J.R.R. Tolkien, an English poet, academic, and philologist, taught at the University of Oxford. Tolkien, likewise a modern author of his era, explored social and political ideas in his writings, like The Hobbit. In it Tolkien explores the Nazi party and its adversaries, tying in his own WWII experience, as a British Soldier into a novel. A novel on one of the World’s toughest and longest battles; the clash of light and darkness for power, domination, and richness which affects our everyday life.
Light and darkness endure in a constant conflict for power. When Thorin and Co. make their way over the misty mountains after having received nourishment and rest from Elrond. The dwarves find themselves in a predicament during a thunderstorm. After seeking shelter on the Goblin’s “front porch” they become prisoners of the Goblin’s:” ...and hurried them along” into the tunnels:”Now there came a glimmer of red light before them… when they stumbled into a big cavern.” Then the dwarves got chained and dragged to the far end of the cavern where the goblins placed them, and Thorin advanced on to be questioned by the Great Goblin. When the Great Goblin found that Thorin carried Biter, the Great Goblin lashed out in rage and was about to attack Thorin:” … all the lights in the great cavern went out and the great fire went poof! … that scattered piercing white sparks all among the goblins… burning holes into the Goblins.” Afterwards every goblin fell over the other attributable to the blinding smoke, and Gandalf, taking advantage of the situation, quickly approached the Great Goblin:”Suddenly a sword flashed in its own light… right through the Great Goblin.” The dwarves heard a fierce and quiet voice and Gandalf led ...
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...d shone before him and drawn his feet towards it.” This light of hope and redemption in the midst of the greed-smelling chamber makes Bilbo want to have it and keep it for himself:”... but he lifted it, shut his eyes, and put it in his deepest pocket.” Later Bilbo grew tired of the greed and violence between light and darkness, and therefore gives the Arkenstone to Bard and the Elves to help them negotiate and end the standoff, with the dwarves, as rapidly as possible.
Hence the world, a place we think as peaceful and calm, has extreme forces of nature, light and dark, who will not give up their fight against one another. They have been fighting since the beginning, and until the end of time they will fight mercilessly. There will be much destruction, but it is unstoppable. Light and dark has its course, and to its course it will stay.
Works Cited
The Hobbit
The dwarves were on a quest to find and reclaim their famous treasure from the great dragon Smaug. It would be a long and difficult journey, and they felt it would be made simpler with the help of a burglar. This was what Bilbo was for, even if he didn’t know it. Bilbo didn’t want to be on the adventure, let alone play a vital role in it. But by the time the story concluded, Bilbo had changed from a well-to-do homebody into a burglar.
So, he went over to it and took it. The Trolls then notice him and then get angry. Then Gandalf and the Dwarves come to the rescue. He successfully got the wallet, but almost got killed for it. Another chapter in which Bilbo changes is chapter five, Riddles in the Dark.
They are told not to leave the path and continue moving not matter how rough it gets. The group does what Gandalf says but eventually hunger grows over their conscious and drives them from their path. This leads them farther into the woods following strange lights and wood elves feasting. They eventually get lost, and as the night starts to darken, lose each other. Bilbo is stranded in the woods alone when he meets a spider, in which he kills. This spider led him to a clearing with hundreds of giant spiders making webs with bundles tied to their centers. The bundles were the dwarves waiting to be eaten by the arachnids. Bilbo turns himself invisible and begins teasing and throwing rocks at the spiders. This maddens the creatures, luring them away from the bundles up in the trees. Bilbo secretly begins cutting the bundles down, one by one. The spiders came back as the last of the bundles were cut. Bilbo turns invisible again and begins killing the spiders one by one, while running away. They eventually drive off the spiders and escape into the woods, only to be lost again. This shows heroism in Bilbo. First Bilbo shows that he is capable of thinking out a solution to a major problem that could have led to himself being captured. Second, he shows great compassion as well. He could have left the dwarves out in the middle of the woods while he went off looking for a path. Instead, he
It can be argued that the theme of light VS darkness is used to good
Good and evil operate and work in different environments. In the book Beowulf, light and darkness are the environments used by good and evil. Although the author shows the power of darkness, he also exhibits light’s eventual victory in Beowulf’s battle with Grendel, in Beowulf’s first skirmish with Grendel’s mom, and with the imagery created at the beginning and end of each
The Brink of War In 1914, there were many things that placed Europe at the brink of war. Nationalism, militarism, imperialism, social Darwinism, and Jingoes are five of the main forces that were pushing Europe to the brink of war. Another main force was the development of Alliance systems. These ideas and systems threatened the balance of power, which could then cause a major war to break out. In Europe at the time, there were many ideas which were causing friction.
Mirkwood is not the place to be, ever. One step off the trail could result in forever wandering, or even death. But with his newly earned elven blade and magic ring, Bilbo has found a new definition of bravery. It is made, not born. With the threat of the dragon looming in the distance, no one really looks forward to anything. The days drag on, and nothing seems to lift the dreary spirits. Over a few hours, a light keeps appearing in the distance. The dwarves foolishly chase after it, leaving the path. The Mirkwood spiders come upon them, and all are bound except for our little hobbit. He cleverly slips on the ring and releases the dwarves. They proceed only to be captured again by Wood-elves, a fair folk of the east. The long rivalry between elves and dwarves leads Thranduil, elvenking, to treat the dwarves unkindly. Bilbo, however has his newfound sense of bravery and adventure, and frees the dwarves thanks to his sneaking about with the ring. The dwarves, with Bilbo, escape by barrel, sent to Lake-Town. This clever plan is thought of by Bilbo, with his newfound wit. Waterlogged, but very much alive, the dwarves are out of Mirkwood. All thanks to the new Bilbo, with a new
The Great Goblin gets angry and tries to eat Thorin, when Gandalf comes to the rescue by putting out the torches that light the cavern. In the darkness he kills the Great Goblin and everyone makes their escape. (Tolkien 71-75)
As evidence to illustrate, “ ‘This is the Arkenstone of Thrain,’ said Bilbo, ‘the Heart of the Mountain; and it is also the heart of Thorin. He values it above a river of gold. I give it to you. It will aid you in your bargaining” (Tolkien 272-273). Throughout the bargain, Bilbo sacrifices his relationship with Thorin and the other dwarves by bartering the Arkenstone to make sure the Lakemen and wood elves rightfully get their fair share of treasure found in Smaug's lair. Bilbo can be portrayed as a hero making personal sacrifices since he put the great good above his personal issues in life. Bilbo is the definition of a hero since he took action to resolve a conflict instead of being a bystander. In the long run, Bilbo Baggins may be a fictional hero, but has made personal sacrifices that the readers can relate to and deen him as a
The Hobbit shows J.R.R. Tolkien’s belief in the ancient heroic tales of the Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian epics. He asserts that a being goes through many adventures with the help of friends who believe that anything can happen. Tolkien reveals how bravery and courage make ordinary individuals succeed at ordinary tasks.
In the novel, The Hobbit, we find many themes and underlying messages from which useful knowledge and principles can be acquired. As the modern canadian fantasy writer once said, “Fantasy has the capacity to be as important and as thought-provoking as any other form of literature we have.” Tolkien’s work provides readers with challenging and time honoured themes such as: use your unique positive traits for the greater good of the group, power should never be abused and it is important to find your true self in life.
Who holds the power? Which religion is stronger? In Bless Me Ultima, a coming of age story of a young boy, the protagonist struggles with the issue of which God should be followed, worshiped, and reverenced. The theme of power in religion is portrayed throughout Anaya’s book in various ways and means such as Ultima, Mrs. Marez, the sign of the cross, and Antonio himself.
The prologue, spoken by Galadriel, shows the Dark Lord Sauron forging the One Ring in order to conquer the lands of Middle-earth. A Last Alliance of Elves and Men is formed to counter Sauron's forces at the foot of Mount Doom, but Sauron kills Elendil, the High King of Men. His son, Prince Isildur grabs Elendil's broken sword Narsil, and slashes at Sauron's hand, separating him from the Ring and vanquishing his army. However, because Sauron's "life force" is bound to the Ring, he is not completely defeated until the Ring itself is destroyed. Isildur takes the Ring and succumbs to its temptation, refusing to destroy it. He is later ambushed and killed by orcs, and the Ring is lost in a river. The Ring is found by the creature Gollum thousands of years later, who takes it underground for five centuries, giving him "unnaturally long life." Since the Ring is bound to Sauron, it has a will of its own and wants to be found. Therefore, the Ring consciously leaves Gollum in its quest to be reunited with Sauron. However, it is instead found by the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, much to the despair of Gollum. Bilbo returns to his home in the Shire with the Ring, and the story jumps forward in time sixty years.
their treasure back. Bilbo joins the quest unaware that he will encounter a magic ring, a frightening creature
The manipulation of light and dark is portrayed throughout the novella. “Yes but is like a flash of lightning in the clouds. We live in a flicker- may it last as long as the old hearth keeps rolling! But darkness was here yesterday,”(Conrad, 9) This displays the juxtaposition between light and dark and humans and their surrounding. So often humans see life in black and white but never the shaded gray. However, the might of the ego is miniscule compared to the forces that they have no control love, such as lightning. It looks beautiful however can be deadly due to the amount of light and heat it withholds. It exemplifies that beauty is only skin deep and even the most precious phenomenon’s are lethal. The darkness is within the soul, it is our ego and our ignorance. Plans are set out for