Bilbo Baggins Notes

On the subject of notes I have narrowed down my essential questions in my notes to include those which I think will be beneficial to my paper and have excluded those I no longer deem fit to use.

1) How do we define the personality traits of a hero? A hero is someone who faces and overcomes an adversity. They are not fearless; but brave by facing their fears and growing as a person. They do not need to be perfect but they strive to be the best they can be. They have positive qualities like: bravery, chivalry, kindness, selflessness, determination and honor. “Simply put, then, the key to heroism is a concern for other people in need—a concern to defend a moral cause, knowing there is a personal risk, done without expectation of reward.” ( “I'd argue it's the willingness to make a personal sacrifice for the benefit of others. If you don't find yourself having to resist a voice inside your head urging you to save yourself instead of whatever action you're contemplating, my heart, at least, will refuse to recognize your actions— however legitimately compassionate or courageous they may be—as heroic. Serving others while simultaneously serving oneself can be noble, certainly, but a special kind of nobility attaches itself to those who serve others at a cost to themselves. That's the nobility that tugs at my heart. That's the the kind of behavior I find heroic.” ( makes-hero) makes-hero

2) How do the setting, conflicts, and antagonists influence the development of a literary heroes? The setting effects how a character lives. The Shire is a respectable, quiet place to live. They do not look kindly and think decently on adventurers and those who “upset things” (The Hobbit) Conflicts can change people for the better causing them to mature or be brave (Bilbo vs. the Spiders) or they can change people for the worse (Thorin Oakenshield and his love of gold). (The Hobbit) Conflicts can show the good in people (Bilbo wanting to stop the battle between Elves and Men vs. Dwarves) and the bad (The greed of Elves, Men and Dwarves.) (The Hobbit) The antagonists can form bonds between characters (Elves, Men, and Dwarves vs. Goblins and Wargs during the Battle of Five Armies. But antagonists can also break apart a group of protagonists. Like The Fellowship in Lord of The Rings. (The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring)

3) How does a hero reflect his/her particular culture and society? Their personality, tastes, culture (clothes, food, etc.) can be effected by a hero ’ s culture or society. Bilbo Baggins in the beginning of the story is regarded as a “ well- to-do Hobbit ”, “ respectable ”, “ rich ”, “ never went on adventures or did anything unexpected ” which was considered good in The Shire. (The Hobbit) The lives of a hobbit differ from the lives of men and elves and dwarves. “Hobbits are an unobtrusive, but very ancient people, more numerous formerly than they are today; for they love peace and quiet and good tilled earth: a well-farmed countryside was their favorite haunt.” (The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring)

4) How does a hero represent his/her time period and geographical area? Bilbo lives in The Shire in a hobbit hole. (This effects how he dresses and acts) More specifically The Hill which is a large hill with many hobbit holes in it. His hobbit hole is called Bag End*see picture*( tm) (The Hobbit) tm Hobbits as a people: “They are inclined to be fat in the stomach; they dress in bright colors (chiefly green and yellow); wear no shoes…..have long clever brown fingers, good0natured faces, and laugh deep fruity laughs..) (The Hobbit) )

5) How do various cultures reward or recognize their heroes? “Memorials and vigils”, “mourning and honoring”, “remembered and honored” ( reward-our-heroes/) reward-our-heroes/ Bilbo was rewarded with gold and riches for his services (The Hobbit)

6) What motivates my hero and why? Bilbo is motivated by his “ Tookish ” side. His mother Belladonna Took lived across The Water (a different part of The Shire from The Hill) and the Took family were “not entirely hobbit-like about them, and once and in a while members of the Took-clan would go and have adventures. They discreetly disappeared, and the family hushed it up; but the fact remained that the Tooks were not as respectable as the Bagginses, though they were undoubtedly richer.” (The Hobbit) Even as a child Bilbo’s “Tookish” side expressed its self: he was curious and eager for news of the outside world (

10) What are his main characteristics? “Bilbo was a very friendly and well mannered hobbit” ( He had two different sides to him his “Took” side and his Baggins” side which were often at war with one another. (The Hobbit) This caused him to desire adventure but still be timid and afraid causing him to remain settled (The Hobbit) He became braver as the story progressed and the “Took” side ended up winning him over even into old age (The Hobbit)

11) Does he have any flaws or short comings? How do they affect the story? He is very timid in the beginning of the story but also wants to prove himself to his companions and takes risks because of that (The Hobbit) this causes him to get captured and held prisoner on several occasions. He really starts to change after he kills a Spider by himself in the forest Mirkwood (The Hobbit) His “Tookish” side ends up winning him over in the end giving him a thirst for adventure ( which makes him brave and more daring helping him stop a war between the dwarves, elves and men. (The Hobbit)

13) What does he gain from the journey? And how does he change over the story? Bilbo gain materialistic objects Sting his sword, riches from the treasure trove of the dwarves and The Ring (The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings) He also gain a thirst for adventure (which never quiet left him) and a change of perspective (The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings) He also loss some things like some of the neighbors respect and he was though of as odd (The Hobbit) but he was generous with his money and to people so they were willing to forgive his oddities (

17) Did he go willingly on the journey or was he coerced into going? If he was coerced: by whom and why? He agreed reluctantly ( but it took convincing from Gandalf and a hurt pride to make him agree. (The Hobbit) His “Tookish” side had to get the better of him over his “Baggins” side for him to agree to go (The Hobbit) He was often at war with his to sides (his adventurous “Tookish” side and his mild and peaceful “Baggins” sidehttp://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Bilbo_Baggins