Bilbo Baggins - Character Commander (Stephanie)

While The Hobbit is technically an adventure story, the whole book was really about Bilbo, and how he changed. It is a story about a man who found meaning in his life.

To understand how Bilbo has changed throughout the story, lets look at what Bilbo's character was like before the adventure.

• Spoiled
• Prepared
• Didn't like the unexpected
• Proud

At the begining of the book, Bilbo was a very safe Hobbit. He didn't take risks, he didn't try new things. He always wanted to be prepared for something well in advance, and didn't know how to handle unexpected situations. He was also quite proud, but we will get to that later. But even with all this, he still had enough spark in him, enough Took in him, to come along on this crazy journey which led him to become a better person. Even if it took a little push.

By the end of the book, he has gone through many changes.

•  He knows what it means to truly need something 
• Can handle unexpected situations 
• More confident in his abilities
• Humbled

He now knows the meaning of the word 'starving', and knows what it feels like to have little. He would have never experienced that if he had stayed in his well off Hobbit hole. He can improvise, and can make new plans in a moments notice. He has more abilities, and is confident at performing them.

And his pride? I said I'd get to that. He use to think he was very important, very valuable. When he went on the adventure, that kind of shattered his limited world view, and opened his eyes to true importance. Yes, he became more confident in his abilities,  but seeing Gandalf, and Thorin, and even Smaug, he was able to see that he was only a small part of a big picture. It humbled him.

"You are a very fine person, Mr. Baggins, and I am very fond of you; but you are only quite a little fellow in a wide world after all,"

"'Thank goodness,' Bilbo said laughing, and handed him the tobacco-jar."

Chloë - section 3 - Illustrator

 

    I apologies for the last minute posts. You see, my computer exploded and killed my entire family so I am writing this on a computer I stole from the orphanage I am now staying at. Anyways...
       I drew the brave little barrel rider as the centre of the front of the pictures facing the mighty dragon holding sting tightly in his hand.the gold is glowing and detailed to show how Bilbo is entranced by it. Smaug has sharp pointed scales to show how clever and unforgiving he is. His eye glow gold as the book says he is in fact a gold and red dragon. Also it symbolizes Smaug's love of his gold.








(no computers were stolen and no family was harmed in the making of this blog)

Chloe - Section 4 - Mood Maven

           "He looked up as Bilbo came beside him. Farewell, good thief, he said. I go now to the halls of waiting to sit beside my fathers, until the world is renewed. Since I leave now all gold and silver, and go where it is of little worth, I wish to part in friendship from you, and I would take back my words and deeds at the Gate. Bilbo knelt on one knee filled with sorrow. Farewell, King under the Mountain!" 

            I read those horribly bitter sweet word with tears welling up in my eyes and peep half way into my mouth. My dad walking into the room seeing the sniffling, peep-eating, mess of a girl. "farewell" is such a  sweet way of saying goodbye. Perfect for saying goodbye after a long journey. 
"This is a bitter adventure, if it must end so; and not a mountain of gold can amend it. Yet I am glad that I have shared  in your perils—that has been more than any Baggins deserves.” 
         


          Bilbo is really saddened by his friend dying and he even goes on to cry.  Bilbo is usually so light hearten and so when he cries it's just so tragic. He is so tired after a long adventure he really just wants to be a Baggins and the Took side of him is wearing away. And though his is happy to be going home he is sad about saying goodbye to his good dwarf friends.

Section 4 Connector Jaedhen

In section 4, I find myself relating to Bilbo, mainly because in tough situations he can make decisions that is beneficial to the group, even though I may not make decisions nearly on the same scale. I can also relate to Bilbo because he usually has a separate set of morals than the rest of the group, as he thought it was a good idea to bring the Arkenstone to Bard when the dwarfs wanted it for the group.

On the other side of things, I can relate to Thorin as he has some sense of greed, as he was about to kill Bilbo for giving away the Arkenstone. Although, I act on what's morally right, and Thorin acts on his emotions. And like Thorin, I also use my name to justify my actions, even though it may be a joke. One example of this is whenever one of my relatives on my mom's side makes jokes about my actions, such as gaming or the way I joke around with my cousins or friends, I say, "It's just because I'm a Fajardo kid."

The Arkenstone

When I was younger, we used to trade Pokémon cards, and I had a rare card that everyone else wanted. This lead to everyone making offers for my card, doing favours, giving me parts of their lunch that they were willing to give up to me, just for a chance at my card. This is similar Bilbo and the dwarfs having the Arkenstone when everyone else wanted it.

Another situation I can relate to in the story is Bilbo giving bard the Arkenstone. I can relate to this because Bilbo did what he believed was right, and didn't let anybody's opinions stop him. There have been multiple times where I did things the way I thought they should be done, regardless of others opinions, and have lead to horrible situations, but have also lead to great situations,

Section 3 Mood Maven Jaedhen

"The day grew lighter and warmer as they floated along. After a while the river rounded a steep shoulder of land that came down upon their left." -Page 176 These two sentences allows J. R. R. Tolkien to describe the land while the characters aren't doing anything important, in this case, floating down the river. This settles the mood a little because he is describing the scenery and not the plot.

Thorin II Oakenshield

"Thorin son of Thrain son of Thror King under the mountain! said the dwarf in a loud voice" -Page 182 The author uses Thorin's voice as a tone of authority, which allows the reader to see Thorin as confident in the situation. The author also uses  Thorin's ancestry as a way of Thorin asserting dominance, claiming he's an ancestor of someone great which allows for a more, "noble" feeling to the story at this point.

"In two days going they rowed right up the Long Lake and passed out into the River Running, and now they could all see the Lonely Mountain towering grim and tall before them." -Page 188 J. R. R. Tolkien describes the Lonely Mountain as, "towering" which allows contrast between the characters and the setting, as the mountain is large and menacing compared to Bilbo and the dwarfs. When there is a large difference between the characters and the setting, it shows just how large the problem laying ahead is. 

"Well, well! It cannot be helped, and it is difficult not to slip in talking to a dragon, or so I've  always heard. said Balin" -Page 213 This sentence creates a somewhat contradictory mood, as Balin seems to be feeling well, while trying to comfort Bilbo who isn't doing as well. This leaves the mood up to interpretation as it could be looked at as a somewhat happy situation, but also as a gloomy situation. 

"In the meanwhile, the dwarfs sat in darkness, and utter silence fell about them." The author describes the scenery at this point, as well as the dwarfs actions. The darkness is being used to create a negative atmosphere for the reader, and the dwarfs not communicating to emphasize it.