The Hobbit Group at eNotes

"The Hobbit" Book Response

In Capter seventeen of the novel 'The Hobbit' by J.R. R. Tolkein, Bard...

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:21:06 PST

In Capter seventeen of the novel 'The Hobbit' by J.R. R. Tolkein, Bard is promised Bilbo's cut of treasure by Thorin in return for handing over the Arkenstone.Thorin is the leader of the dwarves and his full name is Thorin Oakenshield (notice how J.R.R. Tolkein 'antiques' his language by likening it to old tongues like 'Middle English' - he inserts 'en' into some words like Arkenstone - in English this can have the effect of turning a noun...

The Hobbit What did Thorin promise Bard in exchange for the Arkenstone?...

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:54:10 PST

The Hobbit What did Thorin promise Bard in exchange for the Arkenstone?

What do the races in the hobbit represent in real life ?

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:06:23 PST

In my english class our teacher made us do this research about "The Hobbit" , and she told us that the races in the hobbit each represented a european naitionality.Now we have to research what nationalities those races represent. I've been searching for hours and i can't find anything. Anyone have a clue ?

When Tolkien wrote The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings he was hoping to...

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:51:02 PST

When Tolkien wrote The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings he was hoping to create a mythology for the British people that seemed to exist in other peoples like the Norse and Germanic peoples. Like many cultures, ancient peoples believed that humans were one of many races of beings that existed the the most ancient of times. The elves were some of the oldest of the races and had learned much wisdom through the ages. They are viewed with high...

Can you guys Give me detail on humans in the Hobbit Or There and Back Again

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:32:56 PST

Can you guys Give me detail on humans in the Hobbit Or There and Back Again

Because Bilbo knew that Thorin was not being open-minded or fair. Bilbo...

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:14:09 PST

Because Bilbo knew that Thorin was not being open-minded or fair. Bilbo wanted long term peace between Dwarves and Elves and Men. But Thorin was not prepared to share and wanted to be greedy and selfish. So Bilbo gave the most important thing in Thorin's life (the arkenstone) to Thorin's 'enemies'. That way Thorin had to talk and negotiate and be sensible.

why did bilbo give away the arkestone to bard?

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:08:47 PST

why did bilbo give away the arkestone to bard?

What is the hierarchy among the races and within the world of Middle Earth?

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:42:04 PST

What is the hierarchy among the races and within the world of Middle Earth?

This is a large question. You will have to decide what side you are on....

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:02:06 PST

This is a large question. You will have to decide what side you are on. Basically, it deals with both "nature" versus "nurture" and "free will" versus " determinism." How much control or power does our environment have to shape our character, and how much of who we are are we born with? Most people today will say that we are influenced by both nature (how we are when we are born) and nurture (what influences our environment has had). Ask any...

In looking at the tag of the bottom of the question, the discussion is...

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:54:17 PST

In looking at the tag of the bottom of the question, the discussion is rather powerful. Tolkien would argue that individuals possess the capacity to choose their own sense of fate and destiny. These elements are dynamic and powerful. Individuals have the ability to rise above their own conditions and be better or worse than what might have been intended. No one would have ever considered a mere Hobbit to have changed the course of...

Do individuals have any power over what they become or are their...

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:28:57 PST

Do individuals have any power over what they become or are their characters entirely determined by static factors such as family and race?

Bilbo spends much of The Hobbit not being a huge fan of himself. ...

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:45:16 PST

Bilbo spends much of The Hobbit not being a huge fan of himself. Becomes like someone he hates by going on the adventure to begin with. Bilbo didn't exactly heed Gandalf's request at the beginning of the novel, but disappeared into his hobbit abode as soon as he could. Bilbo is often party to dubious activities that he never would have participated in during his former life. Stealing becomes commonplace for Bilbo: the blade from the...

Describe how Bilbo Baggins in the book The Hobbit becomes like someone...

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 08:49:44 PST

Describe how Bilbo Baggins in the book The Hobbit becomes like someone he hates while at the end he does the right thing.

Why does Thorin reject Roac's advice?

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 08:24:51 PST

Why does Thorin reject Roac's advice?

You've got to be referring to Gollum, the first keeper of the ring....

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:43:27 PST

You've got to be referring to Gollum, the first keeper of the ring. Possession of the ring over time warped both his mind and body, and his one obsession is to get it back. He finally does manage to wrest the ring from Frodo's hand but in doing so loses his balance and plunges headlong, along with the ring, into the firey pit of Mordor. The way the story is presented suggests that this was Gollum's predestined fate and role - to bring...

Who is a small, slimy, dark creature?

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:10:06 PST

Who is a small, slimy, dark creature?

On average, the Lake-men and the Wood-elves had an easy relationship,...

Tue, 2 Jun 2009 14:39:02 PST

On average, the Lake-men and the Wood-elves had an easy relationship, primarily based on trade. The narrator mentions that there are occasional squabbles about river-trolls, but does not elaborate what role the elves or the men have in regards to these. The wood-elves are responsible for the upkeep of the river, which has become especially difficult with recent changes. With earthquakes and flooding, the river channel has become unpredictable....

How is the relationship between the Lake-men and the Wood-elves...

Sun, 31 May 2009 20:53:19 PST

How is the relationship between the Lake-men and the Wood-elves described in "The Hobbit"?

Gandalf talks to Beorn and then as he introduces the dwarves, he gets...

Mon, 18 May 2009 17:40:23 PST

Gandalf talks to Beorn and then as he introduces the dwarves, he gets Beorn to accept the dwarves