Literary Elements In The Hobbit

Do you think of yourself as an adventurous person? What would it take for you to drop everything and embark on an exciting, dangerous expedition? In J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, simple everyman Bilbo Baggins is suddenly approached by a company of dwarves and the great wizard Gandalf, who ask him to become their burglar on a quest to reclaim treasure. At first, Bilbo refuses: “We are plain quiet folk, and I have no use for adventures. Nasty, disturbing, and uncomfortable things” (16). However, although it goes against his nature and better judgement, Bilbo agrees to take part in the unexpected journey and finds himself in situations he would have never dreamed of. In this fantasy novel, literary elements such as conflict, personification,

There are a few instances of deus ex machina, caused by Gandalf and the eagles, which save Bilbo and the dwarves from peril. This is a literary device which provides an unlikely event or power to suddenly save a character. The first is during a fight with goblins in the forest; when all seems hopeless, the eagles swoop in and carry the company to safety. During the Battle of Five Armies, the eagles appear once again with Gandalf to rescue our protagonists: “Seeing the sudden gleam in the gloom Bilbo looked round. He gave a great cry: he had seen a sight that made his heart leap, dark shapes small yet majestic against the distant glow. ‘The Eagles! The Eagles!’ he shouted. ‘The Eagles are coming!’” (260). When the dwarves discover that they must reach the Lonely Mountain before the last light of Durin’s Day, a ticking clock is introduced. If they do not reach their destination in time to open the secret door, the entire quest will have been in vain. This provides a sense of urgency in the novel, and a motivation for the protagonists to move as quickly as possible. There are two artifacts of attraction which draw characters towards them: the One Ring and the Arkenstone. Gollum is obsessed with the ring, while Thorin spends the majority of the book hunting for the Arkenstone. Thorin’s lust for the Arkenstone and its power is what leads to the climactic battle and what

It contains the format of the Hero’s Journey, where the everyman protagonist Bilbo Baggins is sent off on a quest, and his personality is changed forever. After Bilbo returns to Bag End, he has an appreciation for the extraordinary and the adventure which lies beyond the Shire. He does not mind that other hobbits now think of him as strange: “He took to writing poetry and visiting the elves; and though many shook their heads and touched their foreheads and said ‘Poor old Baggins!’ and though few believed any of his tales, he remained very happy to the end of his days, and those were extraordinarily long” (275). The plot devices and conflicts are not revolutionary ideas; this story follows a somewhat clear format. However, the way they are executed, combined with Tolkien’s vibrant imagery and enchanting characters, captivates the reader and makes for a wonderful