The Hobbit (There and Back Again)

The Hobbit introduces the world to Hobbits: an agrarian, peace-loving, simple people whose physical stature is that of a child (but not quite). One such hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, is brought, not exactly voluntarily, on an adventure with Gandalf the Wizard and a troop of Dwarves, including the Great Thorin, and Gimili’s father, Gloin. The group (not quite a fellowship) travels eastward from the Shire to the Lonely Mountain, where they hope to plunder at least some of the treasure there long protected by Smaug the dragon.

In the course of this journey there are many adventures, not the least of which is barely avoiding capture by a colony of orcs, and of course, Bilbo’s chancing upon the Ring, defeating Gollum in a duel of riddles. It’s the Ring’s conveyance of invisibility that not only allows Bilbo to escape from Gollum and the orcs, but also to act as ‘thief’ for the group and take plunder from Smaug without being seen.

The Hobbit culminates in the Battle of Five Armies, wherein Dwarves and Humans (and a hobbit) fight side-by-side to destroy the marauding orcs, goblins, and werewolves. In this terrible war, the Dwarf King is killed, but peace and communion is spread among previously disparate free peoples. Bilbo returns home to the Shire with not only the Ring, but unknown amounts of treasure, not the least of which is a “kingly gift”-- the mithryl-chain-mail coat, that we later learn is worth, “more than the Shire and all that is in it.”

Bilbo Baggins

hobbit, citizen of the Shire.

Gandalf

Wizard; friend to Bilbo

Thorin Oakenshield

Dwarf lord and friend to Gandalf

Gollum

Ringbearer; ghastly creature from whom Bilbo 'wins' the Ring

You will notice that I gave this book (only) a 6 Star rating. The reason for this follows. On the one hand, because of The Hobbit's connetion with The Lord of the Rings, as being a sort of necessary 'prequil', I belive The Hobbit deserves a 7 Star rating-- I believe this story ought to be read by all. On the other hand, to rate The Hobbit as highly as I rate The Lord of the Rings would be to diminish the rank of The Lord of the Rings (which is a far greater work in virtually every conceivable category of literature).

To put this another way, The Hobbit, Standing alone, is worthy of a 7 Star rating-- as one of the most creative and imaginative children's stories ever written, but juxtaposed with similar works, most notably its sequal, The Hobbit must bow to the magnificence of its heir. Like a father of lowly means who gives birth to a prince, so must The Hobbit be seen as a good story that gave seed to that which is without rival, a true masterpiece.

The Hobbit was written as a children's/young-adult story. Though the story at times reveals hints of a deeper and darker environment, overall the plot, narration, and even the characters are presented and operate in a way designed to inspire the imaginations of children and young adults. This fact however is not to detract from it's many points of brilliance. Like other such 'children's'classics as Alice in Wonderland, Winnie the Pooh, and Treasure Island, Tolkien's Hobbit transcends typical its 'children's' label. It is loved by as many adults as children.