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Bilbo's Journey

            Heroes come in all shapes and sizes and have many different and even special qualities. There are types of heroes among these that have different natures. Of course, the characteristics of all heroes tend to be similar no matter which one is scrutinized. Heroism itself has different meanings in regard to the individual hero being examined. Joseph Campbell has taken a look at the heroes chosen by the western world, and he has identified a certain pattern. This pattern can be identified through the Campbellian hero. The proper place to look at the pattern of the Campbellian hero is in Joseph Campbell's book The Hero with a Thousand Faces. His book identifies common traits used to describe most of the western world's heroes. Of course, to read Bilbo Baggins's story in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit one might conclude that Campbell was reading his story word for word as he wrote his book. Bilbo is a most unsuspecting hero from the beginning because most hobbits are homebodies. However, Bilbo has a "Tookish side", which seems to take over his somewhat subdued manner (Tolkien 3). The novel The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tokien follows Joseph Campbell's depiction of a hero as written in his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces from Bilbo's initial refusal to go on the adventure to his final gift to the dwarves.
             The beginning of The Hobbit reads as it should according to the pattern of the Campbellian hero. Bilbo is "called to adventure" by Gandalf and of course gives his initial refusal (Campbell 36). For Bilbo the mere thought of going on an adventure is against everything he believes in and of course everything he has ever been taught. All hobbits are of a homely nature Bilbo is no exception to this rule. When Gandalf first chooses Bilbo he really does not even tell him, he only places a mark on Bilbo's door for the dwarves to see. As the dwarves begin to appear on Bilbo's doorstep he is very puzzled by what they could possibly want.


Essays Related to Bilbo's Journey

1. The Role of Food in The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

... passage shows is how unbelievably difficult it is for Bilbo to break away from his typically structured routine, and embark on such a dangerous and uncertain journey. When Bilbo feels nervous or threatened, like in this situation, his first thought is to think back to food. It provides a sense of ... to fade. Instead, he begins to truly care for the wellbeing of his companions and ultimately continues his development as an adventurer. As their journey continues, there are a tremendous number of situations where characters give the protagonists something to eat as well as situations wher...

  • Word Count: 1522
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

2. The Hobbit

... wizard named Gandalf the Grey. They set off from the sleepy town of the Shire, where Bilbo is from, to embark on a surprising journey to the Lonely Mountains. Their journey takes them to the Hall of Elrond, Rivendell, which is home to the noble elf Elrond. They escape through caves of the goblins in ... (changes into a bear although he is human), and through the dangerous forests of Mirkwood where they meet the Elven King Thranduil. Their last leg of their journey, takes them through Lake Town, where they meet Bard, a human, then the Lonely Mountains. Their main quest is to get the treas...

  • Word Count: 4002
  • Approx Pages: 16
  • Grade Level: High School

3. the lord of the rings

... not disappointed. In the start of this book two Hobbits named Bilbo Baggins and his heir Frodo Baggins are comfortably living in a town called Hobbiton located in the shire. It's Bilbos one hundred and eleventh birthday and he's throwing a big party for all to come. Everybody in the whole Shire knows about the party so Bilbo has planned a special surprise. He ... it. These riders were once kings driven by greed and given rings that changed then for ever. Now they are controlled by the dark lord himself. Further on in there journey they were to go through a forest to save a great deal of...

  • Word Count: 1079
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

4. The Hobbit

Bilbos occupation, at the beginning, was working on his garden and tea parties with friends, and during the book, he was a burglar for Thorin and Company. "Bilbo invited Gandalf over for ... . Tolkien was telling the reader that Bilbo loved having tea because that was the kind of hobbit he was, laid back and enjoyed life. "Bilbo knew his role on this journey was to be the burglar of the bunch." Tolkien was giving a hint to the reader that it took Bilbo sometime to get enough courage in him to pick pocket one ... ...

  • Word Count: 338
  • Approx Pages: 1
  • Grade Level: High School

5. The Hobbit

Bilbos occupation, at the beginning, was working on his garden and tea parties with friends, and during the book, he was a burglar for Thorin and Company. "Bilbo invited Gandalf over for ... . Tolkien was telling the reader that Bilbo loved having tea because that was the kind of hobbit he was, laid back and enjoyed life. "Bilbo knew his role on this journey was to be the burglar of the bunch." Tolkien was giving a hint to the reader that it took Bilbo sometime to get enough courage in him to pick pocket one ... ...

  • Word Count: 333
  • Approx Pages: 1
  • Grade Level: High School

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