Abstract
This paper examines how the theme of race and destiny in J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" is revealed in Bilbo's utter lack of power to decide what course he may take in his life. Gandalf and the treasure hunting dwarfs invariably use his racial features to clandestinely find a treasure they are too big to get a hold of due to their larger height and weight. The paper discusses how the theme of destiny is formed in the novel, as Tolkien gives Bilbo little choice in refusing an identity that is based on consent.

From the Paper
"By realizing the physical size of Hobbits of Middle Earth, one can realize why Gandalf chose this race of beings to impart on secretive journeys. The Hobbit sets a precedence of race since Bilbo's tenacity as a small humanoid helps him travel in a clandestine manner."

Tags:hobbit, english, literature

Abstract
The paper discusses how J.R.R. Tolkien's, "The Hobbit", offers a direct challenge to the traditional notion of a hero (as usually found in fantasy literature) by having as its protagonist a short, fat, ignoble and not overly-brilliant hobbit - and a hobbit who, far from wanting to wage war, is rather timorous, hardly idealistic (at least at first) and ultimately decides that peace is more important than absolute loyalty to one's tribe.

From the Paper
"J.R.R. Tolkien's, "The Hobbit", offers a direct challenge to the traditional notion of a hero (as usually found in fantasy literature) by having as its protagonist a short, fat, ignoble and not overly-brilliant hobbit - and a hobbit who, far from wanting to wage war, is rather timorous, hardly idealistic (at least at first) and ultimately decides that peace is more important than absolute loyalty to one's tribe."

Tags:tolkien, literature, hero

Abstract
In this article the writer maintains that an underlying theme of materialism and its negative effects on people is present throughout the novel 'The Hobbit'. The writer points out that by bringing about the downfalls of all of the novel's selfish characters, Tolkien demonstrates that greed and materialism lead unerringly to suffering, and that true happiness can be found only through selflessness. The writer notes that the consequences of greed can be seen in a multitude of characters, even some who are normally viewed as moralistic, although they are most prevalent in characters such as Gollum and Smaug.The writer concludes that at the end of the novel, one finds that all of the characters who allowed greed to consume them are either dead or in a state of constant suffering.

From the Paper
" On the contrary, Bilbo never demonstrates this mixing of good and evil; he is entirely untainted, and represents self-sacrifice at its finest. One of the things that makes Bilbo such a heroic character is his incredible selflessness, which is seen throughout the novel. He aids Thorin and his Company repeatedly, without any reason for helping them besides a desire for adventure and the fact that he helps those in need. He attempts to infiltrate the camp of trolls, rescues the Dwarves from the spiders in the Mirkwood, frees the Dwarves from the Elvenking's hold, and confronts Smaug face to face. All of these are acts that put Bilbo directly in harm's way, but he does them because he feels that he cannot stand idly or turn the other way; he takes direct action when necessary, whether it benefits him or not."

Tags:Bilbo, Lonely, Mountain, Gollum, altruism

Abstract
This paper counters the popular conception that author J.R.R. Tolkien is known for his lack of irony in his writings by proving that this particular novel exemplifies irony in its finest form. The basis of this irony consists in Tolkien's depiction of the dwarves' spiritual impurity which becomes apparent upon their pilgrimage. The writer of this paper describes the plot and main characters of Tolkien's novel "The Hobbit." This paper details the areas of the novel in which the text is replete with examples which illustrate the dwarves' repeated failure to rise to the occasion when confronted with the assorted tests, trials and tribulations demanded of all heroic quest seekers.

From the Paper
"The cyclical nature of the dwarves' crusade reflects, in turn, the circular plot-structure of all Quests, in which an action that is initiated in the concrete present-here, the scheme to conquer Smaug and recover the dwarfish hoard-is brought to fruition in an (often-idealized and mythologized) past. In addition, the grandiosity of the dwarves' mission replicates "the epic spirit and grandeur" of the traditional Quest by pitting the questors against the "forces of greed, cruelty, and aggression" while situating them before the sweeping backdrop of an imagined world-Middle-earth-that is replete with "its own theology, myths, geography, history, paleography, languages, and orders of being."
Unfortunately for the dwarves (and, ultimately, for Middle-earth itself), the impurity of their crusade precludes the manifesting of another seminal convention of the heroic Quest: the social, psychological, and/or spiritual development of the hero(es). Their chronic inability to transcend the limitations of their original personae is illustrated both in the dwarves' childlike inability to defend themselves against the various perils which they encounter as they journey toward the Lonely Mountain and in their nearly-disastrous, initial refusal to share their treasure with the men of Esgaroth."

Tags:literature, analysis, english, fiction

Abstract
This essay studies the history of the new "Lord of the Rings" movie, the actors and their reactions to the story and the overall meaning of the transfer of legend to movie. It includes a brief history of the movie and the making of the movie. It discusses the actors and how they suited their characters. It also discusses the difficulties of transferring a book to a movie.

From the Paper
"How did the new blockbuster movie "The Fellowship of the Ring" come about? How was it made? I intend to answer these questions to educate all those people about the film and its backgrounds and makings. The background underlying this story is very extensive and so I cannot cover all of it, however, I will cover the author of the original story, the making of the film, and the actors and their feelings about the story. This new movie has much more foundation to it than simply the film itself, it has many references to the original novel in the film and has a solid base in the images that the author, J.R.R. Tolkien, had originally painted with words."

Tags:actors, backgrounds, hobbit, movie, paper, research, J.R.R., Tolkien

From the Paper
"The Hobbit: Art Imitates Life

Though the books in the Lord of the Rings series also dealt with the fictitious world of Middle-earth, The Hobbit is different than the other books in the Middle-earth series. The primary difference of Bilbo Baggins' story is the audience J.R.R. Tolkien wrote to. He wrote to children.

The Story of The Hobbit
The tale which began with The Hobbit was in many ways symbolic of the human growth process, and reflected the influences of Tolkien's own growing up:
Orphaned at an early age, dependent for his education on scholarships and the support of a benefactor, kept for several years from association with the woman he ..."

Abstract
To this day the works of J. R. R. Tolkien are considered pinnacles in the realm of fantasy and adventure writing. From his elves, hobbits, dwarves and brave men all fighting evil and aiding in the ultimate triumph of good, Tolkien based his world and its histories upon adventure. This paper examines Tolkien's first hobbit novel, "The Hobbit", explaining that, while it is just as full of adventure as any of his other works, "The Hobbit" also centers around the central theme of the common ordinary being encountering adventure and thus becoming an uncommon hero.

Tags:hobbit, tolkien, baggins

Abstract
This paper looks at the main characters of the books "Harry Potter", "The Wonderful World of Oz" and "The Hobbit". It argues that each of these characters are "unlikely heroes" which makes the story even more charming for young readers. These heroes are compared to each other.

From the paper:

"At the beginning of the Harry Potter saga, the reader is introduced to the boy who will become the epicenter of the Hogwarts world as a small, scarred baby nestled in the arms of a large, bury and uncouth gamekeeper.
Although the image of Dorothy Gale has largely been fixed in the world?s mind as the luminous Judy Garland, crooning ?Somewhere Over the Rainbow,? in the actual first book in the Oz saga, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum, the reader?s first vision of Dorothy is somewhat different. In the book, Dorothy Gale is introduced as a poor, young girl on a depleted dust bowl farm in the middle of Kansas during difficult economic times. The land is flat and dry and her world is flat and dry.
The fantastic world of Middle Earth created by J.R.R. Tolkien is populated by creatures such as elves, wizards, and trolls. Yet the central, saving figure of his first book The Hobbit, the saving sort of creature who will take over the function of hero in the rest of the novels in The Lord of the Rings series is that of a Hobbit. A Hobbit is a small, furry, frequently hungry creature who at first seems to bear little resemblance to the ethereal elves or the wise wizards such as Gandalf. Hobbits have not even been awarded one of the great rings in the division of power that in Middle Earth. Yet it is a Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, who ultimately gains control over the ring that shall rule them all."

Tags:fantasy, story, reality, relationship, witch, child, liberator, good, fantastic, creatures

Abstract
This paper explains that, in his novels "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings", J.R.R. Tolkien describes a powerful Ring of satanic power that corrupts whoever possesses it. The author points out that the plots of the two novels resemble each other although the action in "The Lord of the Rings" is much more involved with many more episodes, a larger cast of characters and a much more serious tone. The paper relates that, as he did in the earlier novel, the protagonist Gollum plays an important role in "The Lord of the Rings" utilizing qualities that link him to the characters of Bilbo and Frodo. This paper includes many quotations directly from the books and from resource material.

From the Paper
"Later, Gandalf uses the word "devours," when referring to the corrupting power of the Ring. One feels that, initially, Tolkien conceived of the evil of the Ring in terms of gluttony. Richard Mathews writes about the loss of freedom that comes when one is in possession of something evil, like the Ring. "Those driven by greed, possessiveness, hatred are tied irrevocably to the past Fall and to time" Also of significance is the fact that those who are obsessed by the Ring or by other treasures do not use what they have."

Tags:middle-earth, satanic, plot, characters, greed

Abstract
This paper looks at the differences in quests by looking at the differences between the heroes and villains and what they are searching for. The writer talks about how the nature of the story changes according to whatever the heroes or villains are searching for. An important distinction between those quests that are successful and those that are not is discussed. The plots of Tolkien's "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" are also discussed in brief.

From the Paper
"Both J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are certainly stories in the form of a quest. Indeed, in some senses The Hobbit can be seen to be a sort of "practice quest" for the hobbits, the author, and the readers. While for the dwarfs it is about the reclamation of a home, for Bilbo it is about the search for a treasure, in many ways the least interesting kind of quest.The Lord of the Rings, which is on the most transparent level also about a quest in that it takes the form of a story about a journey, is a much more interesting quest in part because this literal journey (as is true in all good quest stories) becomes increasingly metaphorical as the story progresses, and in part because of Tolkien's skilled use of mythology and comparative religion in crafting it. The traveling of the different characters becomes by the end of the trilogy a symbol and a way of understanding many different things."

Tags:heroes, villains, nature, story, character, traveler, important, distinction, quests, third, category, stories, reader, seeker