Distilled Page Lauren Case The distilled page displays a hobbit, dressed in red with a ring slung on his shoulder and a blue orb in his center and facing a mountain with a yellow sky behind it. Below him is a black ground with black fading into a blue sky which holds a faint yellow sun, a pig, a pipe and smoke rings, and a hobbit hole, the hobbit s home. On the door of his hobbit hole is a blue heart. If you look at the top the title is all in red but as you go across they increase in size and increase in darker shades of red. They hobbit behind portrayed in the scene is the main character, Bilbo Baggins. If you look at Bilbo he looks almost as tall as the mountain, which is supposed to represent the Lonely Mountain from the book. Bilbo is almost as tall as the Lonely Mountain because it shows that he has embraced his calling on his journey and shows his confidence that he is good as his calling as a burglar. He is dressed in red because red shows his boldness and confidence against the dark and ominous mountain. This red is depicted in the same way in the title because the title grows larger and becomes a darker shade of red, which represents how as time passes Bilbo s confidence grows bigger and stronger. You can see however that he is also skin toned which is a reminder that he is still mortal and can die so that factor shows that though he has confidence he also has a sense of humility to go along with it. There is a ring around his shoulder. The ring is depicted larger and slung about him because although it may be small it had a large role to play in Bilbo s journey. The ring is the thing that gave Bilbo his confidence to continue on and feel like he belonged on his journey. In the middle of the mountain and Bilbo is the Arkenstone, the most treasured piece of treasure colored blue. The Arkenstone is where Bilbo s heart should be because the real treasure that he finds on his journey to the lonely mountain is the new side of himself. The stone is colored blue to represent the confusion and uncertainty it took to find what Bilbo was looking for. Bilbo didn t know why he went on the journey. Then he discovered the other part of himself. The mountain, pictured dark, is supposed to represent how power and mysterious the mountain is to Bilbo. However the mountain is cast in a bright yellow light, which represents how because of Bilbo s newfound confidence the mountain is less frightening and intimidating.
Continued... Beneath Bilbo is a dark ground that seeps into the scene depicting his home. The darkness seeping into the scene stands between Bilbo and his home. This shows how as Bilbo continues on his journey he is starting to find that other part of himself and leaving the part of him that feels sorry for himself that he can t be in his comfortable home smoking with his pipe. He realizes that the journey becomes more important to him which is why the scene depicting his home have squiggly lines and light shades of colors because they are starting to fade from his memory. The blue heart on the door to Bilbo s home has a blue heart on it. The heart is blue because at the beginning of the story Bilbio feels like he left all of his heart and longing at home. As the story continues he realizes his love for adventure might even be more than his love for a peaceful life, which is why the heart is blue because it shows his confusion at being torn between the two things that he longs for. The scene below Bilbo is encompassed in a light blue to show confusion and forgetfulness of Bilbo s home.
Table of Contents Theme Statements Auto Biography-Carrie Jensen Plot-Taj McChesney Character- Hayden Brady Point of View- Boyd Marler
Theme Statements In order to discover other parts of yourself and gain courage you must change Unless you step into someone s shoes and know where someone is coming from, you shouldn t make judgements To progress in life you have to learn things for yourself If you stray from the path in life, you can always return but it will be difficult Don t overlook the small things in life
Auto Biography Carrie Jensen Born on January 3, 1892 John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (J.R.R.) entered this world with high hopes and dreams! As his loving parents, Arthur and Mable, held him in their arms, they probably didn t realize what an impact he would make on the world; unfortunately, that is something that neither of them would be able to discover. In 1896 the Tolkien family was left fatherless and the family decided to move closer to their family in England. Life there was difficult. The family was left facing poverty which taught John not to take the small things in life for granted. Tolkien learned many things in his childhood that stayed with him as an adult. As a teenager, Tolkien s life was very eventful. Sadly the loss of his mother, Mable, left him and his brother orphaned. He was sent to boarding school. At this school he became very interested in literature and also in a girl by the name of Edith Mary Bratt, whom he soon fell in love with! Regardless of his feelings for Mary, John was judged by her parents because they believed in a different religion. John was upset by this because he loved her and wasn t given a chance to show who he was as a person. Personally, I think this event was reflected in the Hobbit because I while read it I learned a very important life lesson, that John also learned at that stage of his life. Unless you step into someone s shoes and know where someone is coming from, you shouldn t make judgments. Another lesson I learned while reading the Hobbit was not to overlook the small things in life. Early in the story, Bilbo discovers a ring. He could have just left it in the cavern where he had found it because it seemed like an ordinary ring right? WRONG! Bilbo was lucky enough to pick up the ring because not only did it have the power of invisibility but it also played a major role throughout the story. If Bilbo had not discovered this important ring who knows what would have become of him and his traveling party! Tolkien was lucky enough to find his own ring in his life, and if he had overlooked it who knows what would ve become of him! When he was grading papers he discovered a blank paper with the sentence: In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit (this turns out to be the first sentence of his book, The Hobbit). Tolkien was very interested in this sentence and was curious to learn more about the Hobbit that lived in the hole. As he searched for the maker of this creation he learned Susan Dagnall wrote it, and she allowed him to make a book out of it. So, indeed he did. He did not just make a story, but instead a work of art that would forever be considered great literature. What would have happened if he had overlooked that little paper? I guess we were lucky enough not to find out! After The Hobbit Tolkien published three different prequels (The Lord Of The Rings) which were also a success. It can without a doubt be said that Tolkien lived a very important life and learned many lessons along the way. The Hobbit is not only a story filled with adventures but it is also a representation of Tolkiens life. While reading it you will be left on the edge of your chair because of adventure but it is also filled with history. As you turn the pages you learn about a man and his life, and just how much he lived his life to the fullest.
Plot Taj McChesney The Hobbit is a book about a young hobbit named Bilbo and his adventures in middle-earth. The book starts out in a small village called the shire. Young hobbit Bilbo Baggins lives in the shire along with many other hobbits from different families. As the narrator describes Bilbo and his long line on hobbit family, around the bend comes the great wizard Gandolfbringing trouble and adventure along with him. He offers the tranquil hobbit to join him in an adventure for gold and treasure, which the hobbit obviously declines. This first action starts the spark that gets Bilbo interested with the idea of adventure and the mysteries outside of his little village. Another important part is when Bilbo meets the creature Golum. He shows much courage and change when facing Golum, by fighting him and coming up with riddles to distract him. Defeating Golum with his last question and also beating Golum by running past him out the door, showed the courage that Bilbo was starting to gain already. Probably the most important event in the story was the attack of the giant spiders on the group. Gandolf wasn t with them at the time, and they were powerless against giant spiders. Bilbo managed to get away from the spiders, but he still had to save all the dwarves from the spider s web. It was a very big challenge for Bilbo, which required him to change from a quiet little hobbit, into a brave warrior. The little hobbit managed to not only save the dwarves from the spider, but he also kills a few spiders in the process. He could not have done all of this without the help of his sword and his magic ring. The sword and the magic ring also come into play when the dwarves get captured yet again, only this time it is by dwarf- hating wood elves. Bilbo puts on the magic ring and creeps by all the elves and rescues the dwarves from the jail by putting them in barrels and floating with them down the river. After a long time of sailing, they land next to a town called Lake town. The dwarves thank Bilbo for again saving them and this shows the change in the dwarve s views on Bilbo, and the respect that gained in the adventure. Towards the end of the book, the dwarves and Bilbo must go get the treasure from the dragon, Smaug. Bilbo only takes a golden cup from the dragon, while the dwarves help themselves the all the gold and jewels. This shows the change that Bilbo did not go through and that he still is a good and genuine hobbit at heart. The most important part of the book was the battle at the end of the book, which forced Bilbo to bundle up all his courage and fight along side his friends for the goriest battle under the Lonely Mountain. After the battle was won and Bilbo went home, he was shunned by the other hobbits in the village because of all the adventures he went through. But, he didn t care that hobbits weren t talking to him because he had made new friends on the trip and now he was braver and stronger because of it.
Character Hayden Brady In the beginning, Bilbo is an average little hobbit; he is not interested in Gandalf's adventure. In fact he is somewhat repulsed by the idea of traveling beyond the range of his knowledge, but in the end, he goes. Bilbo s interactions with the trolls are the first things to change him. Bilbo has never tried to steal anything in his life, but as his role on the journey is burglar he feels obligated to take a souvenir from the trolls. Instead of stealing food, he tries to pick the pocket of the lead troll. He gets caught when he tries this but the fact that he tries show he is starting to change from the timid little hobbit who began the journey. The next major milestone in Bilbo's journey of change comes during his isolation in the goblin caves. He is able not disabled by his fear but functions alone and finds the ring that will change everything. When he meets Gollum, Bilbo defeats him in a game of riddles to win his freedom, and follows the creature through the tunnels. The ring gives Bilbo a new sort of confidence. When he is invisible, he is willing to attempt feats of daring from which he would otherwise recoil. Once Bilbo rejoins his friends and tells his story, he excludes everything about the ring. This is the first time Bilbo lies, but not the last. Withholding this information results in his companions look at him in a different way, and they finally think he is competent for the job.
Continued... In the forest, Bilbo begins to assume the role of leader. It is his keen sight and advice that gets them over the river. When he wakes and kills the spider, it shows he is not the fearful little hobbit he was when he started out on the journey. He is brave and daring and he frees his friends from the spiders. Without Bilbo, the dwarves would surely have died in the forest. Bilbo comes to the rescue of the dwarves once again when the elves capture them. He spends weeks wandering the halls of the elves until he comes up with a successful plan for escape. The dwarves begin to look to Bilbo for solutions, just as they once looked to Gandalf, and he accepts the role as leader of the group. Bilbo, the little hobbit from under the hill, is the only member of the expedition brave enough to enter the dragon s cave. He validates his role as burglar by stealing a cup and takes it to the dwarves as proof of his prowess. No longer a timid homebody, he saves the dwarves lives multiple times and finds Smog s weak spot so Bard can slay him. Bilbo changes again from leader and hero to quiet malcontent as the armies approach. He knows peace would greatly benefit his friends, so he betrays them and takes the Arkenstone to their enemy. Bilbo becomes a negotiator of peace by offering his share of the treasure to Bard and the Elvenking, but Thorin won t accept this. Bilbo becomes a reluctant soldier in the battle and mourns Thorin's death as Thorin pleads for Bilbo s forgiveness showing he s changed too. Bilbo's unwanted journey changes him profoundly, he has learned about life. The other hobbits sense this and are no longer comfortable with him. This does not bother him. He happily occupies his time with his memoirs, pipe, poetry, and an occasional visit to the elves. The need to journey never comes over him again and lives a simple life in his hobbit hole.
Point of View Boyd Marler In order to discover other parts of yourself and gain courage you must undergo change. Change is a very large theme in J. R. R. Tolkien s novel, The Hobbit; also, the point of view of the hobbit helps to support this theme. In J. R. R. Tolkien s book The Hobbit, the point of view is a central part of how the story is told. Because of this the point of view is one of the greatest influences on the major themes of the book. The Hobbit is narrated in an omniscient point of view. This is important to the theme of the story for several reasons. The first of the many reasons why an omniscient point of view is important to the theme, is that it lets you know what the character are thinking. If you only know the point of view of a single character then you will not be able to truly appreciate how everyone has changed throughout the story. One of the main things that are shown through this point of view is the relationship that the main characters have with each other. This, combined with the explanations of the character thoughts and emotions, allows the reader to see how the characters have changed and grown in every aspect of their beings. By being able to see into their minds from an all-knowing point of view, you can see exactly how they have changed. Along with being told from an all-knowing point of view, this story is told in the fashion of someone who is recounting events that have already happened. Because of this, the narrator is able to give subtle and sometimes not so much- hints about the future events of the story, and how it is going to turn out in the end. This allows the reader to use the hints provided by the narrator to guess at how the story is going to unfold. Also because the story is told as if it has already happened it gives the reader the sense that, although they do not know exactly how things are going to play out, they know that everything is going to be all right in the end. The point of view is very important to the theme of the story. It defines the way that you read the story and influences the way that you interpret the events that unfold. If there was a different point of view, there is no doubt that there would be a different theme as well.