King Arthur, are heroes for different reasons. Beowulf, our earliest hero, is brave but his motivation is different than then other two. To Sir Gawain personal honor and valor is what is important. King Arthur, Sir Gawain's uncle, is naturally the quintessential king of the medieval period. Though all men to a certain extent share the same qualities, some are more pronounced than in the others. It is important to see how these qualities are central to their respective stories and how it helps (or hinders) them in their journeys.
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.
When legends are told throughout the world about heroes, the picture that we have of that hero is someone like Beowulf. However, the reason why we see Bilbo Baggins as a hero is because he is so similar to the rest of us. He portrays the average person but Bilbo has gone the extra step. He takes risks and faces battles that seem impossible to conquer. This is why we he is a hero. He does everything that we wis...
Taking on battles or time sensitive mysteries, which result in victory, have lead them to a world renowned title as ‘hero.’ Why? For their actions either saved, stopped, conquered, or won a trial they met. This gives the hero fame for a public service, but not the authenticity & true honor of being a personal hero. For a child, they look up & see their mother & father as heroes. A child sees their parents as unstoppable, all knowing, powerful, & energetic playmates. Their hero loves them wholeheartedly & is a tremendous amount fun. Unknown to the child, the parents have sacrificed & transformed their life to raise their beloved child. Bilbo began a journey that altered the course of his life. The encounters stretched, pounded, & molded him into a new Hobbit. As the signed Burglar, he was required to deal with Smaug when the time arrived, however, the journey wasn’t a leisure stroll down the boardwalk. Once Bilbo adventured home, he was given loads of time to reflect on his wonderful tale. He faced & defeated some nasty & perilous encounters, but at the peak of the story, Bilbo triggers the awakening of Smaug, which leads to the ruin of Lake-Town. During the battle, he is unconscious & plays no role in securing the Mountain. Thus, Bilbo had more heroic qualities during the journey rather than the climax of the adventure. All in all Bilbo doesn’t have the narrative to call himself a true