Victories and Defeats The Hobbit Pages 186-237

Losing Steam Through juxtaposition and pathetic fallacy, Tolkien makes the point that the elements and the Mountain are sapping the party of energy and enthusiasm. The persistent dreary imagery driven by figurative language and motifs of light and dark also works to enhance the themes of nature combatting evil as much as it can.

The Birds are Spies? On page 189, Balin mentions that the birds look like evil spies. If they are evil spies, this may foreshadow their activity in causing trouble. If they are not evil spies, then this is certainly an instance of Balin falling victim to pathetic fallacy.

For your consideration What kind of rhetoric does Balin use on page 189 to convince Bilbo that the smoke coming out of the entrance does not necessarily mean that Smaug is still alive and inside the mountain?

The Quest Tolkien juxtaposes the physical journey with the overall quest on the bottom of page 189 as a reminder that the quest involves a search for a thing to acquire, not merely find. Success is still a fair way away. Also, however, it is true that quests often involve finding knowledge or understanding that goes beyond the value of that which was originally sought. Bear that in mind.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes Bilbo started this journey as almost literal baggage to be dragged through to the conclusion. However, on the bottom of page 189, it is clear that his spirit and personality drive the dwarves forward and keep them going. He is an exemplar of the theme that people are capable of growth, often defying their own and others’ expectations.

Go Figure It is clearly too much of a coincidence that they have, again, found exactly what they needed exactly when they needed it.

For your consideration Bilbo is said by Thorin to have “courage and resource far exceeding his size.” (195) What kind of irony is Tolkien utilizing in this character of Bilbo? Is Thorin right? Or is Bilbo just very lucky or fated to do well?

Sign of Growth At the beginning of the story, Bilbo is unable to break away from social norms to tell the dwarves and Gandalf how he really feels. At the bottom of page 195, he contrasts Thorin’s very formal tone with a facetious tone mocking that formality, yet still showing courage to do what he must. Tolkien’s tone toward this honesty and lack of formality is clearly positive, as evidenced by his characterization of Beorn and Gandalf.

Man vs. Himself “He was trembling with fear, but his little face was set and grim.” (196) This juxtaposition shows that Bilbo has to battle himself to do the things he does. This may be the biggest battle he has to fight. “He fought the real battle in the tunnel alone, before he ever saw the vast danger that lay in wait. (197)

For your consideration What are some of the ways that Tolkien is able to characterize good and evil in contrasting ways in the episode during which Bilbo makes his descent into the dragon’s lair?

“Thieves! Fire! Murder!” How is Smaug’s reaction to the cup being missing an example of situational irony?

Whoa, whoa, whoa Bilbo uses a logos-based argument laced with hyperbole and understatement to defend his actions to the dwarves. (202)

Taking the edge off The scene when Bilbo goes back to face the dragon is somewhat scary, but Tolkien uses alliteration (“dead and dark”), rhyme (“air...spare”), paradox (“nice manners for a thief and a liar”), and riddles with epithets (“the web-cutter, the stinging fly”) to make the tension acceptable for a young audience.

For your consideration “I suppose you got a fair price for that cup last night?” (206) What literary technique is this? What is Smaug trying to do by asking this? How is the fact that Smaug anticipates this effect a way for Tolkien to indirectly characterize Smaug?

Pride How does Bilbo use Smaug’s pride against him? How does Bilbo’s pride almost come back to haunt him?

Verisimilitude King Bladorthin? Girion, Lord of Dale? Thror? What is the point of making all these references to these people connected to the hoard on page 212?

Smaug’s End Tolkien relies on flashback to tell the story of the death of Smaug. The intelligence of Bard allows the Lake-Town men to be prepared enough to fight, and they use nature (water) as the only natural defense against the evil and fire of Smaug. Bard is able to focus on the present and not long after the wealth of the past, a running theme for Tolkien.

Bard the Bowman A bard is a courtly singer Tolkien’s love for the written and spoken word means that he must have a positive tone towards Bard. How does bard compare as a leader and hero to other leaders and heroes in the story?