The Hobbit: A Hero's Journey

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A magical world of elves, dwarves, dragons and hobbits, The Hobbit is a wonderful book filled with great literary devices. Written by J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit tells of a fantasy tale revolving around a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins. It also contains the stages and acts of ‘A Hero's Journey’, a paradigm of the experience of a protagonist, or the hero. Bilbo goes on quest and encounters many stages within it. The top most examples of these stages are ‘Refusal of the Call’, ‘Ordeal, Death, and Rebirth’, and ‘Return with Elixir’. Bilbo was a quiet, peaceful hobbit when a wizard named Gandalf whisked him away to an adventure. Before Bilbo was forced ushered out of his house, he refused many times. This represents the stage ‘Refusal of the Call’. …show more content…
This is the stage where Bilbo will face Smaug. Both Bilbo and the readers know that this is a life-or-death crisis right away. Within the book Thorin states, “‘Nothing can escape Samug once he sees it’” (The Hobbit, Tolkien, p237). Since Thorin announced this fact the the party, Bilbo now knows for sure that his chances of living aren’t that high. Later on in the book, when Bilbo faces Smaug in the cave, Smaug does this: “Then Smaug really did although - a devastating sound which shook Bilbo to the floor, while far up in the tunnel the dwarves huddled together and imagined that the hobbit has come to a nasty end.” (The Hobbit, Tolkien, p245). When someone’s body is shaking or trembling, it means that they are most likely scared. Even if Bilbo was shaking because of the laugh, the readers cannot deny that Bilbo fears Smaug. Another instance is when Smaug figures out Bilbo’s identity and says something to make fun of Bilbo for giving it away so easily; “‘Never laugh at live dragons, Bilbo you fool!’ he said to himself, and it became a favourite saying of his later, and passed it into a proverb.” (The Hobbit, Tolkien, p246). Bilbo has survived and escaped his ‘death’ and stole the cup that he was supposed to. Ultimately, this wraps up the stage ‘Ordeal, Death, and Rebirth’, as Bilbo has finished his encounter with …show more content…
In this stage, Bilbo has been gifted, sheltered, and taken care of before returning to his home. The book describes his reward as a great treasure; “Even a fourteenth share was wealth exceedingly great, greater than that of many mortal kings.” (The Hobbit, Tolkien, p315). Bilbo gains the worthy payment for his deeds, as the stage states he should. Yet Bilbo does not take alll of hte treaure, instead only taking 2 small chests and leaving the rest to BArd: “‘And I don’t know what I should have done with it when I got home. I'm sure it is better in your hands.’” (The Hobbit, Tolkien, p316). Bilbo leaves most of the reward, which can be seen as the last part of ‘Return with Elixir’, which is ‘healing the wounded land with the hero’s elixir’. Furthermore, in the very last pages, Bilbo welcomes in Balin to his home: “‘Come in! Come in!’ said Bilbo, and soon they were settled in chairs by the fire.” (The Hobbit, Tolkien, p328). This sums up the book. The readers see that the land is peaceful again, and the characters even have the time and bonded enough that they have tea
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