I would characterize Bilbo as timid at first, but growing in confidence through the novel. He does retain some of his timidity (or is it merely caution?) throughout the book. That is part of his charm.

I have no doubt that Bilbo will grow and evolve a bit as a character. Lol. I'm just used to Bilbo in LOTR. This is my first time meeting the Bilbo of The Hobbit.

Are you thinking of Frodo, Olivia? I don't think Bilbo is a major character in LOTR, is he?

No he's not. He's talked about a lot and he pops up every now and then. They just make him seem more heroic in LOTR... then again we're also, I feel, seeing Bilbo through Frodo's eyes in LOTR. So it could be a biased view point.

Olivia22 wrote:I have no doubt that Bilbo will grow and evolve a bit as a character. Lol. I'm just used to Bilbo in LOTR. This is my first time meeting the Bilbo of The Hobbit.

I think Bilbo and his adventures becomes 'a story' in LOTR, a legendary character that Frodo and the other Hobbits admire, so perhaps The Hobbit can be seen as the making of a legend?

Yes, I think you're both right, Olivia and Giselle.

I saw recently that Tolkien based the part of the story looking for the Last Homely House in Rivendell upon a book he had read about Iceland. That would certainly explain why the landscape he describes in that portion of the story is so bleak and rugged!

Seeing the fact that the Bilbo of The Hobbit is the legendary figure that we see in LOTR reminds me: The Hobbit is written as Bilbo's reminiscings after his travel, so perhaps the lighter style and more florid prose of the later (post-chapter 1) book reflect Bilbo telling a story to his fellow hobbits, with the introductory chapter trying to keep the same feel by interrupting and talking about all the things that we as Big Folk living in modern times may not be familiar with.

Something always to keep in mind about Tolkien is that his job was Professor of Anglo Saxon, hence the magical powers attributed to Swords and giving them names, the Eponymous Beowulf in the Anglo Saxon poem is given a sword called Hrothgar as a gift from the King's Jester, and Blacksmithing was looked on as being part Trade part Magic by Anglo saxons & Vikings alike.

So Bilbo acquiring his own sword, albeit somwhat small it is appropriate to be named.

Cattleman should note that Tolkein's hook is certainly that and one of the best opening lines in literature, certainly better rememebered than the opening of 'Wind in the Willows' to which Tolkein is paying homage.

Paying homage sounds so much better than 'that opening line wot he nicked from Kenneth Grahame and changed a bit' lol.

Hello John and welcome to the discussion.