1. The Hobbit – Notes on Pages 201-220
We now enter into the final third of the novel.

2. Previously on The Walking Hobbits
Bilbo and the dwarves escaped the wood-elf dungeons and left Mirkwood far behind, finding their way in cramped empty barrels to the village of Lake Town.
Therein, Thorin and company have narrowly escaped being handed back to the wood-elves thanks to their popularity with the locals – and the legend that the King Under the Mountain would return one day, free them of Smaug, and of course, bring forth a river of gold.

3. Page (End of Chapter)
“There is no knowing what a dwarf will not dare and do for revenge or the recovery of his own.”
Here, we see the old vices of Beowulf and the Viking clans played out in the dwarves – vengeance and greed.
How well did that work for the Viking clans? What does this foreshadow for the dwarves?

4. Page 202 (Start of Chapter)
“On the Doorstep”
For three days, Bilbo and the dwarves row out across the lake and river to the foot of the mountain.
Men from Lake Town bring ponies, supplies, etc.
What will they not do? Why?

5. Page 203
“None of the men of the town would stay with them even for the night so near the shadow of the Mountain.”
Notice how finally being there, so near to it, changes Thorin and company, as well:
“There was no laughter or song or sound of harps, and the pride and the hoeps which had stirred in their hearts at the singing of old songs by the lake died away to a plodding gloom.”
The always musical dwarves have no more songs. The terrible task ahead of them, the mountain, etc, are all too real, now that they’re there.

6. Page 204
From Ravenhill, the company gets a good view of the ruins of Dale.
What was Dale?
Notice that the mountain, its tunnels and the surrounding lands are barren, dead. Though not originally intended so, this place is a tomb.
What other dragon-guarded treasure-filled mound have we seen in our readings?
We’ve come full circle. Literature and history seem to do that.

7. Page 205 And so the dwarves search and scour the mountain side.
What are they searching for?

8. Page 206
What makes the door rather difficult to make out (and many dwarven doors in general)?
In time, they slowly move all of their stuff up toward the secret door and make camp.

9. Page 207
They try various things, but still the door will not open.

10. Page 208 What does Bilbo do while he waits. Sitting and thinking?
Watching grass grow?
Paint dry?
Snails?

11. Page 209 What do the dwarves begin to consider having Bilbo do?
Notice that these rather capable, noble, fierce dwarves are coming to depend more and more on little Bilbo for the hardest tasks, just as they did Gandalf the wizard.

12. Page
The boredom is interrupted by a bird cracking snails on a rock.
Hmm…anyone remember what those Moon Runes said, again?
“Suddenly Bilbo understood.”
Bilbo explained to the dwarves, who waited, hopeful yet doubtful once again.
“When their hope was lowest a red ray of the sun escaped like a finger through a rent in the cloud.”
Very symbolic, light in the darkness, hope when all is lost, etc.
How does this light give them a literal cause to hope?

13. Page (End of Chapter)
Stand by the grey stone where the thrush knocks, and the last light of Durin’s Day will shine upon the key hole.
It does, they turn the key, and we get this wonderfully ominous quote amidst the hope and suspsense:
“It seemed as if darkness flowed out like a vapor from the hole in the mountain-side, and deep darkness in which nothing could be seen before their eyes, a yawning mouth leading in and down.”
A great mouth welcoming them in. A great darkness waiting to consume them. A descent down into the earth. Like the epics of old, we have a figurative descent into an underworld. A place of death (though not a literal grave mound), complete with a dragon to guard it.

14. Page 212 (Start of Chapter)
“Inside Information”
“Now is the time for our esteemed Mr Baggins, who has proved himself a good companion on our long road, and a hobbit full of courage and resource far exceeding his size, and if I may say so possessed of good luck far exceeding the usual allowance—now is the time for him to perform the service for which he was included in our Company; now is the time for him to earn his Reward.” – Thorin.
Would they have ever made this far without Bilbo?
Would they have escaped the spiders?
The wood elves?
Found the door at all?
Now, again, it’s his job to solve their problems?

15. Page 213
Despite all that, the dwarves are true on one point – despite their greed / love of gold, “they intended to pay Bilbo really handsomely for his services” – and for dwarves, that’s saying a lot.
More direct characterization:
“Dwarves are not heroes, but calculating folk with a great idea of the value of money.”
And so, the dwarves saw Bilbo off, down the tunnel, and into the depths of darkness.

16. Page 214
Notice the mixed feelings – a different kind of bravery from the type we might see in Beowulf or Gawain:
“He was trembling with fear, but his little face was set and grim.”
Notice also, how different he is from where he started:
“Already he was a very different hobbit from the one that had run out without a pocket handkerchief…he had not had [one] for ages.”
Note how the author is talking about handkerchiefs, but is saying a lot more than yay, Bilbo doesn’t care about kleenex. What else has he been doing without?
How this small thing, the handkerchief, represent all that?

17. Page 215
“It was at this point that Bilbo stopped. Going on from there was the bravest thing he ever did.”
Bilbo goes forward, enters the great chamber, and meets Smaug.
“There he lay, a vast red- golden dragon, fast asleep.”
Bilbo stands in awe of both the dragon and the treasure.

18. Page 216
What does Bilbo take from the treasure hoard, while the dragon sleeps?
“The dragon did not wake—not yet— but shifted into other dreams of greed and violence.”
The very things epics’ dragons embody, carried on here into modern fantasy.
“More like a grocer than a burglar indeed! Well, we’ll hear no more of that!”
Note Bilbo reminds us (and the author reminds us) of this quote from Bag End to underline how much Bilbo (and his reputation) have changed.
As a side note…what did the thief in Beowulf steal from the dragon’s barrow?

19. Page 217 And now, the dragon stirs. The mountain shakes.
The dwarves outside tremble.
“It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations.”
How have the dwarves plodded along through this book, doing exactly that?
“Dragons may not have much real use for all their wealth, but they know it to an ounce as a rule, especially after long possession; and Smaug was no exception.”
Note the height and depth of greed – endless fortune, no use for it whatsoever, yet ready to kill for the loss of a single coin.
“Thieves! Fire! Murder! Such a thing had not happened since he first came to the Mountain! His rage passes description.”

20. Page 218-219 Bilbo runs out to warn the others.
Hastily, they all make their way into the tunnel of the secret door to hide, hauling up the two dwarves left at camp by rope.
The dragon angrily torches the outside, and Bilbo and the dwarves stay safe within (but without a means of escape).

21. Page 220
The dwarves, as usual, are both grateful and grumbling at Bilbo’s efforts.
“’What else do you suppose a bruglar is to do?’ asked Bilbo angrily. ‘I was not engaged to kill dragons, that is warrior’s work, but to steal treasure.’”
Do note the title – burglar. Technically, Bilbo did as he was asked.
What will happen next?
Read for tomorrow.