the hobbit

In J.R.R Tolkien’s novel, The Hobbit, there are major themes of bravery and transformation. The main character goes through a lot of character and personality changes. By the end of the novel the hobbit, also known as Bilbo Baggins, is almost a different person with many new characteristics.
Bilbo Baggins starts out as a round bellied little creature who is happy staying at home. Bilbo is half the size of a man and likes comfortable, peaceful life. Bilbo has two family characteristics that he has inherited. The Baggins side of his family is exactly what Bilbo likes at the beginning of the book. The Baggins are typical hobbits who like food and their hobbit holes. The other side of his family the Tooks, like adventure. The characteristics of the Tooks start to show a lot more by the end of the book.
The wizard Gandalf, goes to visit the little Hobbit in the beginning or the story and asks him if he wants to be a burglar for the dwarves on their adventure. The dwarves and going on a very long and dangerous adventure to reclaim their treasure in the Lonely Mountain that is being guarded by a powerful dragon named

Bilbo’s first task as a burglar is to investigate the light of a fire from three large trolls. Bilbo is starting to show great bravery when he decides to try to pick pocket one of the trolls but does not succeed and gets him and the dwarves into a lot of trouble that is eventually fixed partly by Gandalf and partly by the sun when the trolls are turned to stone. This gives the dwarves reasons to doubt the hobbit even more.

In the dangerous Mirkwood forest the group strays off the path and become separated. When Bilbo wakes up he finds himself bound with sticky thread and sees an enormous spider coming towards him. He cuts himself free and kills the spider. The hobbit finds the dwarves also bound like he was and he quickly cuts them free as well. This is the first significant sign of Bilbo realizing he is becoming courageous and brave. He feels like a different person and much fiercer and bolder. He gains much respect and recognition from the dwarves. Bilbo begins to take action and make plans on his own.

named Smaug. The dwarves view the hobbit as helpless and they doubt his ability to perform this job as burglar. Bilbo doesn’t like the idea of the adventure but he is persuaded and tricked into going. In this part of the story Bilbo does not show much bravery or Took characteristics.

Bilbo uses his burglary skills to locate the secret door in the mountain and remembers the riddle that opens the door. The dwarves nominate Bilbo as the official burglar to go in and snoop around the dragon’s lair. This shows that the dwarves have confidence that Bilbo can complete this task and it is Bilbo’s greatest test of bravery. Bilbo goes to his lair twice and takes a