Preview

The Hobbit: Greed Thesis Statement

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2039 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Hobbit: Greed Thesis Statement
Victor Quijano
Elizabeth DiGennaro
English IV
Monday, April 23, 2012
The Truth about The Hobbit
The world we live in is full of heroes that are different shapes and sizes that people don't remember who they are a month after they do something. The story The Hobbit may make you think of a half sized person as an no everyday hero, but his actions will touch your heart and make you think that it's really possible to change the world around you no matter what size you are. The half sized person in this story by J.R.R. Tolkien is named Bilbo and his race is known as hobbits. In his distant homeland called the Shire, he was summoned by a wizard named Gandalf who requested he join them on a quest for treasure. This quest was probably the first time someone from his village had ventured out into the far reaches of the land. As you may know not all adventures take place with just one person and that was the not the case in Tolkien’s adventurous tale. Bilbo was to be accompanied by 14 dwarves including their leader Thorin and he was warned by Gandalf, "This adventure will change your life". The story grabbed a hold of situations that involved heroism, greed, metamorphosis, and Tolkien’s perfect example of how war has affected the world we live in today. Tolkien's The Hobbit proves someone can succeed even through adversity and danger while showing that a hobbit is more than meets the eye.
In his journey he must reach the Lonely Mountain which is a desolate place full of dangerous monsters that would test Bilbo in every way possible. Some of the monsters he would face on the journey would be man eating trolls, spiders, and goblins. These would show his growth over time to when he returns from his journey. Also, the different types of situations he will encounter moments of heroism. Later on towards the end of his journey he will have to deal with the acts of greed from others, and endure a metamorphosis into a stronger person internally and externally.
The main



Citations: Copyright 1937, 1938, 1966, 1994, 1996, 1997 Spark Notes Editors Web. 25 Apr. 2012. George Allen and Unwin, London, 1977.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    The first step in his transformation from hobbit to hero is his ability to be brave when no one else would.He faces obstacles that challenge his bravery. One test of his bravery was when he attempted to steal something from the trolls. Bilbo used his natural ability to be quiet and quick an effort to prove, he's worthy to be a burglar for dwarf his efforts contributed to his bravery or his to journey to become a hero.…

    • 195 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    By the end of this expedition, he will have changed almost everything about him and how he lives everyday life. At the beginning of the story, Bilbo was kind, but was also extremely contempt with his way of life. He wanted nothing more than to “ eat meals six times a day” (Tolkien 5). But by the end of the expedition he had learned to make it through with what he has; and to also put himself in danger for the sake of others “killing of the giant spider, all alone by himself in the dark”( Tolkien 135). By defeating the giant spider he showed to himself and others that he is willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of others. Therefore showing that the expedition in its entirety has changed him…

    • 730 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Hobbit, written by the highly acclaimed author, J.R.R. Tolkien, is a famous adventure classic enjoyed by millions of readers all around the world. The story begins with Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit creature that lives in a small village called the Shire. All his life, Bilbo has lived safely and quietly within his small village, not familiar with much adventure. However, once a wizard arrives at Bilbo’s doorstep inviting him to embark on an expedition to reclaim a dwarf kingdom, the hobbit’s life is changed forever. Throughout the story, Bilbo, accompanied by 13 dwarves, is overcome with a massive amount of trials, from a forest full of giant spiders, to discovering a ring which makes him invisible, to defeating a massive, fire breathing…

    • 156 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the book, “The Hobbit”, by J.R.R. Tolkien, there are many ways the author shows how the character, Bilbo, influences the story. Bilbo is very clever and intelligent. He always saves the dwarves from trouble. His risk-taking personality helped him become one of the most important characters in the story.…

    • 535 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    This is the first important decision of independence and turning point between the ordinary world and the strange world. He leaves the safe realm and ventures into an unknown and risky world where he doesn’t know the rules and limits. Also, the heroes start to encounter the constant threat of death. The heroes quickly learn the new rules, endurance and strength. The inherent personifications of the hero aid him and guide his journey until he arrives to the ‘threshold guardian’ at the entrance of the darkness zone. Campbell said “With the personifications of his destiny to guide and aid him, the hero goes forward in his adventure until he comes to the ‘threshold guardian’ at the entrance to the zone of magnified power” (Campbell 64). In the Hobbit, the group of hobbits travels into the wild. Bilbo encounters Trolls who are usually keen to eating the dwarfs when they prepare their dinner. Trolls try to kill them and Bilbo tries to escape from the Troll while they are looking away. However, the Trolls become aware of the escaping Hobbits and they capture them again. At that time, Gandalf saves the company from the Trolls and leads them to Rivendell, where Elrond reveals more secret from the…

    • 1493 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Bilbo's Journey

    • 290 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Bilbo was a quiet, simple hobbit. He always wanted to stay in his little hobbit hole, until one day. Throughout his journey, bilbo loses this idea more and more. He instead starts to enjoy the life of adventure, and he develops as a character. Bilbo is forever changed by his journey.…

    • 290 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the beginning Bilbo is timid, comfortable, and complacent in his secure little hole at Bag End. When Gandalf talks him into embarking on the quest with Thorin’s dwarves, Bilbo becomes so frightened that he faints. As the novel continues Bilbo triumphs over dangers and adversaries, realizing he had courage and strength within him the whole time. Bilbo overcomes many challenges like Confronting the trolls, escaping with Gollum’s ring, slaying the spider, rescuing the dwarves in Mirkwood, and speaking face-to-face with the great dragon Smaug, all of this is proving he is a true hero. Bilbo realizing that he is indeed a hero is a main theme of The…

    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Bilbo first started the journey with regret and wonder about why he joined the dwarves on this tough journey. “He wished again and again for his nice bright Hobbit Hole. Not for the last time”(56). With the help of others, Bilbo quickly caught on with how to lead. Soon enough Bilbo was showing great…

    • 985 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Bilbo was like any normal hobbit. He always followed a routine such as a meal in the morning ,then his daily smoke, another meal, cleaning up, once again another meal, and finally it would be time for bed. But one event of which he did something that he blamed the tookish side of him but in reality he actually wanted to go on this adventure.…

    • 736 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In support of this, in the novel, it states how Bilbo kept a secret from Thorin of the Arkenstone he had stolen. He sneakily traded with Bard, knowing that Thorin was not a fan of sharing gold, which Bilbo felt that him and the dwarves deserved. He did not know the Battle of Five Armies would become a result of his sly moves (Tolkien). This highlights how Bilbo made a sacrifice and put his friendship on the line with this betrayal and lie. Bilbo develops as a hero because he believes of the greater good and depends on his own morals, trying his best to avoid conflict. This time, instead of relying on his usual group, like he would have, he ignores the view of others and stands up for himself and his morals. Middle Earth was impacted by his actions since Bilbo now uses his traits of being a burglar in hand and changes himself with strategies. Overall, Baggins was in a difficult position, but the way he was able to escape shows how he has improved from old,scared, Hobbit-Hole Bilbo to a one of a kind…

    • 1076 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Bilbo was one you would never expect to do anything unexpected. He was well respected and renowned in the land of the Shire, being one who scoffed and crinkled his nose at the thought of adventure. But once tangled into the fate of a wizard, one named Gandalf the Grey, and a company of dwarves, Bilbo’s opinion changed within the span of a single night. But he does more than that, he transforms into a hero.…

    • 861 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hobbit Essay

    • 1486 Words
    • 6 Pages

    “Soon the goblins had a ring of smoke and flame all round the dwarves, a ring which they kept from spreading outwards; but it closed slowly until the running fire was licking the fuel piled under the trees. Smoke was in Bilbo’s eyes, he could feel the heat of the flames( even though he was so high up in the trees); and through the reek he could see the goblins dancing round and round in a circle like people round a midsummer bonfire. Outside the ring of dancing warriors stood the wolves at a respectful distance watching and waiting to devour the first person that dropped dead out of the treetops. Bilbo could hear the goblins beginning a horrible song, and with that the flames were under Gandalf the wizards tree. In a moment it caught the others and went up like a rocket, when it was just beneath Bilbo’s, he closed his eyes, ready to die when...” As it can be seen Biblo and company were in many tight spots throughout this adventure, and he could not have done it all on his own. That is where Bilbo had to use the three themes of luck, courage and good sense to overcome evil and stay alive.…

    • 1486 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hobbit Essay

    • 1105 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In ‘The Hobbit’, the classic novel by J. R. R. Tolkien, Bilbo Baggins appears to be a timid and little hobbit with an extremely unambitious lifestyle in his town, The Shire. This is until a wise wizard; named Gandalf, and a company of ambitious dwarves, show up on the doorstep of his hobbit-hole. They whisk poor Bilbo on a journey that develops Bilbo’s qualities as he becomes wiser and more courageous. This essay will demonstrate those changes, as well as what occurred along the journey to make these changes happen.…

    • 1105 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Bilbo Heroism

    • 1058 Words
    • 5 Pages

    His decisions, personality, and sense of morality makes him the hero he is without being the stereotypical warrior. Bilbo is a small hobbit with a huge heart, who changes the world differently than any other hero. He chooses the life of a savior rather than a warrior. He doesn't fight his battles through sheer strength. He shows compassion, innocence, and ethics in developing into the unique hero that Tolkien intended. Bilbo represents a hero that will ultimately contribute in shaping an ideal and peaceful world in a lighthearted and caring…

    • 1058 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Hobbit.

    • 1022 Words
    • 5 Pages

    “Bilbo’s understated charisma is a quality common to many protagonists in children’s literature. Another quality he shares with many heroes of children’s literature is his small size: as a hobbit, Bilbo is only half the size of a man. At the beginning of the novel, Bilbo is, like most hobbits, comfortable and complacent. He loves food, drink, and security, and he relishes his snug little hole at Bag End, Underhill. But as Gandalf says, there is more to Bilbo than meets the eye. Bilbo is a Baggins, the heir of a thoroughly respectable and conventional family, but his mother was a Took, an eccentric clan of hobbits noted for their love of excitement and adventure.” (SparkNotes, Analysis of Major Characters)…

    • 1022 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays

Related Topics