The Hobbit

The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, is a fantasy novel written by the British author and scholar J.R.R. Tolkien. It was first published on 21 September 1937 by George Allen & Unwin in the United Kingdom. Originally conceived as a children’s story, it grew from bedtime tales Tolkien told his own sons in the early 1930s and features the unlikely hero Bilbo Baggins, a comfort-loving hobbit from the peaceful Shire who is swept into an epic quest by the wizard Gandalf and a company of dwarves to reclaim their ancestral treasure from the dragon Smaug. The book introduced readers to Tolkien’s richly imagined world of Middle-earth, complete with its detailed geography, languages, races (hobbits, elves, dwarves, goblins, and others), and themes of courage, greed, home, and personal growth. Though lighter in tone than its sequel, The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit blends whimsy, adventure, songs, riddles, and darker elements, establishing the foundation for one of the most influential works in modern fantasy literature. Its success led Tolkien to expand the story into the larger legendarium that would become The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion.

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Transcript

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The Hobbit by J.R. Tolkien. In a comfortable hobbit hole at Bag End, in the pleasant village of Hobbiton in the Shire, live Bilbo Baggins. Hobbits were a small, plump people about half the size of humans, with furry toes and a great love of good food, drink, and the comforts of home. Bilbo was quite content with his quiet life, tending his garden and enjoying his meals, with no desire for anything beyond the ordinary. But one fine morning, the great wizard Gandalf came walking up the path to his door. Gandalf, with his tall pointed hat, long gray cloak, and staff, had known Bilbo's grandfather and spoke of adventures. Bilbo, alarmed, quickly invited him to tea the next day to be polite, and then tried to put the matter out of his mind. The next day, however, there came a knock at the door. It was not Gandalf alone, but hosts of dwarves who arrived one after another, Dwallin, Balin, Kili, Philly, Dory, Nori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Bifer, Bofer, Bomber, and finally their leader, Thorin Oakenshield. They filled Bilbo's home, eating his food, singing songs of their lost home under the lonely mountain, and discussing their quest to reclaim their ancestral treasure from the dragon smog who had driven them out long ago. Gandalf had recommended Bilbo as a skilled burger to help them on this adventure, much to Bilbo's astonishment. The dwarves were skeptical of the small, unadventurous hobbit, but after some discussion and the revealing of Thor's map, showing a secret door into the mountain, Bilbo found himself agreeing to join them, though he was filled with doubt. The next morning, after the dwarves had left without him, Bilbo changed his mind again, but Gandalf urged him on, and soon the company of fourteen set out from the Shire into the wild. Their journey began peacefully enough, but soon grew perilous. In the Lone Lands, they were captured by three great trolls, Tom, Bert, and William, who planned to roast and eat them. Gandalf cleverly kept the trolls arguing until the sun rose, turning them to stone. The company searched the trolls' cave and found a horde of gold and weapons, including swords. Gandalf and Thorne took two ancient blades, glam dring and orchest, and Bilbo took a small elvish knife that served him well as a sword, which he later named Sting. They continued to the valley of Rivendell, where they rested at the home of Elrund, the great elf lord. Elrund was hospitable, providing food and rest. He examined the swords, revealing they were famous blades from old wars, and read the moon letters on Thorne's map, explaining that the secret door would be visible on Durance Day under the last light of the setting sun. After two weeks, refreshed, the company left Rivendell and headed toward the misty mountains. A terrible storm forced them to shelter in a cave high in the mountains. Unbeknownst to them, it was a goblin cave. In the night, goblin seized the ponies and captured the dwarves and Bilbo, dragging them deep underground to the great goblin. Gandalf, who had been keeping watch, slew the great goblin with glambering and led a daring escape through the tunnels. In the chaos, Bilbo became separated from the others and fell, striking his head and losing consciousness. When Bilbo awoke in the dark, he found a small golden ring on the ground and slipped it into his pocket. Wandering lost, he came to a subterranean lake where he met Gollum, a slimy, hissing creature who lived on fish and goblins. Gollum wanted to eat Bilbo and propose a riddle contest. If Gollum won, he would eat the hobbit. If Bilbo won, Gollum would show him the way out. They exchanged riddles, and Bilbo wanted to question, what have I got in my pocket? Referring to the ring, though he did not yet know its power, Gollum went to fetch his precious ring, which made the wearer invisible, but it was gone. Bilbo had it. Furious, Gollum pursued him. But the ring allowed Bilbo to become invisible and slip past. Gollum unwittingly showed him the exit, and Bilbo escaped the tunnels, rejoined the dwarves outside. The ring's power proved invaluable, and the dwarves gained new respect for their burglar. Goblins and wards, evil wolves, pursued them. The company climbed trees to escape, but the enemies set fire to the forest below. Gandalf set pine cones ablaze and threw them down, scattering the foes, but rescue came from the great eagles, who carried them to safety. The eagles deposited them near the home of Biorn, a skin changer who could become a great bear. Biorn was gruff but hospitable after hearing their tale, providing food, ponies, and advice. He warned them about the dangers ahead and sent them on their way with provisions. Gandalf left the company at the edge of Merkwood Forest to attend to other business, cautioning them to stay on the path. The forest was dark and oppressive. The dwarves grew hungry and strayed toward lights of feasting elves, only to be caught in the webs of giant spiders. Bilbo, using his ring to become invisible, fought the spiders with Sting, slaying many and rescuing his companions. He named his sword Sting after this first kill. Free but exhausted, they were soon captured by wood elves led by the Elven King and imprisoned in the Elf King's halls. Bilbo, invisible, evaded capture and devised a plan. He stole keys and packed the dwarves into empty wine barrels, which were thrown into the river and floated downstream to freedom. Bilbo rode atop one barrel, getting wet and cold but succeeding in the escape. The barrels reached Lake Town on the Long Lake, a settlement of men near the Lonely Mountain. The people of Lake Town, led by their master, welcomed the dwarves as fulfillers of old prophecies about Smog's defeat and a return of wealth. After resting and resupplying, the company proceeded to the lonely mountain. They found a secret door on the western side after much searching. On Durance Day, with the last light of the sun, the keyhole appeared, and Thorne opened the door with a key from his grandfather. Bilbo was sent ahead as burglar to explore the dragon's lair. Inside, Bilbo crept past the sleeping smog, a vast, red gold dragon coiled on a massive hoard of treasure. He stole a golden cup and retreated. Emboldened, he returned later and engaged Smog in conversation, cleverly learning of a weak spot in the dragon's armor near his left breast. Smog, suspicious, realized Lake Town had helped the intruders and flew off in rage to destroy it. Bilbo had also discovered the Arkin stone, the great heart of the mountain and Thorin's prized heirloom, and pocketed it secretly. Smog attacked Lake Town fiercely, burning much of it, but Bard the Bowman. A descendant of Giron of Dale learned of the dragon's weakness from a thrush that had overheard Bilbo's report. Bard fired a black arrow into the hollow spot, slaying Smog. The dragon's body fell into the lake, and Lake Town lay in ruins. News of Smog's death spread quickly. The wood elves and men of Lake Town marched to the lonely mountain, seeking a share of the treasure as recompense. Thorin, now king under the mountain, grew greedy and refused, fortifying the entrance and sending for aid from his cousin Dane Ironfoot in the Iron Hills. Bilbo, dismayed by the growing conflict, slipped out one night using his ring, and gave the Arkansone to Bard and the Elven King as a bargaining tool to prevent war. When the Arkansone was presented to Thorne, he flew into a rage at what he saw as betrayal by Bilbo and banished him. Battle seemed inevitable as Dane's dwarf army arrived, but Gandalf reappeared, warning of a greater threat. An army of goblins and wards marching on the mountain, seeking revenge. The dwarves' men and elves united against this common foe in the Battle of the Five Armies. The fighting was fierce, and the good forces were nearly overwhelmed until the Eagles arrived, along with Biorn in bare form, who wrought havoc among the enemies. Victory was won, but at great cost. Thorne was mortally wounded in the battle. Before dying, he reconciled with Bilbo, calling him a friend and worthy companion, and was buried with Orchest and the Arkinstone. Dame became king under the mountain, and the treasure was divided fairly, with shares going to Bard and the Elves. Bilbo took only a small portion of his promised fourteen share, enough to make him wealthy, preferring not to burden himself with more. With Gandalf, he began the long journey home, stopping again with Biorn for Yule Tide and resting at Rivendell with Elrond in the spring. When Bilbo finally returned to Bag End after more than a year away, he found that his possessions were being auctioned off, as he had been presumed dead. He reclaimed most of his things and settled back into his hobbit hole, though he was changed. Respectable hobbits viewed him with suspicion for his adventures and associations with dwarves, elves, and wizards, but Bilbo did not mind. He kept the ring, wrote his memoirs, and lived contentedly, treasuring the memories of his unexpected journey and the friends he had made along the way.