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The Hobbit (Pages 1-30)

2. Note on the Note
Publication dates of first and second editions straddle WWII.
Focus shifted onto the Ring as corrupting influence of power.

3. Verisimilitude Illusion of depth, as if there is history
Accomplished best through hints of legend and myth
Same world as ours
This is a new version of history explaining various things

4. Philology Love of language Specificity adds to sense of reality
Always focus on spelling and the like as windows to meaning
Dwarves connected to Aule, god of making
Born of disobedience
Leads to love of material objects

5. Exposition and Characterization
Exposition- Beginning of story when authors give background information about characters and setting
Characterization- Revealing of characters’ personalities

6. Mood, Tone, and Diction
Authors use diction (word choice) to set a tone and establish a mood among the audience

7. For your consideration
Based only on the first page of text, how does Tolkien communicate information concerning the physical characteristics and personality traits of most hobbits?

8. Foreshadowing
Tolkien tells readers that this will be a tale of growth for Bilbo (bildungsroman)

9. Imagery
Imagery is language that helps readers form a picture in their minds
Tolkien uses it in his establishment of setting and in his initial characterization of Bilbo

10. The Past and the Present
Bloodlines of characters play a big role in determining their actions
Tolkien has Bilbo with conflicting bloodlines with respect to adventurousness

11. Nature and Hobbits
Tolkien carefully associates hobbits with many aspects of the natural world
Assists in his characterization

12. For your consideration
Why might Tolkien focus so much on associating hobbits with nature?
How does this end up revealing his tone toward hobbits?
What do we know about Tolkien that leads us to believe these things?

13. Gandalf!
Tolkien’s use of exclamatory and short sentence translates excitement about Gandalf.

14. Characterization Tech
Motifs- Repeated symbols in literature
Example: Gandalf as old man with staff
Juxtaposition- Side-by-side contrast, revealing more info
Example: Different takes on, “Good morning.”
Stereotype- Specific assumption based on general idea
Example: Bilbo saying they might be more interested in adventures “over The Hill or across The Water.”

15. Names
For Tolkien, names are keys to characters’ essences and always have meaning
Example: Gandalf’s explanation of his name
Example: Bilbo = Rapier = Sword
Example: Smaug = Smog = Smoke = Industry = Destruction = Evil

16. For your consideration
Why does Bilbo seem to have contradictory ideas about adventures?

17. Rhetoric Rhetoric- Methods of argumentation Ethos- Appeal to character
Pathos- Appeal to emotion
Logos- Appeal to logic

18. Here we are now; entertain us
Tolkien varies his approach in terms of language to keep the story entertaining
Onomatopoeia- Words that represent sounds
Alliteration- String of words with the same beginning sounds
Rhyme- String of words with the same ending sounds

19. For your consideration
What is the purpose of the poetic break for song when the dwarves begin to eat with Bilbo?
How about the break when they sing about their journey?
How does figurative language play a part in helping readers understand the importance of certain aspects of the text?

20. Light vs. Dark
Tolkien and other authors rely on light as a motif of good and darkness as a motif of evil.
When Bilbo feels threatened, he wants a lamp.

21. Slapstick Slapstick- Physical and silly comedy
Tolkien and others use this for characterization and to lighten the mood

22. For your consideration
How would you describe the diction styles of Tolkien (the narrator), Thorin, Gandalf, and Bilbo?
What do you think Tolkien is trying to communicate with these contrasts?

23. Expectations vs. Reality
Important theme for Tolkien is that people’s expectations often do not match what actually occurs
Especially important in Bilbo’s growth as a character

24. Themes Money and greed→ Poor consequences
Friendship and generosity→ Good consequences
The past cannot be recovered
Those who cannot let it go are doomed to suffer

25. Creation vs. Destruction
Good has the ability to create
Example: Dwarves
Evil only has the ability/desire to destroy
Example: Smaug

26. Luck, Fate, and Choice
Many characters will often ascribe certain results to luck or choice
Fate is the hidden hand that is moving things along
Example: Thorin’s escape from Smaug

27. For your consideration
Why does it make sense that Tolkien might believe fate is moving people along in a particular, mostly positive, direction?

28. Malapropism
Malapropism- Play on words that results from words becoming jumbled in readers’/speakers’ minds
Example: Hear, hear→ Hear what?

29. POV / Perspective Shift
Point of view / perspective- Place of narrator in story
Tolkien shifts to second person to talk directly to readers
Characters shift perspectives for various purposes, as well

30. Style An author’s style is what makes them unique
This comes from their choice of words and topics
Some authors’ styles are more unique than others’