The Hobbit Group

Question:

micahs4evr
micahs4evr
Student
High School - 9th Grade

In The Hobbit, how does Bilbo's character change from the beginning of the book to the end?

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Posted by micahs4evr on Wednesday February 25, 2009 at 7:24 PM and tagged with bilbo baggins, characters, the hobbit.

Answers:

  1. lequam
    lequam Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Three ways that Bilbo Baggins changes from the beginning of The Hobbit to the end of the book are his understanding of the world around him, his sense of adventure, and his desire to live a comfortable life without thought for others. 

    At the beginning of the book, Bilbo cares nothing for he world outside of the Shire or outside of his small hobbit home.  But by the end of the book, his eyes have been opened to the world outside of the Shire, and he has an understanding of different parts of the world as well as different people (elves, dwarves, dragons, to name a few) in the world. 

    Also, his sense of adventure grows throughout the book.  At the beginning, Gandalf pretty much has to trick Bilbo into going on this adventure, but by the end of the book, Bilbo is much more courageous and willing adventure out on his own, as evidenced by his willingness to confront Smaug. 

    Finally, although Bilbo is a hobbit who will always love his hobbit hole and his six meals a day, he has learned how to make sacrifices and how to live without these comforts if he must.  He even puts himself in danger when rescuing the dwarves from the Spiders and the Wood Elves and sacrifices his own comfort to ensure their safety. 

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/hobbit

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    Posted by lequam on Friday February 27, 2009 at 6:06 PM