The Hobbit – Notes on Pages 161-180

Previously on All My Hobbits Bilbo and the dwarves travelled through the forests of Mirkwood, only to run out of food and water, feel the drowsy effects of the water, and lose their way from the path. To top it all off, massive spiders have captured the starving dwarves, with only Bilbo left to save them.

Page 161-163 Bilbo continued to do battle with the spiders. Between his elven blade, Sting, and his ring of invisibility, he definitely holds his own. Little by little, he rescued the dwarves and gained their assistance, though they were still rather sluggish from the poison.

Page 164 What does Bilbo finally reveal to the dwarves? His social security number? His favorite color? His password, including numbers and special characters? Nope. The power of the ring. In a last ditch effort, he fends off the spiders while the dwarves make a run for it, toward the last place they saw the elf fires.

Page 165 And so Bilbo handed the spider’s butts to them: “They had become mortally afraid of Sting.” Eventually, Bilbo caught up with the dwarves and filled them in on the whole story of his exploits in the Misty Mountain caves, ring and all.

Page 166 Eventually, they came back to pondering their current predicament; however, with new found respect for Bilbo. Do note this – if Gandalf had never made himself absent, would there ever have been room for Bilbo to prove himself? Wouldn’t there always be temptation to rely on a wizard when one is around? i.e. No room for growth. Has kind of a “coming of age” flair to it, this situation – like leaving home to become one’s own adult, prove one’s self in life, etc.

Page 167 Who were the feasting elves in the forest, specifically? Let’s read how Tolkien characterizes Wood Elves (and other varieties) in the passage on 167. How do they treat the Thorin they encounter each other?

Page 168 The wood elves guide Thorin through the beautiful and majestic halls of their kingdom…to its dungeons. As it turns out, wood elves are very distrustful of strangers. Seems to be a trend beyond Elrond’s last homely house. Dangerous lands seem to breed that attitude.

Page 169-170 (End of Chapter) When Elvenking (referred to in later works as Thranduil) interrogates Thorin, what does he say? Notice the comical / stubborn repetition in Thorin’s story. What does he not say? Why? What does his secret-keeping get him? How is being a prisoner of elves compared to being prisoner to say, goblins or other creatures?

Page 171 (Start of Chapter) “Barrels out of Bond” Soon enough, the remainder of the dwarven company is captured and taken to the Wood Elf dungeon. How does Bilbo evade capture?

Page 172 Notice the marked contrast between the two cavern realms – goblin and wood-elf – 2nd to last paragraph. The Elvenking has them unbound. Why?

Page 173 “What have we done, O king?” The dwarves plead their innocence, ask if killing spiders is a crime, if they are beloved by the Elvenking, only angering him further. What might they have done to earn mercy? Again, like Thorin, they refuse.

Page 174 Bilbo, still invisible, spends a great deal of time observing the various workings of the wood elves’ kingdom. He marks their paths, movements, routines, habits, etc. “I am like a burglar that can’t get away, but must go on miserably burgling the same house day after day.” He does not see the benefit of his position at first, yet later, it becomes invaluable.

Page 175 At this point, Thorin is worn down – ready to tell the Elvenking everything. What stops him? After much message carrying between the dwarves, Bilbo slowly orchestrates an escape plan.

Page 176 “Bilbo, however, did not feel nearly so hopeful as they did. He did not like being depended on by everyone, and he wished he had the wizard at hand.” Notice again, that if Gandalf had been here, Bilbo would miss yet another opportunity to prove himself. This would be the story of Gandalf, not of Bilbo the hobbit.

Page 176-177 Slowly, Bilbo observes the drinking habits of the elves. How do the elves get their wine? What do they do once they’re done with it?

Page 178 Soon, Bilbo executes his plan – again, blatantly hinted at in the chapter title. He waits until the elves are in a deep and wine-filled sleep, takes their keys, and frees the dwarves from their cells.

Page 179 How will Bilbo get the dwarves out of the wood elf kingdom? Notice their extremely positive feelings for him upon being freed, and the near immediate turn around when they see “how” they are to be freed. Always a moment’s breadth away from complaining.

Page 180 Soon enough, Bilbo guides the dwarves to the barrels they are ride in. As the dwarves make ready for their escape, we make ready to conclude our discussion. Read 181-200 for Monday. Note, as with last time, if you read tonight, you will not have reading homework over the weekend.